"You can just imagine the classic capers involving the likes of Graham Hill, Roger Clark, James Hunt and Tony Pond. Watch this film and see if you're right" Autosport
"Alluring cocktail of motor racing's sharpness and rallying's improvisation. Occasionally revived. Much missed" Daily Telegraph
"Brilliant" Classic and Sports Car
This programme brings together action-packed footage of some of the greatest racing drivers and rally stars doing battle around Britain in standard family saloons.
The Avon Tour of Britain was designed to put ordinary cars, straight from the showroom, to the ultimate test on racetracks and rally stages during a 1,000-mile journey.
Over three years, the Tour attracted the biggest names in motorsport, including Formula One greats Graham Hill, James Hunt and Jody Scheckter and rally stars like Roger Clark, Tony Pond and Andrew Cowan. They could not resist the challenge of fast and furious competition in standard saloons on iconic race circuits, including Silverstone, Oulton Park and Snetterton, and demanding special stages, including the always challenging Welsh mountains. There’s even a drag race at Santa Pod in the first year!
All the major motor manufacturers were determined to prove their machines had the reliability, performance and style to survive hundreds of miles of tough driving by some of the toughest drivers in the business. Datsun brought its Bluebirds, Ford the Escorts and Capris, Triumph had its Dolomite Sprint and Vauxhall the Magnum. Rover were there, along with Mazda, Lada and BMW, plus, of course, the Americans got in on the act with the awesomely powerful Chevrolet Camaro.
The classic confrontations between race and rally greats in standard road cars makes for compelling viewing, the driving geniuses power sliding these family favourites around Cadwell and Mallory Park, before switching to the grass, gravel and grit of rallying.
Avon Tour of Britain 1973-75 brings you all the action from each year. In fact, this programme’s coverage is so comprehensive it features not one, but two films about the incredible 1974 event!