Motor Racing Legends and the British Automobile Racing Club have announced the first list of eligible cars for Rewind Tour Britain, which will take place on May 27-30, 2027.
Following on from its groundbreaking launch at the start of the year, the event – which will see the field commute between writhing tarmac rally stages and fast, flowing circuit races via some of the best routes the country has to offer – is set to be the most diverse of anywhere in the world.
Six classes, split by car age and a further invitational class, will make up the entry. Rally and race cars will share classes, inviting thrilling competition between different styles of car across different styles of test.
Below is an explanation of each class, with a sample car to highlight the varied options for entrants:
Bentley 3/4 ½ Litre
Class 1: Pre-1941 road registered sports cars
The Bentley Boys epitomised the camaraderie and daring of pre-war motor racing and their machinery continues to epitomise it today. There are plenty of Bentleys eligible for Class 1, but the 3/4 ½ Litre has the shorter chassis of the 3 Litre, and the engine of the 4 ½ Litre. All the power, but a little more nimble. Perfect for stage or circuit.
Equivalent to MRL’s Pre-War Sports Cars, this will be a popular class with entrants and spectators alike. Some of the most famed marques in history began here, with Aston Martin, Bugatti, Bentley and Morgan all regular competitors.
Jaguar D-Type
Class 2: Pre-1963 road registered sports, touring and GT cars
Is it impossible to imagine the sleek, sultry Jaguar D-Type attacking a tarmac rally stage? Perhaps, but as a star of 1950s sportscar racing it was a regular on the Mille Miglia which was, of course, a road rally. It would be a dramatic choice for enjoying Britain’s fine driving roads, too.
Class 2 welcomes GT and touring cars, equivalent to MRL’s HMRN Pre ’63 GT, as well as road-registered sports cars from the 1950s. The likes of the Austin-Healey 3000 and Saab 96 competed for rally wins in the early 1960s, and they’ll face racing pedigree from Ferrari, Lotus or Jaguar.
Austin Mini Cooper S
Class 3: Pre-1966 road registered touring and GT cars
The Mini Cooper S was brought to the forefront of the imagination of the public, particularly in Britain, with its success in rallying, particularly on the winding roads of Monte Carlo. Though we can expect to avoid ice and snow in late May, the little hatchback has fast pedigree on circuit and stage and could be a real giant killer.
Welcoming entries roughly equivalent to MRL’s Royal Automobile Club Pall Mall Cup, Pre-’66 GT Sprint and HRDC Top Hat, Class 3 welcomes everything from Jaguar E-Type to Lotus Cortina via Ford Galaxy and TVR Griffith.
Citroën SM
Class 4: Pre-1971 road registered touring and GT cars
The fantastically styled Citroën SM is renowned for its luxury, sleek design and cruising ability. It is less known for being a successful rally car, but it was just that, famously winning the Rallye du Maroc in 1971 on rough dessert terrain. Not only that, it was a fierce competitor on the Avon Tour of Britain in period. Could it be a class contender in 2027?
The 1960s produced a batch of iconic rally and touring cars, and they’ll likely form the backbone of Class 4. The Ford Escort Mexico, Alpine A110, Lancia Fulvia and Porsche 911 fought for race and rally wins all over the world in period.
Lancia Stratos
Class 5: Pre-1981 road registered touring and GT cars
Few cars have a greater reputation than the fearsome, sonorous Stratos. It arrived, looking like a spaceship, in 1973 and became the dominant force in rallying through the period. Only Ford’s Escort could regularly hold a candle to the mighty Italian with its Ferrari Dino V6, and it doesn’t take much imagination to see it as a strong force on Rewind Tour Britain.
1970s cars will dominate Class 5, and they’re a spectacular bunch. There are some truly iconic British cars in the running. Vauxhall’s Firenza and Triumph’s TR8 will evoke memories, whilst Brits will claim the Ford Capri and Escort as their own.
Rover Vitesse
Class 6: Pre-1986 road registered touring and GT cars
The Rover Vitesse, an evolution of the SD1, was a star of stage and circuit. In 1985, TWR-fettled and Bastos-backed, it opened the European Touring Car Championship with a 1-2-3 finish at Monza. That same year, the incomparable Tony Pond won the British Rally Championship in the Group A class. The SD1 is 50 in 2026, but in the right hands remains a fantastic competition car.
The early 1980s saw the beginning of the Group A era. The likes of the BMW 635 CSi, Volvo 240 Turbo, Alfa Romeo GTV6 and Jaguar XJS were fighting door-to-door.
Invitational Cars
A wide variety of cars will be considered on an invitational basis. Particular examples under this banner are the Group B supercars, which will run on a demo basis only, as well as the Group A BMW E30 M3.
The eligibility list is not comprehensive, and those who wish to enter but currently don’t see their car on the list should contact eligibility@motorracinglegends.com. The full draft list can be found here.
