RTG The Daily Dispatch EL CLAVEL 2026 - Day 0 - Flipbook - Page 1
13 to 19 September 2026
Day 0
Scrutineering, Las Caldas
was swiftly dealt with, but there were some trickier issues
for the temporarily minted Spanish spannermen to deal
with. Plugging the leaking radiator in Brian and Catherine
Scowcroft’s Chevy for one and embarking upon a delicate
fishing expedition to retrieve a stray nut fallen into the fuel
tank of Jason and Sarah Smith’s MG.
Soon enough everyone was given a clean bill of health,
and the Rally made its way to a drivers’ briefing where Rally
Director, Mark Appleton, welcomed the crews to this exciting
new addition to the calendar and offered advice to make their
lives a little easier over the next week. And, with thanks to
Anthony, he promised them some great competition with lots
of bends, lots of hills, and lots of fun.
For anyone needing further reassurance, Gill Cotton then
set up a navigational tuition session. With class dismissed, we
enjoyed a couple of hours of downtime before reassembling
for drinks and dinner.
While most of the Rally sensibly took themselves to an early
bed, ahead of what would be a busy first day, the sweep crews
found themselves burning a little midnight oil thanks to a late
report of a misbehaving supercharger in Declan Costello and
Louis Byrne’s MG K3.
Text & Text & photos: gerardbrown.co.uk
For our fourth foray onto the Iberian Peninsula,
32 cars are gathered near Oviedo, the capital
of the ancient Principality of Asturias, and are
readying themselves for six days of open roads,
stunning landscapes, and friendly competition.
13 September 2026
Design: K-Design
Transplanting the seed of the Shamrock into the fertile soil of
northern Spain, El Clavel is our second vintage-only event of
the year and the 30th Rally the Globe event.
Named after the carnation, the Spanish national flower,
El Clavel has seen Anthony Preston assume the dual role of
head gardener and Clerk of the Course and, after carefully
tilling the ground, there’s a bumper crop of 19 Regularities
and 12 Tests over 1,632km of lesser-known highways and
beautiful byways.
Today, however, on the banks of the Nalón River in the
grounds of the Gran Hotel Las Caldas, every one of these
coches antiquos was being checked for safety and compliance
by the sweep team of Andy Inskip, Charlie Neale, and Russ
Smith. Meanwhile, Gill Cotton, Audrey Rudd, and Sarah
Ormerod dealt with the bureaucracy that precedes every
event. The distribution of road books and rally regalia
www.rallytheglobe.com
