Martin McCormack became the first driver to win the Roger Albert Clark Rally four times when he triumphed on the 2023 edition with co-driver Barney Mitchell in their Ford Escort Mk2.
The 23-27 November event, in Wales, Scotland and England, was conceived to recreate the RAC Rallies of the 1970s and ʼ80s and was a huge success, even bringing parking woes on the Friday, such was the demand from enthusiastic fans. With more than 150 starters, this was the biggest and best yet in the eventʼs 20-year history, and attracted a host of star drivers.
For much of the rally, Oliver Solberg set a fearsome pace with co-driver Elliott Edmondson in the Ford Escort Mk2 owned by Oliverʼs father, 2003 World Rally Championship winner Petter. Solberg/Edmondson were more than five and a half minutes clear of the rest of the field when a halfshaft failed and sidelined them on Sunday evening. They restarted the following morning in a bid to salvage second, but slid off in Kielder and into retirement.
McCormack/Mitchell had suffered an electrical short on the opening day, but when the leaders faltered, they swept ahead and, taking a measured approach to the final day, claimed a famous win. Star names such as former WRC event winner Kris Meeke, 2019 European Rally Champion Chris Ingram and Osian Pryce played a part at the head of the action, but all failed to finish.
There was a devastating final-stage retirement for the Lancia Stratos HF of Seb Perez and Gary McElhinney, with a failed water pump denying the Italian supercar the runner-up spot. Instead, up into a impressive second place came the Mk2 Ford Escort of Cathan McCourt and Liam Moynihan, and completing the overall podium were Jason Pritchard and Phil Clarke (Ford Escort Mk2 RS 1800).
Historic Category 2 went to the Escort Mk1 of Mike Stuart and Sinclair Young, while Pete Stimson and Mark Butler took their Ford Anglia to Category 1 spoils.
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Three decades after the first LeJog reliability trial, the 2023 edition from 2-5 December was
