HERO-ERA, organiser of historic regularity rallies within the UK, Europe and beyond, is running its inaugural youth-focused ‘Rally of the Ages’ next weekend (June 3) from the Bicester Heritage site in Oxfordshire.
The one-day event, which has a capacity for 80 entries but was increased to 90 following high demand, features cars ranging from a 1924 Bentley 3-Litre to a 2008 Lotus Exige and is designed to encourage younger people – and newcomers of all ages – into taking part in historic rallying.
Participants as young as age 12 can take part as a navigator, while drivers must be at least 17 years of age and hold a full road license as well as the free-of-charge Motorsport UK RS Clubman Licence. Meanwhile, HERO-ERA is providing a further incentive for younger participation in Saturday’s rally: crews with a combined age of less than 70 years will receive a full refund on their entry, provided they take the start of the event.
That has proven to be a success, with 55% of the registered entrants being totally new to the sport and 30% of the crews being under 30 years of age (combined).
After checking in at the Bicester Heritage site, there will be scrutineering, a driver’s briefing and a tutorial for the newcomers in the morning. The 90 cars and crews will then head to the on-site test track before taking on some of Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire’s best roads for four individual runs, before finishing back in Bicester for a final run on the test track.
Unlike stage rallying, regularities don’t involve driving flat-out through special stages: instead, they take place mainly on public roads and come with the objective of testing the driver and co-driver’s skills at maintaining a precise average speed over a defined route. As such, virtually any road car can be used, provided it meets the specific entry requirements of the event – making them a popular and cost-effective form of motorsport.
Click here for further information about the Motorsport UK RS Clubman License and how to apply (for free).
HERO-ERA organises various regularity rally events throughout the year; click here to visit its website.