About Us

A major contributor to the success of Rally Travel is that we are Rally enthusiasts ourselves, & some of the team actually compete in rallies here in the UK. Company owner David Hutchinson's Ford Escort Mk2 wears the 'rallytravel' colours, and the team have enjoyed some limited success including victory in the 2017 R.A.C. Open Rally and the 2018 Rally2 title. They're always delighted to have a chat about WRC events, whether you find them out on the stages, in the service area or propping up the Rally HQ bar!

After working on various automotive projects for Peugeot & TWR, David along with his partner Diane started 'Budget Rally Travel Ltd' in the Autumn of 2000. A visit to the amazing 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland had lit the spark earlier that summer, and after placing an advert in the 'Motoring News' the 1st booking was taken later that same day, & some of those same Guests still regularly book Tours with Rally Travel to this day. 
Incredibly just 3 years after first taking a handful of Guests to Sanremo, Rally Travel took over 730 Guests to the 2003 Rally Catalunya!

After a successful inaugural trip to the Sanremo Rally of 2000 the Company went from strength to strength, with a dedicated and skilled team of WRC Tour Guides key to its development. As the Rally Travel Team assembled on Rally Finland 2017 there was a combined experience of over 300 WRC rallies between them, with Tour Guides drawing on a depth of knowledge from previous roles as WRC team hospitality managers, award winning co-drivers and accredited WRC photographers.

Other milestones in the company's development would be the establishing of partnerships with the Ford and Subaru World Rally Teams, and becoming the Official Tour Provider for both Wales Rally GB and Sol Rally Barbados. The Company also ran an annual Charity Auction for the Richard Burns Foundation from 2005-2011 featuring an amazing line up of WRC guests including Sebastien Loeb, Ari Vatanen, Petter Solberg, Ken Block and Marcus Gronholm!
Now simply called Rally Travel, there have been many changes in the Company, its events, and World Rallying as a whole, but one thing has never changed and that is the enthusiasm and professionalism of the Company's core team. All are looking forward to another 20 years of taking Rally Fans & Companies around the globe to experience the thrills of the World Rally Championship.

 

Choosing Rally Travel Limited for your trip to the WRC

Choosing Rally Travel Limited for your trip to the WRC

Rally Travel Limited are one of a select number of independent Tour Operators who enjoy a trusted relationship with the major banks and credit card companies, allowing us to accept Credit Card payments online or over the telephone for our bookings. Booking with Rally Travel gives you the security of booking with a Limited Company registered in the UK, with full Public Liability Insurance and a Trustees bank account where monies paid to Rally Travel are held until the client's holiday has been completed. As a responsible Tour Operator this ensures that Rally Travel Ltd meet the EEC 2018 Package Travel & Linked Travel Arrangements regulations.

 

Rally Travel Limited - Year by Year...

Rally Travel Limited - Year by Year...

2000
A small first group of guests fly to the Sanremo rally in Italy to witness Colin McRae's brave comeback drive after his Corsica accident, & a promising debut by a then unknown Frenchman called Sebastien Loeb...

2001
Talk of the friendly service and attention to detail spreads throughout the rallying world as groups from Kilkenny to Cape Town travel with the company to new events in Monte Carlo, Catalunya, and Finland.

2003 
Over 730 Rally Travel guests travel to Rally Spain! The Hyundai WRC Team becomes the 1st of many to use the company for on-event services.

2004
The Ford World Rally Team (M-Sport) works with Rally Travel to offer Fans a chance to experience hitherto  corporate-only VIP access with the team.

2005
The Subaru WRC Team (Prodrive) hand over the reins of their Travel Club to Rally Travel for a successful 4 years.

2006
Petter Solberg, Marcus Gronholm, & Ari Vatanen attend Rally Travel's Welcome Evenings. Rally Travel becomes an official partner of the Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy series.

2007
The 10,000th client travels with Rally Travel. Wales Rally GB approaches Rally Travel for advice & guidance on increasing the number of overseas guests.

2008
Rally Travel bring together all the top WRC Drivers and Teams including Sebastien Loeb for their Charity Auction & Welcome Evening on Rally Spain.

2009
To cope with demand for it's services from Rally fans throughout the world, living in different time-zones, Rally Travel launches a fully automated secure on-line booking system.

2010
Rally Travel rounds out it's first decade with one of it's most successful and busiest years to date with a large amount of 'corporate' work from the sponsors of former F1 star Kimi Raikkonen boosting sales.

2011
Rally Travel teams up with the new WRC Academy to offer accommodation & travel solutions to it's international mix of young, aspiring crews on 6 rounds of the WRC.

2012
The 2012 Monte Carlo Rally tour becomes the fastest selling tour ever, & helps the company achieve it's highest number of advance bookings for the new season since 2007/08.

2013
Rally Travel starts the season with an exclusive visit to the new Volkswagen WRC team's Hospitality area on Rally Sweden.

2014
The team's combined Social Media feeds on Twitter and Facebook top the 10,000 mark as Rally Travel tweets 'live' from the Col de Turini!

2015
The largest ever Escorted Tour group on Rally Finland, topped up by the Hayden Paddon Fan Club. Later in the year, a new working relationship with Wales Rally GB opens up the season finale's Escorted Tour.

2016
Fantastic start to the season with a guided tour of the Petter Solberg WorldRX team... by the man himself! Chosen by Channel 5 TV to provide promotional prize for their official WRC TV show.

2017
Appointed the Official Wales Rally GB Tour Provider & Travel Partner of Sol Rally Barbados. Record number of guests in Finland & Rally GB completes one of the busiest years in the company's history.

2018
Joint promotion with the M-Sport Team's Supporters Club, and chosen by Ford Motor Company as the provider for their Employee Rally Tour initiative. Plus Tommi Makinen joins our Guests at Rally Spain!

2019
A record-breaking year with the largest number of Escorted Tour guests travelling with us since the company was created. New booking agents appointed in Europe and South America.

2020
Shortly after taking our biggest Escorted Tour group yet to Rally Sweden, COVID-19 led to the cancellation of several WRC rounds. Despite the challenge of World events we recorded a 20th consecutive year of financial profit and growth.

2021
Toyota WRC Team arranges for our competition winners to hear their questions answered directly by Sebastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans, Takamota Katsuta & Kalle Rovanpera! A return to Dovenby Hall for an oversubscribed M-Sport Team HQ visit.

2022
A record number of Escorted Tour guests join us in both Portugal & Finland as we offer customers a full programme of events again. The year finishes with Craig Breen & M-Sport WRC Team Principal Rich Millener joining our guests for another exclusive Pre-Rally Briefing in Spain.

2023
New tours to WRC Croatia and WRC Central European Rally added to our calendar, including visits to the BMW & Audi museums. Guests enjoy 'Dinner with a WRC Team' on several rounds of the World Championship.