1959 was a transitional year for the RAC Rally, Jack Kemsley had taken charge for the first time , reduced the emphasis on driving tests and changed the date to November, Sixteen foreign crews had entered and the route they faced was a tough one , starting in the Scottish Highlands , through Wales and on into London. The Braemar pass was blocked by snow on the first day, and crews that chose to divert to the A9 were the ones that got through. A German entrant put in a protest claiming the blocked section should be scrubbed from the rally, this was rejected by the FIA so the Burgess/Croft-Pearson Zephyr was declared the winner.