Quest starts to find third Bob Rutherford Historic Rally Scholarship Young Navigator 2026

Following the outright success of the first Bob Rutherford Scholarship winner’s achievements after young navigator Danielle Pool, then 15 from Dorset, scored an incredible sixth overall, a class win and two further class podiums, she effectively advanced her navigational career.  

The 2025 Bob Rutherford Scholarship winner, Miles Fieldhouse, went even further as a new recruit and scholarship winner in 2025 with an outright win, a third and two fourth places overall and several class wins. He was later parachuted in halfway through LeJog as a replacement navigator in a vintage Bentley for the first time, emerging with a second in class. Miles is now in demand. 

Miles was emphatic about what the Bob Rutherford Scholarship had done for his fledgling career; “It opened doors that I never thought were there, it gave me an incredible opportunity, including sitting next experienced drivers and to learn from them. It has provided a big stepping stone to my rally career, to the extent that I am competing in 20-25 events this year, that’s one every other weekend! I am very grateful to the Bob Rutherford Scholarship.”  

Now the quest is on to find the successor and next in line to be trained for historic rally navigator stardom. 

The scholarship winner’s prize represents a package of pure encouragement. Designed to help young navigators in the spirit of Bob Rutherford, who was always encouraging and helping youngsters into rallying, the winner will receive three free entries as a navigator into two HERO Challenges and Rally of the Tests Lite. 

The third scholarship winner will be sitting alongside an experienced rally driver on each event in 2026 after mentoring by HERO-ERA experts and attending selected Motorsport UK Academy courses to add to the benefits. Selected training and free entry into all HERO-ERA navigation classes and seminars are all part of the programme designed to bring new navigators into the sport and help advance young rallyists in navigation.    

HERO-ERA are looking for keen young people to develop or start their skill set in the art of historic rally navigation. The process isn’t just aimed at rally enthusiasts, the company is eager to discover people from organisations such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award, The Scouting Association, Apprenticeships, work schemes and other leading practical movements. Applicants may have interest or experience in other relevant sports and wish to consider a start in rallying. 

Applications are due now via the link to the entry form highlighted at the foot of this release with applications closing on March 27th. The HERO-ERA judging panel will then sit to review the applicants and select six finalists by April 3rd. 

Six lucky candidates will make it through to the final, 'The Scholarship Shoot-Out' on April 16th, when the 'Super Six' finalists will undergo navigational tests and interviews before practical navigational exercises on a regularity road section and on a speed test at the fantastic Bicester Motion track, both sitting alongside experienced drivers. Bicester Motion have been incredible generous as they have donated the track time as part of their contribution towards the scholarship. The winner and runner up will be announced at the end of the day, the lucky winner will also receive a £100 discount voucher that can be redeemed for a new Brantz trip meter. 

James Phillips, Head of Competition HERO-ERA 

”I’m delighted to continue the Bob Rutherford Scholarship for 2026, it firmly cements the HERO-ERA ethos of encouraging as many young people into classic rallying as possible, something Bob was very passionate about. With the substantial winner’s prize of 3 fully funded rallies, its proven a great stepping stone for Danni and Miles to further their journey in the sport and I’m looking forward to seeing the 2026 applicants ” 

link to application form here: https://form.typeform.com/to/NY7C0y8I  

Summary of benefits for the winner: 

• Individual mentoring to help evolve individual’s understanding and skill-set 

• Free entry into all navigation seminars/classes. 

• Selected training in parallel with MSUK co-driver academy. 

• Free entry and provision of Arrive & Drive car with experienced driver into 2 x HERO Challenges and RAC Rally of the Tests Lite (events subject to change). 

• Travel and accommodation, subsistence costs paid by HERO-ERA 
• Branded rally bag containing all the navigational aids required supplied from the HERO Store, this would include a poti, stopwatch etc. 

May be a quote from Miles on how its helped him? Apparently he’s doing 20 odd events this year!