RAC Rally of the Tests 2025. Day 1 Kendal to Blackburn

On a day described as the ‘Full Fat’ RoTT, following the relatively gentle Prologue on Thursday evening, this leg from Kendal to Blackburn was the real rally deal with no less than 15 tests and six long and tricky regularities.

Leading until mid afternoon, Paul Dyas and Martyn Taylor were held up in their Ford Cortina by a motorhome and lost precious time and the lead. Jon Dunning and Pete Johnson were flying in their Escort RS2000 and took over at the front, only for Pete to miss a turn late in the day and hand the over night lead to John King and Matthew Vokes in the Lotus Elan Plus Two, a car which has been the subject of some betting by crews as to how long it will last! Well, John and Matthew are showing that the long and low Lotus has the pace ad agility, so far. It also gives an indication of the level of concentration required in such an unforgiving rally, when a Golden Roamer Navigator’s Champion, Pete Johnson, makes a rare error. 

Belgians Kurt Venderspinnen and Bjorn Vanoverschelde, who so nearly won the RAC Rally of the Tests two years ago, made no errors during a great day for the duo as they have rocketed up the leader board to second overall in their Lotus Cortina having been down in 13^th place.

As machinery started to waver with technical woes, mistakes were creeping in on both sides of the rally car as the incredible roads through Cumbria, Westmorland and Lancashire tested the ‘Testers.’

After revisiting the same two tests taken in the Thursday dark, the early sunshine illuminated that which hadn’t been seen so well the night before. Jon Dunning and Pete Johnson were flying around them in their Ford RS2000. The first of the day, regularity one was highlighted by a series of stupendous downhill harpins, whilst regularity two was a particular stand out as the narrow but scenic roads climbed then plunged again, then suddenly the route deviated through slippy forest tracks dense with autumnal foliage, before spitting cars back out onto the long tarmac regularity. Amy Henchoz navigating for Callum Guy in the aggressive looking and glorious sounding V8 Sunbeam Tiger said; “it was awesome in there!” Callum was particularly pleased with the way the powerful car retained its grip on the soggy forest floor. “That suits it, the Tiger was happy in there!” said Callum.

On the fourth regularity of the day, a ‘NO’ board sent cars scurrying in all directions to search for a missing narrow track, whilst a brilliant test over the M6 motorway, through a slalom and diving down through narrow sludge covered tracks between the farm buildings, left some crews as bemused as the watching cows.

Another highlight of the arduous but brilliant day’s rallying was the visit to the Bridge House Farm Tearooms, where crews were greeted by many rally fans and locals residents, some of whom brought along their own classic cars for display. Tea, cakes and a quick break before teams departed over the special ramp, they were each hoping to win the two bottles of Moet and Chandon Champagne on offer for the 1000^th car and competitor on the RAC Rally of the Tests.

Finally, the 1000 count prize went to car 64, the VW of Michael Moss and James Ewing, who have been having a torrid rally so far, so they were definitely cheered up by their award. Later in the day there was another stop and control point at Billy Bob’s Diner close to Preston but seemingly closer to Dallas Texas, with a Monster truck inside the American Diner, with US stye food and music to match was enjoyed by all before they went back into the dark for the last of the competition to lead them to Blackburn and some rest.

But it was to be on military land in Warcup, before and after the lunch halt that would cause some grief and consternation. Mark Bramall and Mark Lillington had been off twice in the MGB, once backwards, and had to be towed out, “one was my error, but we got out and to the control with 15 seconds to spare” said a grinning Mark Bramall. They also lost their exhaust but fixed that back on.

Paul Crosby and Ali Procter lost time behind the goings on, with two cars off in front of them blocking the road before they were towed out. Having lost a minute on Thursday night in their Cooper S, they were unlucky, but happily they are now back in contention in the top ten.

Mark Payton and Miles Fieldhouse fell into a ditch in their Volvo PV544 and were lucky to get a tow out with just a maximum penalty before getting back into the action. Then Steve Head and Oli Waldock lost their exhaust which was all cracked and broken in the Dan Willan ‘Triple RoTT winning loan Volvo’ but it was fixed, only for Steve to later say “Second gear has broken,” but as they were close to Dan’s Bus Depot in Kirby Lonsdale, they deposited the sick Volvo there and picked up Steve’s Ford Escort which Dan Willan has been borrowing! Swop Shop is alive and well and Steve ad Oli are back in the rally with a Ford, but for ‘Skids Only’ now, said Steve.

Jon Dunnning explained what happened to them late in the day, when they had been leading. “We were late at a control on the last regularity as we had missed the junction, so we we're not sure then, but you can see we have dropped some time, but probably 30 to 40, seconds, so it'd be close still, but a good battle. We really enjoyed today, it's been great. We've had a good run, apart from the last reg and the control, but everything's been OK. I just tried to keep it smooth, keep it smooth on the tests, although some of them were a bit nagery!”

Paul Dyas who is now fourth with Martyn Taylor commented; “We had a camper van, then a car coming the other way, and then a van, all before the timing points. So we had no chance. That's just the way the dice rolls. The synchromesh on the gearbox is now good again, that's all working well. It's just been traffic, you can't get away from that, but we had a good last regularity so might have pulled a bit back, but there's still a hell of a long way to go.”