Hey all- I couldn't see a good thread to ask this in, so made my own...

My wife and I are attending our very first World Rally- Wales Rally GB! Since this is the first time I've been to the UK (as an adult at least) ... I was just wondering- is it possible to get tours of Prodrive's facility??
I've heard they display a few of their most notable cars, McRae's, Burnsie's.. etc.. I'd love to see them!
I guess Prodrive has a number of facilities- I don't even know where these might be... Anybody know? I know Prodrive operates SWRT, but is SWRT run directly out of the same buildings? If not- where are they, and do they offer tours?
Sorry for all the bonehead questions- I'm a Yank! :lol1:

Russ R

The closest Prodrive facility I know is in Warwick, you can see it if you drive through on the M40... However there are also facilities in Banbury and milton keynes...

You will be pleased to know that they also have an outpost in Wixom, Michigan!

http://www.prodrive.com/
http://www.prodrivelive.com/

They have what they call prodrivelive - email to enquiries@prodrivelive.com for more info.

:)

The SWRT are based in Prodrive's Banbury Headquarters (http://www.prodrive.com/defaultflash.asp?M=1) in Oxfordshire map (www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=52.076&lon=-1.3192&scale=10000&icon=x).

I know people who have been tours of the Prodrive/SWRT workshops in Banbury but afaik these were special one offs organised by a car club like the SIDC or similar. Have a look/post on either the SIDC Forums (http://forums.sidc.co.uk/) or ScoobyNet main forums (http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/). Meanwhile I'll try and find out more info for you :)

If you're going to a WRC event you can pay for a tour and hospitality in the VIP of SWRTs service facility, that's really cool. Details for RallyGB here (http://bbs.sidc.co.uk/messageview.cfm?catid=18&threadid=18772&STARTPAGE=2) 5th post down.

Hey, being a yank doesn't excuse you from being a bonehead you know ;) :p Not that I'm saying you are one of course... :D

Sal

I found this old thread (http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2163&highlight=prodrive+tours) from way back in 2000 but it doesn't really help you. I guess the best thing to do is to email Prodrive :)

Cool- well, thanks for all the info!
I guess I was being a tad optimistic- it's not like they wouldn't be just a wee bit busy, after all! :lol1:

Thanks heaps, Scoobychick- I did see the post about the SWRT tour... it actually sounds pretty intriguing. Not exactly giving them away ... but since my wife and I are complete noob WR tourists, it might be perfect for us. :idea:

thanks all,
Russ R

hi all,

First post for ages! i think it was just after the rally last year! Just booked our event passes for myself and the old man. The only goodside of the rally moving to september that I could see is that he is a huge rally fan (he used to go every year up until I arrived (15 years ago) but then we started going every year when I was about 4 just to one day things, now we're back to doing the full event) and that his 50th Birthday fell on the days of the rally this year. Anyway, back to subject: got in touch with SWRT and they offered us a complimentary tour of the service area on thursday, which is great, because last year we spent quite a bit of time there, its really quite interesting!

Cheers,

(a very excited) James

P.S, Hope to see some of you, will be taking that WRGB member card (the one with username on the focus in forest background)