Irish visitors showed their mastery of the special tests by taking the top places in the Morecambe based Classic Illuminations historic road rally. The winner was Frank Fennell, with local man Kevin Savage in his Volvo Amazon by a just 9 seconds from the rapid Mini of Ronnie Griffin/Fred Bent. Griffin took best on the tests but Fennel/Savage proved the better rally crew, logging their third 'Lumies' win together.

The 350 mile rally, the final round of the HRCR Premier Challenge, included a total of 24 special tests, plus a 6 hour night leg that ventured into the Yorkshire Dales, taking in many of the classic rally roads such as Askrigg Common, Malhan Tarn and Butter Tubs.

Terry Pickering and Paul Robinson in a TR3, the oldest car in the rally, put up a strong challenge to the Irish contingent, but with a slipping clutch on the final Sunday morning tests they did well to hold 3rd overall and beat twice previous winners Geoff Hall/Paul Bosdet into 4th place.

By finishing 5th, Dave Hughes and Richard Dix (Volvo Amazon) were confirmed as 2002 HRCR Road Rally Champions, after Hughes' main rival for the title, Worth Birkill with last minute stand-in navigator Robin Maclachlan in his Mini, dropped a code board to finish 8th.

Classic Illuminations Top 10
1 Frank Fennell / Kevin Savage Volvo Amazon 25:40
2 Ronnie Griffin / Fred Bent Mini Cooper S 25:49
3 Terry Pickering / Paul Robinson Triumph TR3 27:13
4 Geoff Hall / Paul Bosdet Mini Cooper S 27:26
5 Dave Hughes / Richard Dix Volvo Amazon 27:55
6 Dick Appleton / David Kirkham Mini Cooper S 29:02
7 Roy Perkins / Chris Pringle Ford Anglia 32:03
8 Worth Birkill / Robin Maclachlan Morris Mini 32:30
9 Keith Jenkins / Andy Gibson Saab 96 V4 33:21
10 Sean Holly / Keith Nolan Triumph TR4 37:13