The Nuit Blanche navigational rally’s rebirth on the Saturday 27th March did not disappoint or break with tradition and proved to be an exciting yet tense and enjoyable yet tough event that was won by John Clark and Steve Turnbull.

Turnbull almost succeeded in navigated Clark to a clean-sweep victory until they pulled into the final time control of the night just two minutes late. Nevertheless, this incredible result put the winners a full thirteen points ahead of second placed crew and former EUMSC lifers Dave Brown and Joel Haylock who comfortably held their place despite a formidable challenge from third place men and fellow alumni Euan Brodie and Oly McCollum.

The fight for third place was a close one with only four points separating three contenders. In the end Brodie and McCollum triumphed ahead of Tynesiders Andy Whittaker and Charlie Tynan, and Border Eccose challengers Monty Pearson and Colin Richardson.

The non-expert contest was won by only entrants Wojciech Koziel and Richard Crozier who secured a well deserved sixth place overall by picking up only thirty-nine points throughout the event. A fantastic achievement for the current students and EUMSC members considering the excellent competition they were up against.

Further down the field the novice and historic classes were full of action, excitement and surprises. Historic entrants Ronald Wilkinson and Neil Morrison in their truly stunning Mark One Ford Escort breezed to victory, picking up only three points in their thunderous drive to the finish.

Nav-rally first timer Liam Dunnet guided his driver Jamie Seth to an impressive win in novice class, surprising marshals throughout the night with their success and tripping up only once in the stage through the infamous Humbie Kirk that gave them the bulk of their ninety-seven points.

The other debutant of the night, seventeen year old Andrew Holborn navigating for his dad Neil, also surpassed the expectations of the officials. Precision clue-solving meant that the pair missed only one code-board in stages one to seven. Unfortunately the crew comprehensively lost their way on stage eight and opted to retire and head straight to the finish.

EUMSC members and contenders for the novice crown Andrew Clarkson and Calum Hughes followed up a penalty laden first half of the event in true rally style in the second, by picking a fight with a pot-hole that punished them with a puncture and retirement after they ran over their total allowed lateness.

At the close of the return of Nuit Blanche there were smiles all round, even for the non-finishers, largely due to the fantastic post-rally catering on offer, but also a testament to a superbly run event that couldn’t have happened without the time and energy of the organisers and marshals.