The Scottish Malts Rally 2025 concluded on 5 September in front of the elegant Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, after five exhilarating days and more than 915 miles of competition. This biennial regularity rally once again delivered breath-taking scenery, close-fought competition, and an international field of classic cars.
Emerging victorious for the first time were Ken and Sarah Binstead, driving their 1959 Austin Healey 3000. Their triumph came after a nail-biting contest with defending champions Dick and Harry Baines, who finished just four seconds behind in their newly prepared 1972 Porsche 911E. Rounding out the podium were Paul Hernaman and Ray Crowther in a Porsche 924S, who overcame electrical issues to secure third place.
This year’s Scottish Malts brought together 41 crews from across the globe, with participants travelling from America, Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, and Europe. True to tradition, the route began and ended at Gleneagles and ventured as far north as Inverness and as far west as the spectacular Isle of Mull. Competitors were treated to unforgettable scenery—from windswept coasts to mountain passes—while also visiting 14 iconic Scottish distilleries along the way. The visits, naturally, were strictly alcohol-free during rally hours.
The contest for first place remained undecided until the very last day. The Binsteads, who had been steadily closing the gap on the Baines since day one, finally seized the lead at the end of day three. From then on, they defended their position with determination to secure their long-awaited maiden win, following a string of near-misses in recent years. “We’re delighted, absolutely thrilled,” said Sarah Binstead. “It’s been a fabulous five days. We’ve been on roads we probably would never take ourselves on. So, it’s a win on our first exploration of Scotland. We’ve finally done it—we’ve got bragging rights now!” Her husband Ken added: “We couldn’t relax. We’d come up here for a holiday, and we ended up with an incredibly close competition, which is brilliant, but all credit to the Baines. They pushed us all the way… finally, we were able to get that elusive first win – great!”
For the Baines, the switch from their familiar Mini Cooper S to the Porsche 911E brought both challenges and opportunities. A snapped throttle cable on the final morning nearly ended their rally, but quick intervention from mechanics kept them in contention. “It went very well, really enjoyed it,” said Dick Baines. “A nice car. If we can get the repairs done in time, we’ll hopefully ship off on Thursday to drive to Geneva for the Classic Marathon.” Harry Baines added: “The throttle cable snapped in the middle of Oban, just off the ferry from Mull, but the mechanical assistance crews jumped in to help. We were always very close, three or four seconds, but well done to Ken and Sarah—congratulations to them on their first win.”
While the top two crews fought a duel of seconds, Paul Hernaman and legendary navigator Ray “Crow” Crowther delivered a strong and consistent performance to finish third, 38 seconds adrift of the leaders. “Yesterday was a little bit dramatic for us. We lost the electrics altogether, but fortune was in our favour,” said Hernaman. “We managed to keep going because of other people’s problems, and here we are on the podium. We are chuffed.” Crowther added with humour: “I remember watching BBC Top Gear with Colin McRae and Tony Mason. Colin would say, ‘No problem, Tony’. Well, in contrast, we had plenty of problems!” Behind them, James and Gill Holt secured fourth overall and a class win in their Mercedes Pagoda, 23 seconds further back.
As competitors gathered for the prize giving, Clerk of the Course Guy Woodcock praised both the spirit of the crews and the demanding yet rewarding nature of the event. “This year’s Scottish Malts contained a bit of everything—from typical Scottish weather to landslides and, of course, incredible cars and roads,” he said. “All the competitors really got stuck in and enjoyed it to the full, which is what rallying at this level is all about.”
The Scottish Malts Rally is known as an accessible yet challenging step for competitors building towards longer endurance events. With its blend of world-class roads, iconic landscapes, and international camaraderie, the 2025 edition reaffirmed its special place in the hearts of competitors and organisers alike.
Pictures by Blue Passion Photo
