I have photographed Tour Britannia in the past as it used to attract a wide variety of cars, and seeing them on Special Stages, is well, special.  These cars are normally only seen on the Race Track, and catching them out of their normal surroundings makes a change.  It's not often you see someone 'rally' a Ford GT40, or a Z28 Camaro, or a C type Jaguar.

With the Mini Tour Britannia running this year only just 'up the road', well the M3, and using some venues I've not photographed at I thought some coverage would be good.  The event started and finished at the Royal Automobile Club's premises at Woodcote Park, near Epsom, and used Stages and Tests at Dunsfold, as well as a Stage at Mercedes Benz World at Brooklands, culminating with a Stage back at Woodcote Park.

Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Park. The Ford GT40 of David McErlain & Andrew Merifield

  This was the first time a Special Stage had been run at Woodcote Park, the paperwork suggested it was to introduce the golfing members to motorsport!

Photographing on the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold was exciting, especially as several competitors have obviously not watched TG and knew the layout of the 'hammerhead', or either their Co Drivers couldn't read a stage diagram.  Some of them took an interesting 'line' shall we say, just as well I was using my 100-400 zoom!

Howard Redhouse & first time navigator Scott Nicholson took first in the Competition Category. Photo above shows Competition Category winner Howard Redhouse going the right way around the TG 'hammerhead' at Dunsfold.

'Cleared for Take Off' Regularity Category winnrs Andrew Brodie & Richard Payne.

Here's a selection of the 'interesting' cars that competed:

Jaguar C type of Ben Cussons & Toby Ecuyer Regularity Category entrants Duncan Moir & Sebastian Reid

Duncan Moir commented: 'What a terrific event – a lot of fun, no (major!) damage, some first class locations and a good days exercise. Best tank of fuel for a long while!'

And as for the big boys, here on the 'End of the Runway' test:

Stuart Scott & Steve Wood twirling the Z28 Camero around the cones at Dunsfold Belgium Historic rallyman Glenn Janssens & Julie Luypart destroying the cones on the test at Dunsfold

A great day out, and some new venues ticked off.  Can't wait now for July, when the 1000 Mile Trial sets off from Woodcote Park, and attempts the Captains Drive climb.