Close contest for ‘Super Six’ finalists in Bob Rutherford Historic Rally Scholarship ‘Shoot Out’ for Young Navigators at Bicester Heritage (16th April 2026)
*Tough decisions but expert HERO-ERA panel choose a winner, Jocelyn Jones (23) from Stockport
*Third recipient of Bob Rutherford Scholarship wins full training, free entry into three HERO-ERA 2026 rallies to navigate a top driver, plus attend selected Motorsport UK Academy courses
*Close call as runner up Max Denny (18) from Hereford City is promised support to help further his career
*Scholarship winner receives original Bob Rutherford navigational magnifying ‘poti’ as trophy
Jocelyn Jones was selected from six scholarship finalists competing at Bicester Motion to win full training and funding to navigate expert drivers in three 2026 HERO-ERA rallies, whilst also attending selected Motorsport UK Academy courses. The other finalists who produced such a close contest were; George Simmons (16, Rustington, Brighton), Elliot Medley (20, Alresford, Hampshire) Oliver Sunderland (17,Fleet, Hampshire) runner up Max Denny (18, Hereford City), Tilly Windsor (16, North Shropshire). They all impressed the expert rally panel of Guy Woodcock, James Phillips, Gethin Phillips, Julia Perry, Tony Jardine, Gemma Bray and championship winning navigator Ian Canavan after they were put through rigorous tests.
The finalists went through a full day of monitored training and tests designed to bring out the potential star navigator in each of them. Navigation of speed tests and average speed regularities were attempted whilst been driven in HERO-ERA Arrive & Drive rally cars. The finalists all then competed in a map plotting exercise after they had been through general navigation and media training which included a TV style interview.
Winner Jocelyn Jones commented; “ I don't think it has sunk in yet. It's quite unbelievable, really, I couldn’t even get a word out. This means the start of my rally career, it will mean many big things, some pretty cool things and I will carry on learning as much as I can about being a really good navigator. Hopefully now I'll be able to convince my dad to drive me somewhere and I can tell him what to do a bit more, as well as meeting some new people and make a really good community out of it.
“I'll definitely still keep on with the driving I like to do, but I'm very excited to take more of a foray into the navigation, especially in a more competitive environment than I'm used to.
I really put myself out there, because I'm not really a very sociable person and this is very much out of my comfort zone, trying to actually push myself to do something, especially when it's as big as this, and there's so much going on. Getting back into my navigational head was a good thing to do as it was a close run thing.
“The other five were really incredible and really great people, and I can't wait to see what they do as well, because they're all very much going to be able to go off into that world and do so much more as well, so hopefully we will see each other again.”
HERO-ERA Head of Competition, James Phillips commented; “It was close but we have a really good winner, it was unanimous from the judges. I think Jocelyn Jones won because she was very calm, I think she has a level head, all the qualities you need for a navigator which just came across in all the different tasks, and came across well.
“We also have a good runner up in Max Denny, he has great potential as well. I certainly think we can try and help him and get him into some events – we will help him as much as we can. We will help Jocelyn through the process, including the Motorsport UK Academy, and it was great that Cameron Biggs from MSUK came over and gave a talk to everyone about the Academy.”
Judge and former HERO-ERA Competition Director Guy Woodcock said; “It's such a great thing that we do in memory of Bob, for those who knew him, he was all about getting the youngsters involved in this sport. He was passionate about it and if he had been here today, I'm sure he would have gone with our choice of Jocelyn, she's got that love of the sport, and she's certainly got the enthusiasm which came through when she met with all of the people on the judging panel. From a personal point of view this is something that is a great legacy for Bob Rutherford and the family, especially for the boys Will and Ed. Long may it continue.”
Max Denny (18, Hereford City) said after he was announced in second place; “This is great. I mean, just the day in itself has been amazing. I've learned so much, and I definitely want to get out there, as I said, they're going to look to support me anyway, to try and get me to the events, which would be great. It has been a great learning curve, I've learned so many new things today, so I cannot wait to get out there.”
The ‘Super Six’ finalists were:
Max Denny (18, Hereford City) – Built a rally Mini with his Grandad and never looked back! Loves and watches rallying all over the UK, now wants to get into a rally car and follow his passion. Says this opportunity would help him learn and progress. Played cricket for Gloucestershire and hockey to a high level.
Tilly Windsor (16, North Shropshire) – A Duke of Edinburgh Award winner with ‘Best on Camp’ award at Combined Cadet Force Winter Mountaineering Camp in 2025, Tilly has been at the Silverstone Junior Rally Academy to understand and better learn the navigator’s role. Wants to progress as a navigator and achieve a degree in engineering in five year’s time.
Jocelyn Jones (23, Stockport, Greater Manchester) – Regularly rained on sitting in the dickey seat of her Dad’s Humber on road rallies and caught the rally bug driving on auto solos and driving tests. Switched her attention to navigation and is focussing on improving her core skills to challenge herself and enjoy historic motorsport from the hot seat.
Elliot Medley (20, Alresford, Hampshire) – Hooked on motorsport since attending the British GP with his Granddad in 2016, is planning to restore a vintage Massey Fergusson tractor with him as well. Multi colour Duke of Edinburgh Award winner, he lead a five day Lakeland Mountain Expedition in inclement weather to achieve Gold. Studying Aerospace Engineering, he describes the navigator’s role as an ‘intellectual puzzle.’
George Simmons (17, Rustington, Brighton) – A car enthusiast since he could walk, prefers historic cars for the ‘sounds and smells you just don’t get from newer cars.’ Sees becoming an historic rally navigator through the scholarship as a ‘perfect opportunity.’ Tests himself on long navigational walks and was in the Nautical Training Corps, he is a member of the Goodwood Marshals Club. Wants to be a session musician in the future but develop his rally passion alongside.
Oliver Sunderland (17, Fleet, Hampshire) – A Level 6 football referee and Level 1 coach at a tender age, Oliver wants to complete a BeEd in sport and become a PE teacher. Has been in and around rally cars since he was tiny as his Dad was heavily involved in the Armed Forces Rally Team. Wants to be involved in motorsport alongside his sports career and sees the scholarship as a dedicated pathway to actually getting into a rally car as a navigator, calling it a ‘spectacular opportunity.’