HERO Challenge Championship set for 8th season due to demand

It’s manageable timewise, it is achievable for all levels of skill, it is a sprint rally series that attracts championship winning and novice crews alike. The HERO Challenge Championship is back for its eighth series in 2027 due to popular demand – in fact, all three rounds of the championship are now open on the HERO-ERA website with entries already coming in!

The one day rally challenges are always a ‘full on’ day of exciting action with an average of eight tests and six regularities over a 150 mile route. With scrutineering on a Friday afternoon through to the evening, the rally follows on Saturday with a 5.00 pm finish then the Prize Giving. The format works for most.

The HERO Challenge Championship is open to all model types of cars pre 1991 and for anyone under the age of 35, there is a 30% discount on the entry fee! There is always a great variety of rally cars entered, from Hillman Imps to vintage Rileys. And for the record, unusual entries have prevailed, even taking top honours! ASAAB 900 Turbo was a double winner whilst the most recent winning car of the 2026 championship was a Lotus Elan 2 +2, hardly an ideal rally machine.

The 2026 HERO Challenge Champion who piloted that surprisingly suitable Lotus Elan, John King, explained why he thinks the challenge competition is so attractive to competitors; John said; “Just look at all the different characters who enter and they all want to do well, so it is very competitive which is a draw. Many are there for the fun and experience of course, but if you want to go for the championship you have to perform in all three events and be on the money! Young Miles Fieldhouse and Mike Cochrane were great in the navigator’s seat, but you and the car have to perform as well.

“Part of the attraction is the wide spread of awards, including class wins to go for. The other bonus for novices is that they can get help and advice. On my first ever HERO Challenge I remember overhearing champion Paul Crosby advising a young Belgian how he should reverse the clocks, which was a top tip we then used. Now I am asked for advice at times and help as much as I can as it is all part of the sport.”

HERO Challenge One will be located on the outskirts of Basingstoke, running through the Hampshire countryside on the 20th March next year and promises to visit an entirely new venue for HERO-ERA, butnot new for motorsports – intriguing! The second round of the championship on 26th June will be based in the beautiful old market town of Ledbury with the rally heading into the glorious Malvern Hills and Wye Valley.

That is another attraction of the HERO Challenge Championship, the wonderful locations and roads that rallyists are privileged to enjoy. Previous rounds have been held in Somerset, York and the lovely Chepstow area as examples. To illustrate the point, HERO Challenge Three, the final round of the championship trilogy in the fight for the championship winning navigator and driver, will be in Lancashire around the scenic Forest of Bowland on October 9th 2027.

The competition is usually of a high standard with novices honing their skills and even champions returning to sharpen up ready for longer events. Previous London - Lisbon winners’ father and son, Stephen and Alexander Chick won a dramatic finale in their Datsun 240Z in 2023 by just three seconds after battling over some great roads in Lancashire. James Holt and Mike Cochrane became respective driver’s and navigator’s champions after yet another great season’s fight in their BMW. Simon Ayris and double navigator’s champion Matt Ouththwaite were runners up in 2023 after things went wrong towards the end of the day in their MGB. They vowed to return and won both titles in 2024, Matt winning the navigator’s title for a record third time having previously teamed up with Alistair Leckie in the SAAB to win in 2020 -21.

The HERO Challenge series is also a great proving ground for young navigators. HERO-ERA’s Bob Rutherford Historic Rally Scholarship for Young Navigators has brought scholarship winners to the forefront and propelled the likes of Danielle Pool and Miles Fieldhouse up the rankings.

Danielle achieved a sixth place overall and two further class wins, whilst Miles managed a third-place podium and two fourth places overall in the HERO Challenge Championship. The current scholarship winner, Jocelyn Jones has recently won her first regularity on round three, beating all comers from two championships!

James Phiillps, Head of Competition HERO-ERA explained why the series is so popular; “Once again, the Hero Challenge has proved to be a successful and ultra-competitive championship for crews, the winners only being decided at the end of the final round once again.

“But it's not just about the championship winners, the events are as popular for those new to the sport as those that just take part for the camaraderie and fun of historic rallying.

“With over 100 drivers registered to score points, the format of a one-day, competitive rally still appeals to a lot of people. The HERO-ERA formula of no-nonsense tests, straight forward navigation (not without its tricky bits though!) with minimal time away backed by the HERO team, including Mechanical Assistance and the Media Team capturing the excitement, all add to the appeal.

“There is a comprehensive results service, plus, you get to see some amazing hidden parts of the UK!”