Four circuits and 17 stages on the menu
The route survey for Tour Britannia 2006 - Britain’s only historic Race Tour - has now been completed and the event features 10% more competitive mileage than last year in a route that is 45 miles shorter. Four race circuits and seventeen competitive sections will be tackled by competitors in two categories; Touring-Regularity and Competition. The event, which was first organised in 2005 and attracted widespread acclaim from both competitors and the media, will run from 5th to 8th September.
Tour Britannia combines the best of the country’s race circuits with special tests in the grounds of castles, stately homes and parks. This year’s event is based at the luxurious Coombe Abbey Hotel in Warwickshire, with competitors returning to the same base each evening. Dinner is included in the package, and with the last car expected back by 6.30 pm latest, a lively social occasion is guaranteed.
The event begins with technical and document checks on the afternoon of Monday 4 September before that evening’s gala dinner.
The competitive action begins in earnest the next morning with crews heading for the beautiful Cholmondeley (pronounced Chumley) Castle. The Cholmondeley family have lived on the estate since 1200 and the Castle is now home to the Marchioness of Cholmondeley. The romantic, mock Gothic castle was built in 1801-4 and stands on a high rise above a lake surrounded by some of the most beautiful gardens in England. Competitors will tackle a Competitive Section in the grounds twice in succession.
A short trip north takes the field of pre-1976 cars to Oulton Park. The challenging parkland circuit will see competitors in the Touring-Regularity Category try to lap as consistently as possible, while those in the Competition Category will face an eight lap race following a 15 minute practice session.
Two attempts at Loton Park hill climb, one of 2005’s favourite venues, follow before the stages at Weston Park, with its beautiful 17th Century house and 1,000 acre estate. The first car is due back at Coombe Abbey well before 5.00 pm.
Wednesday begins with circuit action at the historic Donington Park, location of some of the most memorable motor races in British racing history. Then it’s west to a new venue at Swynnerton where a challenging two and a half mile stage has been found on military land. Tour Britannia’s foreign entrants will feel at home as traffic drives on the right throughout the site!
On the homeward run competitors tackle Britain’s leading sprint circuit at Curborough before the day’s final two stages at Arbury Hall, the "Gothic Gem" of the Midlands. First competitor will be back at base around 4.30 pm.
Thursday sees a picturesque route to Belvoir Castle, Tour Britannia’s opening stage in 2005 and home of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland. A trip over the Lincolnshire fens to Cadwell Park follows. The twisty, hilly circuit was a firm favourite with last year’s competitors and enables the more nimble cars to challenge those with more horsepower. A different stage at Belvoir is run twice before competitors arrive back at Coombe Abbey around 4.45 pm.
The final leg on Friday 8 September opens with a reverse run at Arbury Hall before the closing set of regularity tests and races at Mallory Park circuit. The finish will be around midday with the prize-giving lunch held at the circuit.
Standard entries for Tour Britannia close on 3 July.
Route ScheduleTuesday 5 September TC0 Coombe Abbey Out 06:30 CS1 Cholmondeley Castle 1 09:03 CS2 Cholmondeley Castle 2 09:15 CS3 Oulton Park 09:55 CS4 Loton Park 1 13:32 CS5 Loton Park 2 13:47 CS6 Weston Park 1 15:35 CS7 Weston Park 2 15:45 TC7A Coombe Abbey In (16:45)
Wednesday 6 September TC7B Coombe Abbey Out 07:30 CS8 Donington Park 09:05 CS9 Swynnerton 1 12;40 CS10 Swynnerton 2 12:50 CS11 Curborough 1 14:06 CS12 Curborough 2 14:16 CS13 Arbury Hall 1 15:50 CS14 Arbury Hall 2 16:07 TC14A Coombe Abbey In (16:27) Thursday 7 September TC14B Coombe Abbey Out 06:30 CS15 Belvoir Castle 1 08:31 CS16 Belvoir Castle 2 08:49 CS17 Cadwell Park 11:00 CS18 Belvoir Bridge 1 15:01 CS19 Belvoir Bridge 2 15:15 TC19A Coombe Abbey In (16:45) Friday 8 September TC19B Coombe Abbey Out 08:15 CS20 Arbury Hall 3 08:58 CS21 Mallory Park 10:05 TC21A Mallory Park Finish 13:00
Regulations and entry forms can be found on the event website: TourBritannia.com, or are available from:
Tour Britannia Ltd.
Suite 300
29 / 30 Horse Fair
Banbury
Oxon
OX16 0BW
