The Avon-Motor Tour of Britain was a unique event with a mix of race, rally stages and road sections, and had already caught the public imagination of the in its second year with rally aces like Roger Clark pitted against racing drivers such as James Hunt driving cars prepared to ‘Group 1’ showroom specification. Both masters of their own disciplines, Clark and Marshall were nicknamed ‘Ecurie Beer-Gut’ during their epic three day long duel in the July of 1974. From the beginning they pulverised the opposition, and made it clear that they would be fighting their own private battle for victory whilst remaining the best of mates throughout, and despite the field being full of top names. History records that after over a thousand miles of motoring Clark had a mere eighteen second advantage over Marshall; a truly magnificent performance by two legends of the sport.