As you can see from our 2026 race calendar, we are working hard here at HRDC HQ to bring you the best season possible. In doing so, we have decided to bring back an iconic race title for our 1958 – 1966 Touring Cars – ‘Top Hat’. I debuted this title in 1998 when launching the first long-distance, 2-driver pitstop race for pre-’66 Touring Cars at Silverstone. It was a game-changer at the time. Longer races, with optional two-driver teams became the much-needed antidote to the normal short 15-20-minute single-driver sprint races of the day. Top Hat Racing expanded to become synonymous with fielding a wide range of historic race series and really advanced the status of racing pre-’66 Touring Cars in particular. Horizons quickly broadened and racing these cars in Europe developed into unforgettable forays to iconic circuits such as Spa, Chimay, Nurburgring, Dijon, Pau and Montlhéry. Whilst it is early days with this exercise, we are hopeful to bring European Top Hat races to the HRDC calendar.

Using the Top Hat banner within the HRDC and MRL framework will set another benchmark for our type of racing and that can only be a good platform from which to expand the reputation and consequent invitations to greater events.

In this context, our partner team at Motor Racing Legends are offering a Top Hat season package whereby the following Top Hat races (including MRL hospitality) can be entered in a special full season application:

• DONINGTON HISTORIC FESTIVAL
• BRANDS HATCH GP
• CHARADE
• BRDC SILVERSTONE (Provisional)
• DIJON
• SILVERSTONE GP

MRL CALENDAR HERE

PLEASE NOTE:
All UK Top Hat races can still be entered individually via the HRDC at HRDC Members rates. (MRL hospitality will not apply to these entries).

CLIKC HERE FOR HRDC ENTRY FORMS