Based in Stratford-upon-Avon, the four-day event takes in three races at Cadwell Park, Rockingham Motor Speedway and Silverstone as well as 16 competitive sections at famous British sprint, hill climb and stately home venues.

Over 60 pre-1976 cars will start in two categories, Touring-Regularity and Competition, and the vast majority are entered in the later - which should make for some interesting viewing. In the Touring-Regularity category, the experienced Martin Emmison has entered with his son Edwin in a 1963 AC Cobra, while Frenchman Christian Chiaravita - who has contested more than 200 asphalt rallies and an amazing 14 Dakar events - will compete in his 1972 BMW 3.0 CSI with Paris-Dakar star co-driver Jean Marie Lurquin. From Ireland, Robin Rennicks is bringing his 1957 Porsche 356 Carrera, and John Ruston has entered an impressive trio of Talbot 105s, one of which he will be piloting himself.



In the Competition category, where two strong grids will run at each circuit, John Sheldon - winner of the 2005 Tour Auto and 2004 Tour España - will be challenging the thunderous V8s for outright glory in his highly-competitive 1965 Lotus Elan. The V8-powered entries include several Ford GT40s (such as McLaren designer Adrian Newey’s that you see above, and veteran long-distance racer Ray Bellm), as well as Cobras and a couple of Shelby GT350s, one entered by regular Tour Auto driver John Hugenholtz. And don't disregard Bill Wykeham and Nick Faure in Porsche 911s, or Ted Williams in a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray he bought especially for the event. Chris Chiles is putting his Ford GT40 to one side for the Tour and will be driving his Chevron B8 partnered, as usual, by Dave Mountford.

Tour Britannia is privileged to have been offered one of the most prestigious trophies in British motor sporting history. The BRDC’s Johnny Wakefield Trophy, which will be presented to Tour Britannia’s Overall Winner on Index, was first presented to Mike Hawthorn and Ken Wharton in 1953 for setting the fastest lap of the season at Silverstone. Since then, the list of winners to establish the same record includes some of the world’s finest drivers; Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Jack Brabham, John Surtees, Jackie Stewart, Ronnie Peterson, James Hunt, John Watson, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen to name but a few.

Where to see the cars in action:

For the crews, technical and administrative checks will take place in Stratford-upon-Avon on Sunday 4 September before the competition gets underway on Monday morning.

With the exception of Belvoir Castle (Monday 5 September), where a normal admission fee to the castle and grounds will be levied by the venue, spectators can gain access to the following venues:

Monday 5 September: Cadwell Park (crews arriving from 11:00 hrs)

Tuesday 6 September: Rockingham Motor Speedway (crews arriving from 10:00 hrs). A sprint will be followed by a race around the Rockingham international long circuit.

Wednesday 7 September: Shelsley Walsh (crews arriving from 08:20 hrs)
Wednesday 7 September: Loton Park (crews arriving from midday)

Thursday 8 September: Silverstone (crews arriving from 09:15 hrs)

The event is scheduled to finish around midday at Silverstone, where the winners will receive their awards over lunch in the Jimmy Brown and BRDC suites, overlooking the famous circuit.

Please click HERE for full entry listing.

For more information please visit www.tourbritannia.com.

Text: Classic Driver
Photo: Tour Britannia