London to Lisbon

*Margin of Victory Just Three Seconds at End of 10 Days + 2800 kms 

*Platts and Ripley Take Maiden Victory on All Austin Podium

The 2024 HERO-ERA London to Lisbon Rally reached the finish on Saturday May 4th, in the historic city of Lisbon, 2800 km and 10 days after it began at Brookland’s, London. The winners of the event were Graham Platts and Neil Ripley, driving an 1956 Austin Healey 100M, the oldest car on the event.

The margin of victory was a mere 3 seconds, with Ken and Sarah Binstead finishing in second, also in an Austin Healey, but this time a more powerful 3000. Finishing in third place were Dick and Harry Baines, the father and son pairing who had won the previous edition of the event in 2022 and competed in their 1965 Austin Mini Cooper S, completing a trio of Austin’s on the podium.

Mid-Point Drama Shapes Thrilling Conclusion

During the early stages of the competition the lead was held almost solely by Paul Crosby and Pete Johnson, in Paul’s Porsche 911, but a big navigational error on day seven caused them to plummet out of contention.

The Binsteads too suffered a mechanical problem on day five in Spain, that very nearly put them out of the rally altogether, when their clutch release bearing failed. After completing nearly two days with only third gear, they managed to source a replacement and after a late night in the garage fixed the issue. Through careful deployment of their Joker cards, used once to negate the effects of a time penalty, they managed to stay in touch with the lead, which never stretched to more than a few seconds between the top three throughout the event.

Win No 1 for Platts and Ripley

This set up a grandstand finish over the final few days of the rally, as the last legs took place in Portugal. The two leading Healey’s traded seconds and the lead multiple times throughout the concluding three days and went into the last leg separated by just 2 seconds. In the end it would be a slight mistake and loss of control when pushing hard on the last test of the event by Ken Binstead that would hand the advantage to Platts and Ripley. After equaling each other over the final two regularities Platts and Ripley managed to secure their first victory of their career by just three seconds.

Speaking of their triumph Neal Ripley had this to say – “It has been a phenomenal ten days. We have exceeded our own expectations and punched above our weight, and Graham has driven brilliantly. There has been two or three seconds between us [and second] for two or three days now, it has been intense pressure and a fantastic duel.”

Nearly the Fairytale for Stricken Healey 3000

It wasn’t quite the fairytale finish for the Binstead’s, but after so nearly being out, Ken was in a jubilant mood at the finish – “We weren’t expecting to be here given what happened. We have made them work hard for the victory and have enjoyed it. We’ve kept them honest and on a normal day may have done a bit better, but we didn’t leave anything out there, the best guys won”.

So, a three second margin of victory, after 10 days of rallying through England, France, Spain and Portugal. A phenomenally close finish. The next London to Lisbon Rally will take place in 2026, when crews can look forward to doing it all over again.

Ends