A PRESTIGIOUS NEW RACE TOUR FOR HISTORIC CARS
Competition and Touring-Regularity in one unique British motorsport event
Tour Britannia, an exciting new race tour for historic cars, was launched today and represents a new and unique event on the British motorsport calendar. The event, which will run from 5-8 September 2005, will be based in the heart of England and provide a wonderful opportunity for owners of pre-1976 road legal cars to compete in a high-quality fixture that tours some of the country’s most prominent venues. Tour Britannia, which also celebrates 100 years of British motor sporting heritage, will run annually in association with the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC), one of the most prestigious motor racing clubs in the world.
“This is a great new addition to the British motorsport calendar,” confirmed Sir Jackie Stewart, President of the British Racing Drivers’ Club. “It is something quite unique for historic car owners.”
Tour Britannia, a four-day motorsport extravaganza for historic car owners, will have a central base in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, birthplace of William Shakespeare. It will start in this medieval market town on Monday 5 September and finish at the home of British motor racing, Silverstone Circuit, Northampton, on Thursday 8 September. The event, which is divided into two categories - Competition and Touring-Regularity - will visit some of the country’s most renowned race circuits, including Silverstone Historic Grand Prix Circuit, Snetterton and Cadwell Park, as well as hill climb venues, sprint courses, stately homes and parks, including Belvoir Castle, the ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland for one thousand years. In total, the event will cover approximately 800 miles with an anticipated four races and seven speed tests.
“Tour Britannia is going to be a great opportunity for owners of all kinds of historic cars to enjoy four days of motorsport on the best roads Britain can offer,” said Fred Gallagher, Sporting Director. “This country has produced many of the world’s most successful drivers and competition cars over the last hundred years and the event will be a great way to celebrate their achievements. We are particularly pleased about the reaction we have received from many of the owners of our beautiful stately homes; their estates will provide the perfect background for the wide range of cars we know we will attract. Tour Britannia really does promise to deliver something very interesting, high-quality and prestigious.”
Crews competing in the Competition category will have the opportunity to mix high-speed circuit racing with a rich variety of sealed-surfaced timed speed tests over non-damaging courses in the heart of the British countryside. Results from eight-lap circuit races will be combined with the times from the daily speed tests to determine the general classification.
Overall Tour Britannia honours however will be based on an index factor, allowing all crews - irrespective of the age and engine capacity of their cars - to fight for victory and the event’s premier trophy.
Competitors in the precision-demanding Touring-Regularity category will complete five laps at each of the race circuits, with the emphasis being on consistency rather than outright speed. At all other venues, entrants in each class will be given a target time to achieve, with penalties applied for even a tenth of a second difference. In this exacting and calculating category, where electronic equipment will be prohibited, a major trophy will be awarded for the best Touring-Regularity performance.
Entries for this exciting new event on the British motorsport calendar are now open and early applications will be accepted at a fee of £3995, which includes first-class hotel accommodation for the crew and all meals.
Tour Britannia will run under the RACMSA sporting regulations. The event is open to drivers with pre-1976 road legal cars complying with FIA Appendix K technical rules.
Further details and an entry form can be found on tourbritannia.com, or by contacting the Tour Britannia office on +44 (0)1295 268888.
