As usual we will be visiting various check point venues along the route - a mixture of museums, town centres, and other interesting locations, which will be confirmed in the regular updates sent to all participants. This year we also have visits to numerous circuits along the way including the challenging Pau Arnos circuit, the exceptionally fast Nogaro Circuit and the legendary Circuit des Ramparts at Angoulême, one of the last remaining street circuits. Our feature circuit is France’s iconic venue Le Mans, host to the world renowned 24 hour race.

 

As always, first class event support will be provided by a full route book, a team of highly experienced event officials, and professional on-event breakdown assistance from Norman Winchester and his team.  

 

Participants are free to make their own accommodation arrangements should they so wish, however Kuoni are once again our approved accommodation agency and we have worked together to select high quality hotels in convenient locations at the overnight halts.  

 

Lunch stops, event dinners and further route details will be advised in event bulletins and via this website.

 

As an added incentive, this year we are offering everyone who enters the 2009 MSA Euroclassic by 28 February 2009, a free entry to the 2009 Aviva MSA Classic (formally the Norwich Union MSA Classic), which takes place on Sunday 20 September. With an entry last year of over 900 cars, this event is proving to be one of the most popular in the British classic car calendar, and this year is guaranteed to be another hugely enjoyable day out. Please see www.msaclassic.co.uk for more details.  

 

1. UPDATED ROUTE OUTLINE

Unless otherwise stated all details are subject to change.  

 

Monday 7 September   

 

To co-incide with the arrival of the Plymouth to Santander ferry, the event has an early afternoon start in Santander, with a spectacular drive across the mountains of Northern Spain. The town of Vitoria Gasteiz is the location of our Welcome Reception, with parking in the main square.  

 

En route to Pamplona we are hoping to visit a brand new circuit, Circuit de Navarra, not yet open to the general public – we will keep you updated on this.  

 

The accommodation package provided by Kuoni includes dinner this evening.  

 

Tuesday 8 September  

 

We leave Pamplona and head towards our morning check point at Isaba.

 

The afternoon will be mostly taken up by the chance to drive the Pau Arnos circuit (confirmed), a fast, very technical circuit with a wide variety of corners that make it both challenging and exciting . Tuesday finishes in Pau, with a drive over the Pau Street Circuit, home of the French round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship. Our first official Event Dinner will take place at the beautiful Beaumont Palace, situated in a 12 acre park on a terrace facing the Pyrénées.  

 

Wednesday 9 September  

 

We leave Pau on Wednesday morning to drive approx 60 miles to the Nogaro Circuit (confirmed), a demanding mix of exceptionally fast straights and challenging complexes. After lunch at the circuit, our afternoon check point will be a wine tasting visit in Buzet.  

 

Our overnight halt will now be in the beautiful city of Bordeaux, with security patrolled parking in the picturesque Place de Quinconces town square. Dinner is not provided this evening, allowing participants to experience the local cuisine at one of the many restaurants close by.  

 

Thursday 10 September  

 

We head north out of Bordeaux for a visit to Hennessy, before heading north towards the legendary Circuit des Ramparts at Angoulême, which, along with Pau and Monaco, is one of the last surviving street circuits. Our overnight location will be Poitiers.  

 

Due to the remote location of the hotel, dinner will again be provided as part of the accommodation package by Kuoni.  

   

 

 

 

Friday 11 September  

 

Our final day will see us depart from Poitiers, with a morning check point at the Châtellerault Motor Museum, housing over 150 classic and historic vehicles, before a midday visit to the town of Tours. Our afternoon visit to Le Mans will give all participants the unique opportunity to drive the legendary Bugatti Circuit (noise limit of 100dba).  

 

Our finish location and End of Event Gala Dinner will be in the beautiful city of Versailles on the outskirts of Paris.  

   

 

2. F3 DRIVING EXPERIENCE AT PAU ARNOS CIRCUIT  

 

The Pau Arnos Circuit, which we will visit on Wednesday afternoon, has an on-site driving school with a number of Formula 3 cars. We have arranged a fantastic opportunity for a limited number of participants to drive these single seater cars for 5/6 laps around the circuit at the end of the day. Formula 3 cars are single seaters similar in concept to that of a Formula 1 car. Using a 2 litre Ford Zetec engine, the power to weight ratio and aerodynamic setup results in exceptional performance.  

 

The cost will be approximately €100 Euros (to be paid directly to the circuit), and includes all necessary safety equipment and briefings. This represents a huge saving on the price of their normal F3 driving experiences.  

 

If you are interested in taking part in this, please let us know as soon as possible. We would have to schedule this into the day, as F3 and classic cars would of course not be permitted to use the circuit at the same time. This activity would be under the control of the circuit and covered by their insurance.

 

3. FERRIES  

 

Participants are reminded to ensure they make their own arrangements for return travel to the UK.  

 

 

 

WHO’S ORGANISING THE EVENT?  

 

International Motor Sports Limited (IMS), on behalf of the Royal Automobile Club Motor Sports Association Ltd (MSA), the governing body of motor sport in the United Kingdom. IMS is a wholly owned subsidiary of the MSA and is the organisation behind the British Grand Prix and Wales Rally GB.

 

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE  

 

The event is open to four wheel road cars, including replica cars, manufactured before 31 December 1988 which are insured and legal for continental road use.  Later cars may be accepted at the discretion of the Organisers if the car is “in the spirit” of the event. Entries will be accepted on a first come - first served basis. The number of entries may be limited.

 

ENTRY FEES AND DEPOSIT  

 

The entry fee schedule for one car and two participants is as follows:

Entries received on or before 28 February 2009                                                        £1,625
Entries received between 1 March and on or before 30 June 2009                               £1,825  

 

A non-refundable deposit of £500 will secure your entry at the applicable rate shown above, the balance to be paid by the closing date of 30 June 2009.  

 

WHAT’S INCLUDED    

 

• a fully researched 5 day route through Spain and France 
• exclusive driving opportunities at motor sport venues to be confirmed 
• lunches and local receptions, to be advised
• event regulations 
• full route instructions in a “tulip” style route book 
• mid-event evening meal for two 
• dedicated breakdown assistance for the duration of the event 
• on-event medical assistance 
• passes, car plate, rear car decal and two souvenir awards 
• secure parking for your car where required at overnight halts 
• finish celebration dinner for two 
• Free 2009 Aviva MSA Classic (formally Norwich Union MSA Classic) entry if you enter the 2009 MSA Euroclassic by 28 February 2009  

 

HOW TO GET THERE  

 

The cost of travel to the start and home from the finish is not included in the entry fee, leaving participants free to travel to the start and home from the finish by whichever method is most suitable.

 

For the outbound trip the organisers have, however, secured a block booking at preferential rates for the Plymouth to Santander crossing, departing at 16.00hrs on Sunday 6 September and arriving at 12.30hrs Monday 7 September. To book one of these crossings please complete and return the Ferry Booking Form as soon as possible.  

 

WHERE TO STAY  

 

Accommodation is not included in the entry fee, allowing participants to make their own arrangements. However, we recommend participants reserve accommodation through our appointed hotel booking agent Kuoni.  

 

As soon as they are available, registered participants will receive a reservation form for hotels. In cases where entrants book their own accommodation the Organiser is unable to provide local transport information or maps.  

 

BE SAFE  

 

The event has safety rules that are published in the regulations which govern driving at motor sport venues. The use of such venues is purely for interest and there is no competition element involved.  

 

CANCELLATION  

 

The Organisers reserve the right to cancel or postpone the event or any part thereof should circumstances arise which cause such action to be desirable or necessary. Should you wish to withdraw your entry from the event once it has been accepted, the following schedule will apply:  

 

i)  Entry withdrawn on or before 30 June 2009 – refund of entry fee excluding £500 deposit  
ii) Entry withdrawn after 30 June 2009 – no refund  

 

Any withdrawal of entry must be in writing. We strongly recommend that participants take out travel insurance to protect the costs of their participation in this event should they need to cancel.  

 

WHAT TO DO NEXT  

 

In order to secure a place on the 2009 MSA Euroclassic, please submit a completed entry form, a current photograph of the car and £500 deposit or full entry fee, as appropriate, by 30 June 2009 at the latest to:  

 

The 2009 MSA Euroclassic  

International Motor Sports Ltd  

Motor Sports House  

Riverside Park  

Colnbrook  

SL3 0HG  

 

FREE 2009 AVIVA MSA CLASSIC ENTRY  

 

Each participant submitting a 2009 MSA Euroclassic entry by 28 February 2009 will be given a free entry to the 2009 Aviva MSA Classic which takes place on Sunday 20 September 2009. Completed entry forms for the 2009 Aviva MSA Classic must be received by the Organisers no later than 28 days after entries open to claim the free entry. If the entry form is received within 14 days of entries opening, the first choice of start locations will be guaranteed. Please see Article 13 of the Euroclassic Regulations for the full terms and conditions of this offer.  

 

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU TO THE 2009 MSA EUROCLASSIC