Previous events:

London - Lisbon Classic Rally and Touring Trial

As in previous years, there will be a choice of start venue – London or San Sebastian. London starters will leave from an historic location on the outskirts of the city and complete a regularity section to Portsmouth. Whilst not counting towards the overall results, this first section will allow novices a chance to practice reading the road book, using the Jogularity system, and get used to the Liege Clocks.

Those who are keen to get into the spirit of the event can use this first section to hone their skills and compete for the 'first leg best performance awards', which are new for this year, and which will be awarded on the ferry to Spain. Before embarking, crews will be able to explore the historic dockyard at Portsmouth, home to the Victory and Mary Rose. During the crossing to Spain, crews can join in some of the entertainment and social gatherings planned to help pass the time on the ferry.

On reaching Bilbao, the UK starters will join up with the San Sebastian starters who will also have had the opportunity of a practice run. The event starts in earnest from Bilbao, with the Reliability Trial competitors covering approximately 250 miles each day. The route (provisional at this stage) will take you to Santander, through the Picos de Europa to Gijon/Oviedo and on to Ponferrada. From there you will travel over the passes and through the valleys to Orense. The next leg will take you into Portugal, through the Province of Tras o Montes, Vila Real and the Douro Valley. You will drive to Coimbra and eventually complete the final leg in Lisbon.

Competitors on the HERO London Lisbon Historic Reliability Trial 2005 will be competing for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, class prizes, and the prestigious Marque Team Award. Crews on both strands of the event qualify for finishers' awards if they complete their entire route.

The HERO London Lisbon Classic Car Tour 2005, led by its own trail-master, enjoys a shorter route, at a less demanding pace. There's time to admire stunning scenery and beautiful historic places, to linger over lunch and coffee, enjoying a journey of discovery in the relaxed company of others - maybe making new friends for life along the way.

The entry fee has been held at the 2002 level (£1995 for the Reliability Trial and £1895 for the Classic Car Tour, plus the accommodation package anticipated to be approximately £900), and includes eight nights hotel accommodation, the tulip road book, finishers' and other awards and our post event gala prize giving. As with previous years, HERO will be negotiating discounted rates for ferry crossings from the UK, to be booked and paid for by competitors as required. Supplements will apply for single room accommodation (where available) and for additional crewmembers. Confirmation of the accommodation and ferry rates will be provided with the additional supplementary regulations, due to be published towards the end of March.

Those wishing for a 'taster' can take part in the HERO Victory Run, a 90 mile, four hour navigation training exercise through Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire, running ahead of the competitors on the London to Lisbon event and finishing at HMS Victory. The entry fee for the HERO Victory Run includes rally plate, road book and souvenir finishers awards.