Following a break to refresh, LeJog returns in 2025! (December 6-9th)

LeJog, the toughest endurance motoring event in Europe has taken a break, but now it is back and refreshed for the 29th version and ready to sting! Following a Europe-wide survey, a wide-ranging revamp has been avoided as the overwhelming views of LeJog’s ‘Joggers’ was to generally leave it alone and keep it tough.

The sub plot to that was many wanted more flexibility in timings, which has been heeded by the team at HERO-ERA and they will plan for an earlier finish on Saturday night and a longer rest halt on Monday. With scrutineering available on both Thursday and Friday, the Competition Team, headed by Guy Woodcock, have listened to the competitors. With lunch on pre-event Friday instead of a dinner at Land’s End, it will allow crews more time for their own preparation and rest before the start.

‘Little tweaks, not wholesale changes’ was one comment. Another said ‘don’t alter too much!’ An additional comment from a top German regular ‘Jogger’ said ‘everything is perfect.’ So, the new flexibility potentially allows a little more sleep for some, but another change yet to be ratified is for seeding. This was highlighted in the survey to ‘avoid more experienced crews medal reductions sitting in queues behind less experienced teams.’

Now the 29^th edition 2025 LeJog is open for entries and with a further change, again based on the feedback provided, the Reliability Trial will make a complete calendar change in 2027 to January. This will ease the November / December calendar congestion, and together with the more flexible timings, will encourage more entrants, especially amongst the new and younger rallyists.

2025, nevertheless, will find new roads in Cornwall and Devon and a mix of pastures new and roads of yesteryear in Somerset before crossing into Wales and Monmouthshire. From there is will push deep into rally country and the Brecon Beacons, where crews will be in the heart of Welsh Road Rallying. A Time Control Section in the Welsh Marches and then the Shropshire Hills for more scintillating action, will remind 'Joggers' of what they have missed this year, and why they signed up again!

The classics roads of the Peak District, the North Yorkshire Moors, followed by the borders and Scotland itself, will take competitors to Fort William to a rest halt. Many will wring their hands together and shout, 'yes!' As they learn that the mammoth 'Loch Ness Monster' regularity will raise its ugly head again as it will be retained. It remains a favourite despite its reputation for devouring hard earned medals!

LeJog has built its reputation up over nearly thirty years as the toughest motoring event in Europe, usually conducted in the depths of the British winter, to a formula prescribed and designed by the late great John Brown in 1993. It’s a journey across the British Isles from bottom to top, and a journey into one’s own mind as competitors battle with cold, rain, snow, the dark and reliability of their cars and themselves.

But this rally keeps competitors coming back for more, a special breed, from all over the world, to test themselves. It is a special kind of madness, but the emotions experienced as the dawn light pricks tired eyes on the final morning, and the finish line comes into sight after rallying across 1500 miles in 75 hours, is unique and often moves people to tears of elation and joy.

The Land’s End to John O’ Groats Reliability Trial 2023 was toughest for 7 years when 44 crews started and only 27 crews finished with just four Gold Medals being awarded. It was a classic ‘to the script’ edition of the LeJog original by John Brown, a genuine endurance rally. Although for Andy Lane and Iain Tullie there was the joy of clinching their record breaking seventh Gold Medals even after 1500 miles over 5 legs and 75 hours, despite the severe weather which helped to decimate the field. It had been seven years since the last snow and ice-affected event, making it as treacherous then and as in 2023.

The next, 29th edition could well roll into the same conditions, but will now remain like the first version in 1993, and stick to the principles of endurance laid down by John Brown and those first pioneers, but with small more changes.

Guy Woodcock, Competition Director at HERO-ERA summed up the survey and subsequent alterations to LeJog; “It’s the toughest road rally in Europe, so tough, that half the field was decimated by the adverse weather in 2023, and it will remain a remarkable motoring challenge in 2025. Even with some small tweaks to the timing and then with the move in 2027 to the January date, HERO-ERA will always work to keep it as close to the ethos of the original 1993 Reliability Trial.

“I’d like to thank all those enthusiasts across Europe who contributed so thoughtfully to the survey. The feedback was overwhelming in the call for small, not big changes, and we have listened and implemented them in the best way we can in order to preserve the values of LeJog and retain the event long into the future.”