Hunts’ Role Reversal in India

After 20 days and 6000 miles, Richard Clark and Jonathan Round grabbed the win of the Pearl of India rally on the final day in a 1938 Ford V8 Coupe.  Going into the last two regularities of the event, the Bentley 4½ L Open Tourer of Martin and Olivia Hunt had occupied the lead for several days, but their margin to the second placed Ford Escort Works Mexico of Jim Grayson and Simon Spinks was a mere six seconds.

Photos Will Broadhead

Disaster struck on the penultimate regularity when the section was blocked by two lorries, costing the couple a minute in penalties and putting them out of the chase.  However, in another twist of fate, the pursuing Escort missed the start of the regularity, and they too took a minute of penalty, ejecting them from what would surely have been a win with just one regularity to go.  This meant that Clark and Round, who began the day in third place, were surprised to take the top spot of an all-UK podium after closing out the day with no major errors.

From the chaotic highways of India’s mega cities, to the solace of its jungles and sparsely populated farmlands, the HERO/ERA rally hasproved to be a tremendous adventure for competitors

Elsewhere, Irishman Tommy Dreelan and his Scottish navigator George Barrack took the top honours in Class 1, in Tommy’s Chevrolet Fangio Coupe and Class 2 saw French pair, Alain Lejeune and Herve Collette winning, in one of two bright red Volvo 121s entered in the rally.  The class 3 winners were popular Kiwis Martin and Frances Dippie, campaigning a Mercedes Benz 450 SLC.