Once in a while an iconic event is born and on 24 May 2013 just such an occasion will take place as the first cars are flagged away from Versailles to commemorate the incredible 1903 Paris-Madrid race.
The original race was flagged off with excitement and expectation but was prematurely halted in Bordeaux, marking the end of road racing and the birth of motorsport as we know it today. From then on races were for circuits and rallying on roads was governed by strict rules. It is the great unfinished symphony of the motoring world and we will add the final notes to complete the work.
We are marking the 110th anniversary with a classic reliability trial to test the skills of the driver and navigator along with the capabilities of the car. We have also created the Charles Jarrott Trophy to commemorate the first recognised British motoring hero who was also seeded Car No 1 for the great race of 1903.
Following the original route wherever practicable the three day 1300km (815 mile) event aims to reflect the society of the period with drivers and passengers dressing up in appropriate clothing for the pre-war period. A sort of Revival on the move with awards for originality, sartorial elegance and style as well as vehicle performance.
As with the original schedule we will run the event in three legs but our first stop will be at Angouleme (instead of Bordeaux) which delights in welcoming classic motoring events, having its own events around the ramparts.
From Angouleme we will head south via Saint Emilion and the Pyrenees Mountains to our overnight stop at Pamplona (Vitoria on the original event), famous for its bull run. Here we will be greeted by local classic car enthusiasts and there will be a cocktail party and celebrations.
The third leg will take the roads less travelled to Navarra and Rioja to a hero’s welcome and the chequered flag await in Madrid – And finally the great Paris-Madrid opus will be complete.
The efforts and style of the crews will be rewarded with a gala dinner and prize giving, where family and friends will also be welcome.
To reflect the by-gone days we will have classes for four, three and two wheeled motor, steam or electric driven vehicles in the following classes:
- Veteran in two classes: Up to 1905 and 1906 to 1919.
- Vintage from 1920 to 1929
- Pre-war from 1930 to 1940
The entry fee includes: Accommodation in a Twin/Double room including breakfast for the nights of May 23, 24, 25, and 26 inclusive; group dinners and a gala prize giving dinner on May 26; three lunches at designated halts, secure parking, emergency breakdown support, rally plates, road books and decals and finishers medals. There will be individual and team prizes including an all-ladies crew prize.
Click here to download the brochure
Entry Form
Call us today on +44 (0) 1252 717175 to book your place.
Entrants to date:
Listed below are a few of the people who have put their names down to test their skills, along with the capabilities of their car on this three day 1300Km (815 mile) event.
| Car No | Entrant Name | Co-Driver | Nationality | Make/Model | Year | Class |
| 1 | Tim Scott | Chris Scott | British | Mercedes 60 HP | 1903 | Vet A |
| 2 | Paul-Emile Bessade | Benjamin Bessade | French | Gladiator | 1904 | Vet A |
| 10 | Erich Hoop | Peter Zoister | Liechtenstein/Austria | Brasier Race Car | 1908 | Vet B |
| 11 | Mike Howells | David Greenwood | British | Buick 10 | 1910 | Vet B |
| 11 | Sharon Hunter | Carol Wells | British | |||
| 12 | Juan Quintano | Pierre Arnaud | Spain | Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII | 1910 | Vet B |
| 14 | Michel Laarman | Maryan Greif | Netherlands | Knox Roadster | 1911 | Vet B |
| 15 | Jeff Robinson | Glenda Robinson | Australian | La France | 1919 | Vet B |
| 20 | Peter Roberts | Colin Beasley | British | Bugatti Brescia | 1920 | Vintage |
| 21 | Ronald Brons | Rosanne Brons | Netherlands | Mathis GM Sport | 1925 | Vintage |
| 22 | Kjeld Jessen | Hans Henrik Jessen | Danish | Bugatti T13 Brescia | 1925 | Vintage |
| 23 | Harry Jurgens | Peter van de Zilver | NL/American | Buick Standard Six | 1925 | Vintage |
| 24 | Mark Hardy | Judith Hardy | British | Rolls Royce 20 HP | 1926 | Vintage |
| 25 | Do Meeus | Toon Meeus | Dutch | Bugatti 44 Cabrio | 1927 | Vintage |
| 26 | Neil Davies | Joanna Davies | British | Bentley 4.5 | 1927 | Vintage |
| 27 | Steve Hyde | Janet Lyne | British | Stutz Corsica | 1927 | Vintage |
| 29 | Lennox Mc’Neely | Mei Liu | Canadian/Chinese | Chrysler 75 | 1927 | Vintage |
| 30 | Guy Northam | John Vallance | British | Bentley 4.5 | 1928 | Vintage |
| 31 | Maarten Hoeben | Anja Hoeben | Netherlands | Riley Brooklands | 1928 | Vintage |
| 32 | Chris Lunn | Nicola Lunn | British | Bentley 4.5 Le Mans | 1929 | Vintage |
| 33 | John Raker | Melinda Raker | British | Ford Model A | 1929 | Vintage |
| 34 | Max Stephenson | Julie Stephenson | Australian | Invicta | 1929 | Vintage |
| 35 | George Howitt | Monique Rombouts | British/Belgium | Rolls Royce P 1 | 1926 | Vintage |
| 36 | Mattijs Diepraam | Bruno de Regge | Netherlands / Belgium | Riley Brooklands Special | 1928 | Vintage |
| 37 | Jonathan Turner | Adam Hartley | British | Bentley 3ltr Supersports Team Car | 1925 | Vintage |
| 41 | Robert Abrey | Jane Abrey | British | Bentley 6.5 | 1930 | Pre War |
| 42 | Jan Storm | Aege Steensma | Netherlands | Talbot 90 | 1930 | Pre War |
| 43 | Jonathan Procter | Richard Procter | British | Bugatti Type 44 | 1930 | Pre War |
| 40 | Anthony Cazalet | Bill Ainscough | British | Invicta | 1931 | Pre War |
| 44 | Nigel Williams | William L’Anson | British | Bugatti T51 | 1931 | Pre War |
| 45 | Andrew Davies | Anne Davies | British | Alvis Speed 20 | 1932 | Pre War |
| 46 | Rudi Friedrichs | Helga Friedrichs | German | Alvis Speed 20 | 1932 | Pre War |
| 48 | Julian Bronson | Heather Bronson | British | Riley Blue Streak Special | 1934 | Pre War |
| 49 | Roland van Pelt | Olima Khaitova | Netherlands | Bentley | 1934 | Pre War |
| 50 | Otto van Blaricum | Hiltje van Blaricum | Netherlands | Aston Martin MK II 1.5l | 1934 | Pre War |
| 51 | Thomas Weichenberger | Tanja Weichenberger | Austrian | Citroen Rosalie 8A | 1934 | Pre War |
| 52 | Richard Cunningham | Ed Mead | British | Lagonda M45 Tourer | 1934 | Pre War |
| 53 | Barry Cannell | Helen Cannell | British | Alfa Romeo 6C | 1934 | Pre War |
| 54 | Wim Peters | Nelly Peters | Netherlands | Lagonda M45 | 1934 | Pre War |
| 55 | Jan Woien | Jan Hansen | Norwegian | Alvis Speed 20/25 | 1935 | Pre War |
| 56 | Ab van Egmond | Theun Dommershuizen | Netherlands | Alvis Speed 25 | 1936 | Pre War |
| 57 | Gerd Buehler | Birgit Deymann-Buehler | German | Lagonda LG 45 Tourer | 1936 | Pre War |
| 58 | Paul Gregory | Nick Savage | British | Invicta S Type | 1936 | Pre War |
| 59 | Peter Hall | Heidi Winterbourne | British | Delahaye 135 | 1936 | Pre War |
| 60 | Steven Collins | Simon Silver | British | Bentley Derby | 1936 | Pre War |
| 61 | Jean Steinhauser | Anne Steinhauser-Collard | Luxembourg | Bentley Derby Open Tourer | 1937 | Pre War |
| 62 | Martin Mills | Ian Whistondale | British | Bentley Derby Drophead | 1937 | Pre War |
| 63 | Xavier del Marmol | Ines Bodner | Belgian/Swiss | Delahaye 135 M Convertible | 1938 | Pre War |
| 64 | Caroline Greenhalgh | Tania Slowe | British | Alvis | 1938 | Pre War |
| 65 | Ronald Beckers | Eduard Emde | Netherlands | Bugatti Type 64 | 1938 | Pre War |
| 66 | Alastair Caldwell | Catriona Rings | British | Alfa Romeo 6C | 1938 | Pre War |
| 67 | Giuseppe Redaelli | Gianandrea Redaelli | Italian | Aston Martin C Type | 1939 | Pre War |
| 70 | Colin Heathcote | Bren Unwin | British | Jaguar E Type | 1972 | Touring |