Sport
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The Official Programme explained, “Different routes are
followed from the nine starting points, each approximately
1,000 miles (1,600 km) long, but all finishing at Torquay. On
possible, and any considerable deviation from this time results
in loss of marks.”
As well as completing the route to a time schedule the
competitors were required to perform a special test involving
slow running, acceleration and braking.
Additionally a Concours d’Elegance was held at the finish in
Torquay. There was no official winner, although Colonel A H
Loughborough in a Lanchester 15/18 was recorded as having
the fewest penalty points in the decisive test at the finish.
Pre- & post-World War II years
The following year’s RAC Rally followed a similar format, but
with Hastings as the chosen finish. Over three hundred
competitors entered, and this time Miss Kitty Brunel, driving
an AC Ace, was the driver with the fewest penalties.
The rally was run annually until 1939, after which the
outbreak of the Second World War forced its suspension.
However, it resumed in 1951, and has been contested every
year since with only two exceptions, 1957 (due to the Suez
Crisis) and 1967 (due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth
disease). This latter incident was on the eve of the event, so
competitors staged a mock rally at the Bagshot proving
ground as consolation for the press and television (ATV
had been persuaded to provide major coverage with in-car
cameras for the first time).
every route there are four controls in addition to the starting
and finishing controls, and these are open for periods varying
from seven to four hours. Competitors may report at these
controls at any time during the hours of opening..... At the final
control they must check in as near their fixed finishing time as
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