Croft joins Tour Britannia route

Outline route details for the eighth running of Tour Britannia have been revealed and include the first race at the Croft circuit for Britain’s only classic race and rally tour.

The event will start on June 7 with a special stage at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate. The route then heads north to Croft before crews tackle the Oliver’s Mount motorcycle circuit at Scarborough.

On June 8 the event will take in the Harewood Hillclimb, Cadwell Park and the new track at Blyton Park. The return to Harrogate includes another stage at Harewood.

On June 9 the tour heads into the Midlands, taking in four stages on the way to the final race.

HRDC launches GT series for 2012

The Historic Racing Drivers’ Club is planning a substantially expanded programme in 2012 with more race meetings and a new series.

HRDC founder Julius Thurgood (below) has been encouraged by a successful debut season to add a new race series for over 1500cc pre-66 historic GT cars complying with FIA Appendix K. The new GTS65 category will feature 45-minute races with pitstops and optional driver changes and will share billing with four other HRDC race series: Touring Greats, Grand Touring Greats, Pre-64 Touring Cars and a special MGB 50th anniversary race series.

The dates for HRDC events are Castle Combe (April 9), Snetterton (May 5/6), Spa (June 15-17), Donington Park (July 28), Lydden (August 18) and Mallory Park (October 14). The date at Lydden will offer a rare chance to see historic racing on the small Kent track.

“The HRDC showed last season that there is a high demand for no-frills, well-run historic races at club level,” said Thurgood.

Racers return to Montlhéry

Period racing cars will take to the famous Autodrome de Montlhéry in France on March 31 when the next Coupes de Printemps celebrates the motor sport heritage of the famous Paris venue.

A series of demonstration sessions, run along the lines of a track day, will use the 3.3-kilometre (two-mile) track, which includes the notorious banked section and three chicanes.

Participating cars will be split into age-based groups and the entry will be restricted to cars from up to 1972.

Built in 1924, Montlhéry finally closed for racing a decade ago, but continues to host an annual programme of classic events and car club gatherings.

Wiltshire comes to AMOC’s aid

Promoter Duncan Wiltshire (below) has taken on the challenge of rebuilding the Aston Martin Owners’ Club’s race programme under a new independent company called Aston Martin Club Racing Ltd.

The club has decided to put out to contract the promotion and administration of its racing after several seasons in the doldrums.

“It’s the perfect time to reinvigorate AMOC’s club racing,” said Wiltshire. “We want to make sure that 2012 sees the club’s racing programme start to regain the energy, vitality and packed grids it richly deserves.”

The season is set to start at Silverstone on April 29 and will include the St John Horsfall Meeting.