Long time FIVA Partner HERO-ERA announced the fourth edition of the Rally for the Ages, a youth-focused historic rally and FIVA registered event designed to introduce young people and families to the world of historic motoring. Scheduled to take place on 11 July 2026, the event will start and finish in Hardwick, near Bicester, continuing the now well-established tradition of providing an accessible and welcoming first step into rally competition.
Since its launch in 2023, Rally for the Ages has become widely known for its unique “For the Young for Free” concept, which allows crews with a combined age under 70 to receive a full refund of their entry fee. The initiative has proved highly successful in attracting younger participants, with organisers expecting another strong turnout following the 2025 edition in which 30 percent of competitors were teenagers. Among them were three navigators aged just twelve, including the youngest winning navigator in the event’s history.
The rally’s format is deliberately designed to help beginners gain confidence while still offering a genuine competitive challenge. After scrutineering, signing-on and a pre-event briefing, crews will set out onto the winding country roads around Bicester to tackle two regularities and two driving tests before taking a break. During the interval, competitors can gather at the HERO-ERA Airstream Café for refreshments and to review their performance before heading back out for two additional regularities and tests on the 80-mile route. The day concludes with the return to the finish for results and prizegiving, where participants can enjoy the social side of rallying with fellow newcomers.
Over its first three editions, Rally for the Ages has attracted an eclectic mix of historic and modern machinery. In 2025, James Portway and his son Lorcan entered the event in a 103-year-old Vauxhall 30/98, using the rally as their first introduction to competition. “We wanted to give it a try and we loved it,” Portway said afterwards. Other memorable entries have included Anna and Louisa Getley driving their Bentley 3-4½ around the perimeter track at Bicester Motion with obvious enthusiasm, and siblings Tamzin and Roland Thomas campaigning their father’s bright green Mini 1275 GT, securing a second consecutive podium finish.
Beyond simply providing an enjoyable day of motoring, the rally has also become an important platform for nurturing new talent. Jack Havey, a finalist for the Bob Rutherford Scholarship, was only sixteen when he navigated his father Jonathan to victory in the inaugural 2023 Rally for the Ages in their Volkswagen Golf. The following year he returned to claim second place while navigating Tim Sawyer’s Escort Mexico. Another emerging competitor is Imogen Shepherd, who navigated her father Jonathan to victory in their BMW and followed it with a second-place finish in 2024, demonstrating the rally’s ability to encourage young competitors toward future success.
One of the most memorable performances came in 2025 from 12-year-old Beatrix Bloxham, who navigated her father Nick in their yellow Ford Escort Mexico to overall victory. Her calm and precise navigation earned her not only the rally win but also the Clockwatcher’s Award for best navigator of the day, a result that left her father immensely proud and reinforced the Bloxham family’s deep rallying heritage.
The event’s relaxed and inclusive spirit means that many participants simply aim to complete the rally and enjoy the experience. Rosanna Talbot, who entered with Alfi Baker in her 2017 Ford Fiesta, recalled how their preparation was refreshingly simple: “I put the car through the car wash, filled it with petrol and somehow we won the Youngest Crew Award.”
HERO-ERA Head of Competition James Phillips emphasised the importance of Rally for the Ages within the organisation’s calendar and its broader mission to bring younger generations into historic motoring. He noted that the event provides an ideal introduction to rallying while maintaining a balance between enjoyment and competition. Phillips also highlighted HERO-ERA’s ongoing commitment to youth participation through initiatives such as the Bob Rutherford Scholarship and discounted entries for competitors under 35 in other events.
With its welcoming atmosphere, manageable format and strong focus on mentoring new competitors, Rally for the Ages has quickly become a cornerstone of HERO-ERA’s efforts to ensure the future of historic rallying. As preparations begin for the 2026 edition, the event continues to demonstrate how heritage motoring can inspire a new generation to discover the thrill and tradition of rally competition.