Pearl of India 2025 - The Rally Report

The Pearl of India Rally 2025 has finished in Mumbai, 20 days after departing from the same city on a 6000-mile route around India. Richard Clark and Jonathan Round were victorious, competing in a 1938 Ford V8 Coupe, grabbing the win on the final day of competition after mistakes and misfortune derailed their closest rivals.

Going into the last two regularities of the event, the Bentley 4½ L Open Tourer of Martin and Olivia Hunt were leading the competition, a position that they had occupied over a number of days, but their margin to the second placed Ford Escort Works Mexico of Jim Grayson and Simon Spinks was a mere 6 seconds, after 18 days of competition. Their lead would be destroyed though, after the penultimate regularity was blocked by two lorries, costing them a minute in penalties and putting them out of the chase.

In another twist of fate though, the pursuing Escort missed the start of the regularity, costing them a minute of penalty, ejecting them from what would have been the lead of the event with just one regularity to go. This meant that Clark and Round, who began the day in third, took the top spot and after closing out the day with no major errors, the victory was theirs.

On the win Richard had this to say “It was a surprise to win, it happened on the last day. We are incredibly grateful to make it to the end, that is an achievement in itself. It’s great to be at the finish, but it is tinged with sadness that we will be leaving this fantastic country that has hosted us for 6000km. Thank you India”.

It was a bad luck for Martin and Olivia Hunt, who had led the competition since the halfway point. They had never professed a desire to take the overall win though and were here to see India and all its charms. Gracious in defeat, driver Martin had this to say: “We have had an amazing time, India has been the most fabulous destination for a rally.” Navigator Olivia touched on the human aspect of the event, adding, “There have been such lovely people, everyone has been so kind, we have enjoyed every minute with them.”

The boys in the Escort had led the early stages of the competition, and had always been there or thereabouts, but with the final regularities suiting the power of their machine they must have been confident they could push the leading Bentley to the end. They were more than satisfied with third place though, with Yorkshireman Simon declaring, “We’ve come home with a pot, what could be better than that!

Elsewhere, Irishman Tommy Dreelan and his Scottish navigator George Barrack took the top honours in Class 1, in Tommy’s Chevrolet Fangio Coupe, followed by Tommy’s brother Mike and navigator Bob Pybus with brothers Andy and Roy Buchan third in class. This category was a close fight, with the lead changing hands in the final days, after mistakes from the Buchans, and super performances from both Dreelan driven cars.

Class 2 saw Alain Lejeune and Herve Collette winning, in one of two bright red Volvo 121’s entered into the rally, the second red Volvo was entered by Aussies Warren Herrick and Glenda Lawrence, who finished second in class, overcoming plenty of overheating issues in the final days of the event. Third place was awarded to another Volvo, this time a 142S, crewed by Pierre Elizabé and Pierre-Marie Lenweiter.

The class 3 winners were popular Kiwi’s Martin and Frances Dippie, campaigning a Mercedes Benz 450 SLC. The couple have rallied in a couple of Mercs before, most recently on last year’s Peking to Paris Rally, but the one they have used in India has proven the most reliable, allowing them to win the class from ex BTCC star Patrick Watts and wife Pam, also in a 450 SLC, with third place being awarded to Tomas and Camelia de Vargas Machuca, competing in a Mercedes 230 Fintail.

The event has been a tremendous adventure, with competitors from all over the world. From the chaotic highways of India’s mega cities, to the solace of its jungles and sparsely populated farmlands, the rally has taken in ‘Wonders of the World’ and enjoyed some of the most wonderful roads in the world. Our eyes have been opened to the magic of India, it’s colours, sounds, scenery, aromas and of course the wonderful people, who have been so friendly throughout our journey. Competition aside, it is people that have been at the nucleus of the rally, with an intimate group of competitors on the road who have formed lifelong friendships, all set against the backdrop of our wonderful host country and its ever-generous inhabitants.

The final word must go to HERO-ERA Chairman, Tomas de Vargas Machuca, who was competing on the event. “I think it’s been a great rally, I’m so pleased with what the team has put together and I cannot wait to come back. I have loved the people of India, the food, the culture and the experience, as well of course the wonderful group of people on this rally. With all of that combined, this rally has simply been a success.”