Lombard Rally Festival Weston Park

Iconic Lombard Rally Reimagined for a New Generation of Fans

In the 1970s and 1980s, one sporting spectacle in the United Kingdom towered above almost every other for sheer spectator numbers: the legendary Lombard Rally. At its peak, crowds were so vast that more people lined forest tracks and country lanes to watch the rally than attended all Football League matches played that same weekend combined.

It was the defining event of Britain’s golden era of rallying. Fans rose before dawn, wrapped against the cold, and trekked deep into muddy woodland stages to watch the world’s greatest drivers battle unforgiving terrain and each other. Legends such as Ari Vatanen, Hannu Mikkola and Colin McRae etched their names into motorsport folklore with fearless performances that are still spoken about decades later.

Lombard Rally Festival

Today, the spirit of the Lombard Rally has found a new rhythm, tapping into the growing passion for historic rally cars. Rather than simply commemorating the past, the revived series brings it vividly back to life. Iconic drivers return to the wheel of the very machines they once campaigned, sharing stories of triumph, heartbreak and split-second decisions that defined their careers.

The format offers something rare for modern motorsport fans: the chance to see legendary rally cars pushed hard once again on live stages. Alongside historic machines, newer icons also appear, including competitors such as Dave Bonning in a Ford Escort WRC and Jim Patterson driving an Ascona 400.

Many of the routes used for the revived event have not echoed to the sound of rally engines for years. Now they are being reclaimed not merely for demonstration runs, but as living reminders of the era when rallying captivated the nation.

Lombard Rally Festival Weston Park

One of this year’s highlights came on March 7 with a spectacular stage at Weston Park. Set within the sweeping grounds of the historic estate, the famous tarmac stage offers fans an exceptional viewing experience. A vast spectator area overlooks much of the course, providing an unrivalled vantage point as drivers attack the bends and straights at full speed.

Among the sights thrilling the crowd was Dave Shipton powering past spectators in a Mitsubishi Evo 9, the car flashing through the estate roads with the stately home looming in the background a dramatic blend of motorsport and heritage.

More than a Rally

Beyond the stage action, the event embraces its rich history with a classic and sports car display, turning the day into a celebration of motoring culture. As evening falls, drivers and invited guests gather at The Orangery for a social event where stories flow as freely as the applause that greeted the day’s on-stage heroics.

This year’s featured marque is Martin Roberts’ formidable Audi Quattro S1 E2 the four-wheel-drive machine that revolutionised rallying during the Group B era. Multiple examples of the iconic car tackled the Weston Park stage, their unmistakable five-cylinder soundtrack sure to stir memories among long-time fans while captivating a new generation.

For those who remember the forests packed shoulder-to-shoulder with spectators, the revived Lombard Rally is a nostalgic return. For younger enthusiasts, it is a rare opportunity to see rallying history in motion.

Either way, the event serves as a powerful reminder of why rallying once became Britain’s most watched weekend sport and why, decades later, the magic still endures.

Sometimes the best way to spend a Saturday remains the simplest: standing trackside, watching remarkable machines pushed to their limits, and feeling once again the thrill that made the Lombard Rally legendary.

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