LAST HURRAH – 29/09 – 01-10-2027

A Tribute Rally to Phillip Young and the early rally day’s of the ’90’s

3 Days of Pure Classic Rallying – Annecy, France

Welcome to Last Hurrah — a brand-new rally rooted in history, tradition, and the pure joy of classic rally driving.

Based exclusively at the magnificent Menthon Palace, on the shores of Lake Annecy, this three-day event brings you back to the essence of rallying as it was originally intended: elegant roads, flowing mountain passes, precise navigation, and camaraderie at the bar each evening — all from one iconic base hotel.

No packing and unpacking.
No transfers.
Just three unforgettable rally days from one spectacular location.

A Tribute to Phillip Young

Last Hurrah is more than a rally. It is a tribute.

In the 1980s, Phillip Young introduced what became the now-famous regularity “game” — a format that shaped historic rallying across Europe and beyond. His innovative approach laid the foundation for many of today’s most respected classic rally events.

Even The Winter Trial traces its origins back to the style and spirit of his early events.

With Last Hurrah, we honor the man who gave generations of rally enthusiasts a hobby, a passion, and a lifelong addiction to precision driving and adventure.

The Concept

Location: Annecy, France
Base Hotel: Menthon Palace
Duration: 3 Rally Days
Format: Classic Regularity Rally

Each morning, crews depart from the hotel overlooking Lake Annecy.
Each afternoon, you return to the same terrace, the same view, the same stories — but with new memories made on the road.
The routes wind through the French Alps on sublime driving roads: sweeping mountain curves, quiet valleys, dramatic passes, and perfectly surfaced tarmac — the kind of roads your classic car was built for.

This is rallying in its purest form.

Rally Format

• Daytime regularities on legendary Alpine roads
• Classic map reading
• Precision timing sections
• Driving tests in iconic mountain settings
• Approximately 300 km per day
• Evening results & informal prize ceremonies

No extreme schedules.
No unnecessary complications.
Just beautifully designed rallying.

Encouraging the Oldest Cars

Last Hurrah actively encourages crews to bring the oldest possible cars.

To honour the spirit of early rallying — and to recognise the extra challenge of competing with earlier machinery — we will apply a year-based coefficient system to the results.

How it works:

• Each car’s build year determines its scoring coefficient
• Older cars receive a more favourable coefficient
• Newer (though still classic) cars face a slightly tougher calculation
• Time penalties will be adjusted accordingly

This means that pre-war and early post-war cars gain a genuine competitive advantage, while later classics will need to drive with even greater precision to stay ahead.

The goal is not to punish newer cars — but to celebrate and reward the bravery of bringing truly historic machinery into the mountains.

The older the car, the greater the honour.
And the greater the opportunity.

Highlights of Last Hurrah

• Three full rally days from one luxury base hotel
• Spectacular Alpine routes around Lake Annecy
• Tribute ceremony honoring Phillip Young
• Carefully crafted regularities in his original spirit
• Flowing mountain passes & quiet hidden valleys
• Relaxed evenings with like-minded crews
• Gastronomic dinners overlooking the lake
• Limited entry for an intimate atmosphere
• Classic rally plates & commemorative tribute badge
• Final celebration dinner in true rally tradition

Who Can Enter?

• Classic cars (pre-1986)
• Crews who appreciate precision over speed
• Drivers who love driving for the sake of driving
• Navigators who enjoy the art of timing and teamwork

Experience is welcome — but enthusiasm matters more.

Why “Last Hurrah”?

Because it celebrates a golden era.
Because it honors the roots of our sport.
Because it brings rallying back to its essence.

And because sometimes, the best rallies are the ones that feel like they could have taken place 40 years ago — yet still feel timeless today.

At just € 3.650 (GBP 3.200) you will enjoy all of the above but with only 40 places available you will need to be quick with entering.

Included in the entry fee

• Event Participation: Entry for one car and a two-person crew (Driver & Navigator).
• Documentation: Detailed route books, maps, and time cards.
• Support: mechanical assist/sweep teams and experienced marshals.
• Hospitality: Lodging (4 nights) based on double occupancy, Dinners, Lunches and refreshments during the event.
• Memorabilia: Souvenir rally plates and door stickers.
• Awards: Prize-giving dinner