Rally for the Ages 2026 Rally Report
*Nick and Beatrix Bloxham (13) defend Rally for the Ages crown
*Two rally rookies feature on overall podium
*Former competitive aeroplane pilot enjoys rally debut
*“We're making sure that classic cars survive as generations go on.”
At its core HERO-ERA’s Rally for the Ages aims to introduce the younger generation to both rallying and historic motorsport. The fourth edition of this event did just that and some.
For Germany’s Julia Steinle, this was a maiden rally, climbing aboard a spectacular Alitalia-liveried Lancia Beta alongside Austrian Stefan Arnreiter in the navigator seat. It’s fair to say Steinle, who was once a competitive aeroplane pilot, may now have a new high octane hobby to pursue.
“So after my very first rally, I gotta say it's been incredible. We took a couple of wrong turns, but it turned out okay and we did our best,” said the 26-year-old Steinle, who piloted one of three HERO-ERA Arrive and Drive rally cars, supported by partner and Official Time Keepers, Tudor Watches.
“I used to be a competitive pilot, so the concept of flying against other people is similar to a rally. We have turn points, waypoints that we have to find.
“For me, classic cars have a certain look and feel. I'm a designer; my background is graphic design. The reason why I appreciate all those classic cars is the thought that went into the design.
"It's been so cool to meet incredible people, very inspiring personas and I'm really happy to be part of this. It feels like a big family.”
Run over an 80-mile route, in the resplendent Oxfordshire countryside bathed in heatwave sunshine, 80 pre-1991 cars, powered by sustainable fuel provided by SUSTAIN, lined up to tackle four tests and four regularities. The healthy entry list featured several crews, whose combined age was under 70 years of age, which meant the £275 entry fee was waived. This is one of HERO-ERA’s initiatives to lower the barriers to entry for the younger generation.
And once again a member of this future crop of talent that was celebrating at the end. After winning last year’s event, expectation levels had risen for father and daughter pairing Nick and Beatrix Bloxham. The proverbial targets were on their backs but once again they prevailed in stunning fashion to claim overall victory. The triumph came with Beatrix having recently turned 13-years of age.
“It has been fantastic to be honest, it was really enjoyable. Obviously, having won it last year there is always a bit of expectation and hope you can do the same again and Beatrix did a fantastic job. She didn’t put a foot wrong all day, I’m very proud,” said Nick Bloxham.
“I’m happy. My dad’s driving was alright. It is always fun to try this. It wasn’t too bad out there today, some of the navigation was tricky,” said Beatrix.
Nick, added: “It is a good opportunity for young people to get involved who might not necessarily have the opportunity to do this. Competing as a family is also very nice. If you get the bug you never know where it can take you in motorsport.”
The overall podium was also filled by rallying newcomers with Alistair Leckie and rookie navigator Jess Simmons, another making a rally debut, guiding their 1984 Saab 900 Turbo to second.
“The rally experience was absolutely amazing, it is not what I expected at all, it was really good fun and I would definitely do it again,” said Simmons.“You can just come, have a blast and if you end up doing well, it is a bonus.”
The overall podium was completed by another crew featuring a rally rookie. Italian driver Francesco di Valmarana tackled this event last year but this time he was joined by his daughter Serafina, who had only previously contested one rally event. The pair managed to wrestle their stunning 1975 Lancia Fulvia Montecarlo to third.
“It is absolutely fantastic, Serafina was a great navigator and it is great to see that a second sister [in this family] is stepping into the sport,” said Francesco. “I’m hoping one day my two daughters will be pilot and co-pilot in a rally."
“I’ve really enjoyed it. If I have the time I would like to do more rallying,” said Serafina, who also won the highest placed Under-18 competitor award.
An impressive and equally encouraging three rookies on the overall podium highlighted a small percentage of the young crews in action. Historic motorsport has earned a stereotype as an arena for the more seasoned campaigner, but try telling that to Rupert White (19) and Jack Morley (30), who thoroughly enjoyed piloting an extraordinary 1930 Bentley Lagonda, the oldest car in the field. The pair saw the rally advertised on Instagram and decided to give it a go, finishing seventh in the pre-1960 class despite this being Rupert’s first time driving the car.
“I think we have got to get as many young people as possible to keep this sport going, and especially get more young people into the old cars,” said Morley.
It is not only aspiring drivers and co-drivers that Rally for the Ages hopes to inspire. Archie Huntingford (14), who was calling the directions for his grandfather Roger (70), has his sights on a career as a classic car mechanic.
“We both love classic cars and Archie comes into the workshop to help me work on them and he has a passion for classic cars, and has decided he wants a career as a classic car engineer,” said Roger.
“I’ve been around them most of my life and I just really like classic cars. I want to do some hands on work with them,” added Archie.
HERO-ERA partnership director Patrick Burke was impressed with the event, which is proving immensely popular with the next generation of historic rallying competitors.
“I think it's great. This is a great way to spend time with your child. It's a great way to maybe even do something before your kids go to university. So it's communication, it's fun, it's engaging. And the two youngest navigators are 13 and 14. That is incredible because you're not just taking the next younger generation, but the one after that as well.
“I think that driving a classic car is recycling. You're recycling the master skills of the past. We're keeping those skills alive. We're making sure that these things survive as generations go on.”
It’s an event that also ticks a lot of boxes for timekeeping partner Tudor Watches, whose mantra is “born to dare.”
“What is more daring than driving a car that is 50 years old….But at Rally for the Ages there is a important point to make, classic cars and watches are facing a similar problem which is how can young people get into this hobby,” said Cole Pennington communications officer for Tudor Watches.
“The passion for horology and classic cars; we must save from dwindling so that is why this event is interesting for us, and this is why we brought some people to come and participate in this rally. It is absolutely paramount to have events like this to get young people into motorsport.”