With five weeks still to go before early entries close for Tour Britannia 2007, entries are flooding in. The event, which will be held from 3rd to 6th September, features both Competition and Touring-Regularity categories with the latter in particular showing a very strong rise.
Tour Britannia’s Commercial Director Alec Poole, explained: “Entries are running at almost four times last year’s figures. In particular there is strong interest in the Touring-Regularity category with some wonderful cars already entered. Nevertheless, we hope potential entrants remember that the event is open to all cars built up to the end of 1976 and that an exotic vehicle is not necessary to secure an entry.”
Last year’s winner John Ruston has swapped his Porsche 356 for a pre-war Talbot 105, although his navigator Jeremy Haylock will stay faithful to the German marque, guiding Michael Birch’s 2.7 Carrera through England’s peaceful back-roads. 2006 runners-up Mark Berger and Robert Newton return with their Bristol 401, as do the father and son team of Julian and Adam Taylor, this time with a Porsche Carrera Touring.
Anthony Moody returns with his immaculate Aston Martin DB4GT but this time 2006 navigator, daughter Sarah, will enter in her own right with the family Ferrari Daytona. Porsche collector Stanley Gold will bring a 356 all the way from California especially for Tour Britannia, while Florida resident Robert Frost has a Jaguar XK120.
Irishman Brian Wallace and ex-Mini racer Bruce Ashmore will share an MGA 1600.
Entry numbers are also significantly higher in the Competition category. Sporting Director Fred Gallagher said: “We look like we will have two full grids of 30 cars, which is very satisfying in only the event’s third year. It’s great to see our past entrants returning in such numbers, but also good that we are attracting lots of newcomers to Tour Britannia.”
David and Caroline Betts have been faithful Tour Britannia entrants since the first edition, but in 2007 Caroline will tackle the circuits and stages from the driving seat of her MGB.
Experienced International Porsche GT racer Geoff Lister will bring a Lightweight 911 RS with the very experienced John Davenport alongside. Davenport explained: “I competed in events like this in the ‘60s and ‘70s in machinery as varied as a Mini Cooper S, a Ford GT40 and a Galaxie, but a common factor was always good competition, camaraderie and food! I am looking forward to competing on Tour Britannia which seems to have swiftly gained a reputation for all these qualities.”
Other recent entries include Irishman Bryan Brophy with a Renault Alpine A110, Tim Bryan in a Porsche 911 and Alec Newsham in a Jaguar E-Type.
The current entry list is available on the event website www.TourBritannia.com
