British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) and Motor Racing Legends earlier this week unveiled an exciting new chapter in historic motorsport with the launch of Rewind Tour Britain, a unique multi-discipline event set to take place from 27–30 May 2027.

Announced at BARC’s home circuit, Thruxton, Rewind Tour Britain draws inspiration from the iconic Tour of Britain of the 1970s, reimagining its spirit of adventure for the modern historic racing era. The three-day event will combine circuit racing, rally special stages and hillclimbs into one continuous competition, open to historic race and rally cars.

A Modern Take on a Legendary Format

The original Tour of Britain was renowned for pitching circuit aces against rally stars in lightly modified road cars, producing unforgettable battles and legendary winners. James Hunt claimed the inaugural victory in 1973, while names such as Graham Hill and Roger Clark helped cement the event’s place in motorsport history.

Rewind Tour Britain aims to recapture that same competitive edge, while embracing the expectations and standards of contemporary historic motorsport. The event will operate within FIA historic regulations, with cars required to be road legal and run on standard tyres. Full technical and sporting regulations will be issued in due course.

Circuits, Stages and Spectacular Venues

Competitors will face a demanding all-asphalt challenge, ranging from high-speed circuit action at venues such as Thruxton to special stages and tests at some of the most picturesque locations in the country. Blenheim Palace, with its rich motorsport heritage and connections to RAC Rally history, will form the centrepiece of the event and is set to be the jewel in the crown of the route.

Linking race circuits, closed-road stages and hill climbs via some of Britain’s finest driving roads, Rewind Tour Britain is already generating strong interest from leading drivers across Europe.

A True Test of All-Round Ability

By bringing together disciplines that typically operate in isolation, Rewind Tour Britain will demand adaptability, strategy and reliability from both drivers and teams. Further details on the route, stage formats and competitive structure will be released in the coming months.

Soundbites from the Launch

Ben Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of the British Automobile Racing Club, added:
“What we have launched today is genuinely different. Bringing racing and rallying together in one event is ambitious, but that’s exactly why it matters. Our home at Thruxton was the right place to announce it, and the response today shows there is real appetite for something that challenges convention while maintaining a strong connection to the past.

Shaun Lynn, Chairman of Motor Racing Legends, said:
“This is a bold event, which blends a storied past with a brand new concept. Rewind Tour Britain is about putting proper all-round competition back at the centre of historic motorsport. It’s not a parade and it’s not a re-enactment. It’s a serious test that asks drivers to adapt, think and perform across everything motorsport can throw at them throughout some truly spectacular venues across the country. It will not be just the drivers though, as the teams will need good strategy and reliability.”

Pierre-Antoine Lecoutour, CEO of Motor Racing Legends, said:
“There is strong demand across Europe for events that offer more depth than single-discipline competition. Rewind Tour Britain has been built with an international audience in mind, using Britain as a compact yet challenging showcase.”

Drivers from both disciplines have welcomed the concept.

Racing driver David Brabham commented:
“This is exactly the kind of format that drivers want and love, with something for everyone. It puts you up against people from different disciplines and forces you to raise your game. It’s a great platform to take each other on properly, and it’s going to be an amazing event.”

Rally driver Matt Edwards said:
“The Tour of Britain is an event that has gone down in motorsport history with so many famous names as part of it, so it’s amazing to see it live again in a brand new format with a nod to the past. As a showcase for some amazing cars and drivers, it promises to be absolutely fantastic.”