Priceless classic cars tackle brutal winter rally

One of Europe’s toughest classic rallies, LE JOG sees dozens of historic rally cars drive from one of mainland Britain’s most southerly points – Land’s End – to its most northerly – John O’Groats. Along the way they face punishing weather conditions, sleep deprivation and a series of challenging driving tests, all with one eye on the clock.<BR><BR>This year’s event was no different, with sub zero temperatures, snow and ice hampering crews’ progress – but what makes for challenging driving conditions also results in beautiful photographs. Here is a selection of the best.

Air-cooled contender

John and Robert Kiff were well acquainted with tackling country lanes – both hail from Wales and took part in their 1959 Volkswagen Beetle. The people's car saw off all comers in Class 1A, beating some much more exotic machinery.

Winter wonderland

Swiss pair Christopher Oechsle and Bruno Lang took on the elements in their 1966 Volvo 122S – one of two entered in the rally. Despite a committed performance, they wound up 222 minutes off the pace of the Kiff Beetle.

Class victory

Brits David Stanley and Peter Blackett drove their 1961 Triumph TR4 to victory in Class 1B, narrowly beating Robert and Susan McClean in their Rover P4. The sports car was pushed hard by the earlier saloon throughout the event, eventually winning by just 8 mins!

Rock solid and reliable

MGBs are a popular choice with classic rally competitors thanks to their predictable handling and bombproof reliability. Mark Godfrey and Martin Taylor’s blue roadster was built in 1965 and carried them to victory in Class 2B for cars produced between 1962-1967 with engines larger than 1600cc.

Taking on the elements

Class 1A was won by a Volkswagen Beetle, but it wasn’t the only air-cooled classic in contention. John Miles and Andy Elcomb took on the elements in their beautiful 1962 Porsche 356B.

Strong Swede

Irish duo James O’Mahony and Frank Hussey entered the second Volvo 122S. The model is hugely popular in endurance rallying thanks to its rear-wheel-drive layout and a rugged durability.

Old and new

The classic Volvos were joined by a more modern 244 from 1975, which was campaigned by Peter Westcott and Amy Henchoz.

On its door handles

Tony Clark and Brian Neill corner hard in their 1959 Volvo PV544 during one of the punishing autotests that dotted the route north.

Fierce weather

The snow spattered cars of Class 1A, evidence of the blizzard conditions encountered during the night.

Black beauty

Philipp LeibundGut and Nicolas Geigy took part in the Historic Endurance Rally Organisation’s Arrive & Drive Triumph TR4. The manacing black machine sounds as mean as it looks thanks to triple Weber carburettors.

BMW vs Porsche

Porsche 911 is chased by a second Arrive & Drive car, this time a BMW 1602. It may lack the power of its Stuttgart counterpart, but the little BMW handles beautifully and is more than a match when the conditions get tricky.

Line them up

The noticeably higher ride height of the MGA Coupé provided an advantage over the lower stance of the chasing Porsche 356B.

Man and machine

The brutal rally is a test of both man and machine. Here, a Volvo 122S receives some attention from its freezing crew.

Power advantage

The larger engined cars – such as this beautiful Austin-Healey – had an advantage during the more mountainous sections, were their extra power came into its own.

By a whisker

Viaduct provides a striking backdrop to Andy Lane and Iain Tullie’s 1973 BMW 2002tii, which won Class 3B by the slimmest of margins.

Treading carefully

Treacherous conditions were encountered throughout the event, with black ice forcing competitors to tread carefully for fear of ending up in a ditch!

Giving chase

Narrowly beaten in Class 3B, Tomas de Vargas Machuca and Ali Proctor nevertheless put in a fantastic performance to finish second.

Crossing continents

Clarence and Kate Westberg travelled all the way from the United States to take on the challenge, opting to get behind the wheel of an MGB Roadster. Here, they tackle one of the rally's tricky nighttime sections.

Taking your breath away

Breathtaking scenery proved a distraction for drivers, especially when the route turned onto such small, wind swept lanes.

Into the darkness

Compacted snow and pitch black driving conditions didn't phase class winners Andy Lane and Ian Tullie.

Difficult conditions

Previous events had seen little snowfall, but a hard winter in 2017 ensured drivers had to be on their tows to complete the rally – let alone challenge for honours.

Shining bright

Even when the sun was shining a biting cold made driving safely a challenge – though daytime sections were no doubt a relief following the concentration required to compete in total darkness.

Dying embers

Nigel Mason and Ian Marston make the most of the sun's dying rays – and the extra headroom afforded by opting for an MGB GT instead of a Roadster!

Stunning scenery

The long hours, freezing cold and lack of sleep all seem worth it when you're driving through scenery like this. It's enough to make you want to sign up for next year's event!

Over the hills

The weak winter sun may make for some incredible pictures, but it did little to melt the snow and ice on the Highland roads. Horst Pokroppa and Arno Bauschert take it easy in their German-registered 1957 MGA Coupé.

MGs on the move

Another MGB GT makes use of the cover afforded by the trees to make up ground before reaching the next snowy section.

At the autotest

Keeping a steady pace during the long drive to John O'Groats is just one element of the event. A series of complex autotests also provided a chance to make up ground in the standings.

Keeping control

Regular control points ensured drivers were kept honest, even on the most remote reaches of the course.

A welcome sight

Support vehicles were a welcome sight for crews during the more remote sections of the rally – as were fellow competitors.

All the experience

Rally regulars Bill Cleyndert and Dan Harrison put their experience to good use, steering their 1966 Morris Mini to victory in Class 2A.

Italian flair

Swiss pair Pierre Retord and Richard Harri added a sense of Italian flair to proceedings with their 1971 Lancia Fulvia HF.

Bird's eye view

The distance from Land's End to John O'Groats is more than 1000 miles – you get a sense of the distance involved with this fantastic bird's eye view of the course.

Welcome respite

Smooth asphalt provided a welcome respite from compacted snow and ice.

Something different

Keith Jenkins from Wales brought an interesting choice of steed: a 1972 Volvo 144.

Putting in a shift

Alfa Romeo’s may not have the best reputation for reliability, but that didn’t stop Christof Schirra and Oliver Butscher from bringing their beautiful 1968 example. They were one of several crews who put in a terrific shift to keep their cars running.

Fully committed

For many, the Land's End to John O'Groats Rally is a serious business. As well as hundreds of pounds-worth of rally timers and electronic equipment, many competitors adapt their classics to long distance touring, including fitting more comfortable seats and safety harnesses.

Big Six

Triumph 'Big Six' saloons are becoming a popular choice in endurance rallying, partly due to the success of the Club Triumph Round Britain Reliability Run, which sees crews cover more than 2000 miles stopping only for fuel and comfort breaks.

The Blue Oval

Many of the cars that take part in the rally are valuable, such as the beautiful 1973 Ford Escort Mexico of Mike Tanswell and Andy Ballantyne.

Unexpected obstacles

Charles Harrison and Richard Lambley stumble across one of the rally’s unexpected obstacles, slowing down so as not to scare the horses.

Mighty Mini

Andrew Brookes and Nigel Griffiths campaigned 1969 Austin Mini during the event, eventually coming fourth in their class.

From Longbridge with love

Class 2B was dominated by products of Longbridge, Nigel Mason and Ian Marston’s BGT finishing fourth in their class behind Roger Tushingham and Neil Worsfold.

Ready to roll

Owen Turner and Bob Blows came well prepared for the event, having tricked out their 1971 Austin Mini rally car with a full roll cage.

Peak performance

A break in the weather gave crews a fantastic view of Scotland's rugged landscape, which at points in the rally was swathed in cloud heavy with snow.

Town and country

Not all of the rally's sections were in the mountains: along the way there were plenty of small villages and fascinating buildings to take in – though understandably most eyes remained fixed on the road ahead.

Little and large

At times, the incredible landscape simply dwarfed the cars taking part.

Perfectly formed

One of four Minis plugs away during frigid conditions. This example finished fourth in its class.

In the beginning

A selection of Minis, Austin-Healeys and Volvos lines up near the start at Land's End. No sign of the snow that would mark the later stages of the rally!

En masse

Volvos, Porsches and even a Ford Sierra – several competitors gather at one of the stops.

Delightfully unusual

Variety is the spice of life, as proven by Michiel van der Vleden and Pieter Hennipman, who cut a dash in their Dutch-registered 1960 Peugeot 403.

Careful plotting

The carefully chosen route is rightly a point of pride for organisers HERO, and includes everything from charming hump-back bridges to snow covered peaks.

Rolling thunder

Being so close to the shore added another element to the rally, with heavy storms rolling in from the Atlantic throughout the weekend of the rally.

Keeping time

Robert and Susan McClean put in a strong performance in their 1962 Rover P4, challenging for honours in Class 1B thanks to immaculate time keeping.

Battle scars

Battle scarred Volvo picked up some damage along the way, with its driver's side headlamp faired in with a liberal helping of duct tape!

On the maps

Many of the roads used for the rally are small and narrow, requiring not only good driving but great navigating. Close attention must be paid to the roadbook to avoid a wrong turn, which could cost valuable seconds.

A real Triumph

David Stanley and Peter Blackett drove one of two Triumph TR4s in the event, both from 1961. However, they performed best, taking a class win.

Through the lens

Country lanes provided some great opportunities for official photographers Francesco and Roberta Rastrelli to take some arty images.

Picking up damage

More evidence of damage picked up during the snowy night sections. Fortunately, the Porsche 356B remained unharmed!

The finish line

A fantastic sense of camaraderie – and no doubt a lot of relief – marked the end of the rally at John O'Groats. Crews could finally take a well deserved break... at least until next year!