Under the overcast March skies, the Lombard Rally Festival brought the sights and sounds of rallying's golden era back to one of the sport's most storied venues. Across two action-packed days, a jam packed field of iconic rally cars took to an all-tarmac stage through the grounds of the historic Shropshire estate, rewarding spectators with a celebration of cars spanning more than four decades of the sport.
A Venue Steeped in Rallying History
Weston Park is no stranger to the sound of anti-lag and spinning tyres. Situated in Shropshire, the grand country estate was a regular fixture on the Lombard RAC Rally circuit stretching back to the 1970s, hosting special stages that became the stuff of legend for those who watched the sport's greatest names battle through its grounds. To see rally cars return here is to reconnect with something genuinely significant in British motorsport heritage.
Spectators were able to watch cars depart from the start line before the stage threaded back through a sequence of tight sections and out into the estate. The compact, accessible nature of the event was one that paid dividends with an all-in-one experience where the paddock, stage viewing and refreshment facilities all sat within easy reach.
All-Tarmac, All Action
The demonstration stage was entirely a smooth tarmac surface of the estate roads offering an suitable canvas for a field of period machinery, many of which were purpose-built for the asphalt championship rounds that defined a generation of rallying. Cars ran multiple passes across the two days, with action beginning from lunchtime on Saturday and continuing through to early evening, before resuming for a full day of running on Sunday.
The cold, grey conditions that settled over Weston Park for the weekend did little to dampen enthusiasm with the crackle of exhausts cutting through the silence of the Shropshire countryside.
From Escorts to Group B Legends
If the setting provided the backdrop, it was the cars that delivered the spectacle. The entry list spanned four decades of the sport, from the pioneering machinery of the 1960s through to the early World Rally Championship era which provided a rolling timeline of the sport's evolution laid out on tarmac.
The Ford Escort Mk I and Mk II variants that dominated British and international rallying throughout the 1970s drew attention from the crowd with their sideways cornering style which was a reminder of an era when commitment behind the wheel was everything.
Group B however, provided the moments of pure theatre. The Audi Quattro which could be heard from two counties away was among others on show with its four-wheel-drive system and turbocharged power output still imposing performance by any measure. These were the cars that redefined what a rally car could be, and at Weston Park they remained as dramatic as their reputation suggested.
Completing the field were two machines that bookended a remarkable chapter in the sport’s history. Firstly the Lancia Stratos, arguably the most celebrated purpose-built rally brought a touch of Italian theatre to the Shropshire estate. Developed by Bertone and powered by a Ferrari Dino V6, the Stratos was a radical departure from the road car-based machinery of its rivals when it arrived in the early 1970s, and it remains a stunning piece of design to this day. Its three consecutive World Rally Championship titles between 1974 and 1976 cemented its place in the sport, and at Weston Park it drew the kind of attention that few other cars in the paddock could. Alongside it sat the Ford Escort WRC. Introduced in 1997 as Ford’s return to full factory-backed World Rally Championship competition, the Escort WRC was back at the top tier of the sport after a long absence.
Chequered Flag
The Lombard Rally Festival's return to Weston Park was, by any measure, a success. The combination of an historically venue, an impressively varied entry list and a spectator-friendly format produced an excellent event. For anyone with even an interest in rallying's history, it is the kind of occasion that is difficult to leave without a smile.
The Lombard Rally Festival continues its 2026 tour with further events planned at locations including Craufurdland Castle, Brechin Castle, Longleat, Bath, Grimsthorpe Castle and St. Giles.
