A rally training weekend came to a close with a 120 mile race around Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire.

The HERO-ERA 2024 A Novice Trial concluded with the mini rally in relentless rain.

The training weekend welcomed the crews embarking on a mix of classroom-based and practical sessions to hone their rallying skills.

The route threaded through the lanes and villages surrounding HERO’s Bicester Heritage HQ.

It involved four speed-controlled regularities for the teams to test their navigation skills, with two speed tests commencing and concluding the road sections, offering an opportunity for the drivers to showcase their skills on the airfield at Bicester Heritage.

Vintage pre-war vehicles, among a range of motors dating from 1925 to 1990, led the charge.

The competitors ventured on the open road for two regularities before a midday respite.

Whitllebury Hall offered the teams a chance to take a breather and draw inspiration from the hall's walls, adorned with photographs of the greatest Grand Prix drivers ever known.

Among the competitors were Mike and Aoife Dreelan, who were soaked thoroughly in their 1927 Type 37 Bugatti.

Novice navigator Aoife Dreelan had to manage without a working trip meter.

Danielle Pool, this year’s Bob Rutherford Scholarship winner, was also navigating through the rain, and noticed some officiating errors on her timecard

The midday scores revealed that car 55, the Peugeot 205 navigated by 16-year-old George Elkins, had the most successful morning.

The Mini of Christopher and Claire Day followed in second, trailed by father and son Andrew and Michael Dent in the BMW E12 in third.

The second half of the competition took the drivers towards the finish at Bicester.

The eventual victors, Christopher and Claire Day, manoeuvred their Mini to a 23-second triumph, followed by Andrew and Michael Dent.

Brothers Charles and Andrew Eve's Alfa Romeo claimed third.

Charles Eve won last year with a different navigator.

Cristopher Day said: "The engine was out of the car until Thursday.

"Almost a complete rebuild was needed and a week ago we wouldn’t have dreamed that this would be possible.

"Thank you to the whole team, the help and backup has been phenomenal.

"The mechanical assistance crew will do anything to keep you in the rally. Thank you too all.”

Clerk of the course, Andy Pullan, said: "It has gone really well, a strong entry and a large number of total newbies who have been able to compound their existing knowledge and learn plenty of new skills.

"The weather hasn’t played ball, but it didn’t dampen the spirits at all, and everyone has got stuck in regardless.

"It’s been great to see all the smiley faces and hopefully there have been plenty of educational lessons learned. I look forward to seeing them all in the future.”