Registrations for the inaugural Rewind Tour Britain open today, with entries strictly limited. Taking place from 27-30 May 2027, the rally, jointly organised by Motor Racing Legends and the British Automobile Racing Club, will combine competition on three circuits with special stages across England and Wales.

Inspired by the legendary Tour of Britain of the 1970s – won by motorsport greats including James Hunt, Graham Hill and Roger Clark – Rewind Tour Britain has been created to recapture the spirit of one of Britain’s most innovative motorsport competitions. Combining circuit racing, rally stages, hill climbs and road sections into a single competitive adventure, the event will challenge drivers and co-drivers across multiple disciplines in a way rarely seen in modern historic motorsport.

The Route

Following an opening showdown at Thruxton Circuit, home of the BARC, competitors will head north-west, guided by an organiser-issued roadbook. The route takes in a wide variety of terrain, from the rolling backroads and picturesque villages of the Cotswolds to the open expanses of the Welsh uplands.

A visit to Blenheim Palace will provide one of the first major highlights. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, this remarkable 800-hectare estate features paved roads and gravel tracks that have regularly hosted stages of the RAC Rally. Often referred to by purists as “Mickey Mouse Stages”, these short, spectacular and highly technical tests have become legendary in their own right.

As for the circuit venues, the route will include Silverstone, the home of the Formula 1 World Championship, where competitors will experience one of the world’s most famous racing circuits.

The route will then feature two of the world’s most revered hill climb venues. Nestled in the Gloucestershire countryside, Prescott Speed Hill Climb is renowned for its narrow, twisting ribbon of asphalt where precision and commitment count for more than outright power. Competitors will also tackle Shelsley Walsh, the oldest motorsport venue in the world still operating on its original course. First used in 1905, its steep gradient, narrow track and unforgiving nature have challenged generations of drivers for more than a century.

The Epynt Ranges stage presents a very different challenge. An iconic venue in British rallying, this military training area, closed to the public, is renowned for its fast sections, blind crests and heavy compressions. Famous sections such as Burma, Bamfords, Dixies, Piccadilly and Noel Edmonds have long been part of the folklore of this legendary venue.

The Caerwent stage will also take place within a former military base in Monmouthshire. Known for its long straights and countless 90-degree junctions, this timed section forms a true labyrinth between the bunkers, demanding total concentration from the co-driver, who will be provided with route notes by the organisers but permitted no reconnaissance of the stage.

The rally will then pass through the Celtic Manor Resort, famed for hosting the 2010 Ryder Cup and offering spectacular views across the Usk Valley.

On the fourth day, competitors will visit Castle Combe, often described as Britain’s friendliest race circuit and largely unchanged since its days as a RAF airfield.

The final competitive stages will take place at a destination which is yet to be revealed. Details coming very soon!

In brief

Three circuits (four races)
Thruxton, Silverstone GP, Castle Combe

11 special stages
Blenheim Palace, Prescott, Shelsley Walsh, Epynt Ranges, Caerwent, TBC

540 miles in total
48 special stage miles, 60 racing miles, 432 road miles

Four Legs

Thursday 27 May – Leg 1
Thruxton – Thruxton

Friday 28 May – Leg 2
Thruxton – Gloucestershire

Saturday 29 May – Leg 3
Gloucestershire – Monmouthshire

Sunday 30 May – Leg 4
Monmouthshire – Wiltshire

Registrations Open

Registrations are open today with an exclusive 48-hour priority entry window for the 100+ drivers who have already submitted an Expression of Interest. General entries will open on Wednesday (22 July).

Places will be limited to ensure an exceptional experience for all participants, and a selection committee will agree the final participants to ensure that a broad variety of eligible cars is represented. The list of eligible cars covers a wide period ranging from pre-war machinery to Group A cars.

Competitors will be guided by road books and official pace notes as they travel between venues, with performances across every discipline contributing to the overall classification. Special awards will also recognise outstanding performances across a variety of categories, adding further incentive throughout the field.

Rewind Tour Britain promises to answer one of motorsport’s most intriguing questions: can circuit racers master the stages and will rally drivers triumph on the circuits?

ELIGIBLE CARS

Images: Sutton Motorsports / Zuma Press / Colin Taylor / Mario Antoniazzi