The world of aviation and motorsports has witnessed a thrilling spectacle as the siblings Mack and Zara Rutherford, both recognized globally for their solo circumnavigation flights, set even more records this Tuesday. The British-Belgian duo was awarded the prestigious Segrave Trophy by the Royal Automobile Club, placing their names alongside distinguished predecessors such as Lewis Hamilton and Sir Richard Branson.
Established in 1930, the Segrave Trophy’s history is interwoven with names of pioneering figures in aviation and motorsports. The Rutherford siblings have now added their youthful exuberance to this lineage, becoming the youngest recipients of the award to date.
At just 15, Mack became the youngest qualified pilot globally, a feat in itself. When he turned 16, he embarked on an ambitious journey from Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. A year later, he would become the youngest individual to solo circumnavigate the globe, beating the record previously set by 18-year-old Briton Travis Ludlow in 2021.
Zara, on the other hand, had made her mark at 19 by becoming the youngest female pilot to successfully journey across 51 countries, spanning 32,000 miles in a Shark microlight aircraft. Her chosen vehicle’s ability to function on conventional fuel was an advantageous trait, enhancing its reliability for such a formidable journey. Despite delays caused by unfavorable weather conditions in Russia and Alaska, Zara completed her monumental trip in five months.
Only four women have been awarded the Segrave Trophy before Zara, an accolade granted to British adventurers exemplifying exceptional skill, bravery, and initiative in traversing by land, sea, or air. No previous female recipient was as young as Zara when receiving the award. Her thrilling journey included flying over an active volcano in Iceland amid an eruption, navigating through tropical thunderstorms near Singapore, and enduring the harsh cold of Siberia.
Mack faced his fair share of challenges, one of which was landing on an uninhabited island after traversing the Pacific Ocean. His original travel plan had to be modified due to the political unrest caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Previous Segrave Trophy awardees have included Formula One champions Stirling Moss, Bruce McLaren, Jackie Stewart, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, and Hamilton. Among the recipients were also Donald Campbell, the world land and water speed record holder of the 1950s and 60s, and Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia during the 1930s.
Mack’s latest achievement is not aviation-related: he passed his driving test just over a week ago. Zara jestingly commented on this rapid succession of accomplishments, “That must be a record, that you get your drivers’ licence and a week later get the Segrave Trophy.” As she prepares for a placement with Renault-owned Alpine Formula One team and dreams of becoming an astronaut, the surreal reality of their accomplishments continues to sink in.
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