OBITUARY

Nick Brittan

1936 – 2006

Nick Brittan, founder of Trans World Events, had a career of over 30 years in motor sport. He enjoyed being a motoring journalist, karting champion, works saloon car driver, International motorsport manager, television producer and being the founder of modern day endurance rallying.

Author of the hugely popular and controversial 'Private Ear' column in Autosport, Nick took up racing cars in 1965 after a start racing karts during which he won the European championship twice.

Perhaps best remembered for his exploits in the "Green Bean" Ford Anglia, he scored seven wins from 15 races in his first season, and collected the Peter Collins Memorial trophy, the Rootes Gold Cup and the Spring Grove Novice of the Year award.

A 'works' drive with the Alan Fraser Imp team followed in 1966, when he won the Spring Grove Saloon Car Championship. He spent the 1967 season racing a Ford-sponsored Anglia for John Young's Superspeed stable.

Brittan was also instrumental in spreading Formula Ford to continental Europe and Scandinavia and played a large part in introducing Formula Vee to the UK.

The formula started in the UK in July 1967 with Nick taking the inaugural British Formula Vee championship. He also raced in Europe, taking wins in Belgium and at the 'Ring.

In 1968 he drove with his wife, Jenny, in a works Ford Cortina on the first London-Sydney Marathon. This was an event that would provide inspiration for him later in his career.

He became involved in F1 and WRC driver management in the 1970s, looking after many drivers including Patrick Depailler, John Watson, Jody Scheckter and Stig Blomquist.

Television Production was also a successful outlet for him, through the popular Rallysprint and KickStart series of the late 1970’s and early 80’s.

Later he invented modern FIA Marathon rallying, with his Trans World Events Organisation conceiving and running the 1993 London to Sydney Marathon. A succession of pioneering events followed this, with the loyal support of rallying and adventure competitors.

He leaves behind his wife Jenny (married 1966) and sons Alexander, Toby and Barnaby.