Who said the French were anti-car? Not us! During the 31st
edition of the Tour Auto spectators once again proved that they
love beautiful cars. Smiling faces and encouragements were the
key-words during these five days spent driving through sublime
landscapes between bucolic roads, mountains and vineyards.
Spectators flocked to the side of our beautiful French roads, to the
public zones, the special stages on closed roads and to the
grandstands at the circuits as they came to admire the collector
cars and support drivers and co-drivers. The final day was paced
by three timed special stages on closed roads, the last of which
took place in Andorra. Now it’s already the moment to reveal the
names of the winners of the regularity and competition sections.
This year, Belgium has come out on top! Only cars entered for the
VHC (Historic Competition Cars) category can claim the title of
overall winner of the Tour Auto.
Once again the 31st edition kept all its promises with 232 cars at the start and non-stop spectacle throughout
all the legs. At the finish in Andorra some cars were in the same state as at the start while others still bore
the traces of their difficult passages through the special stages. A few competitors had to retire from the race
because of engine failures or various mechanical problems that could not be repaired.
Podium in the Regularite Category
Over five days, the crews entered for the regularity category had to respect the times in 12 timed stages on
closed roads and circuits. Concentration was absolutely crucial to achieve the pre-set averages depending on
the category of speed chosen at the start: fast, average, intermediate and slow.
1. Jean-Jacques Martens a,d Aswin Pyck #34 Volvo PV 444
2. Gérald d’Incau and Nicolas Pagano #22 3.8-litres E-Type Jaguar
3. Martin H. Sucari and Pedro San Martin #41 Porsche 356 (A) 1600 Coupe
The winners of the G and I category
Winners in the G category
Jean Rigondet and Olivier Souillard #95
Winners in the I category
Tommy Eriksson and Erwin Siesling 2.5-litre Porsche 911 2,5L St GR4
The Competition Category Podium
A neck-and-neck battle raged throughout the week between the first three crews as much in the special
stages where Raphaël Favaro was in his element behind the wheel of his Lotus Elan 26R as on the circuits
where Thierry Boutsen, a circuit regular, gave free rein to his lightning speed!
1. Thierry Boutsen and Hervé Ordioni #218 Shelby Cobra 289
2. Raphaël Favaro and Thomas de Saulieu #211 Lotus Elan 26R
3. Damien Kohler and Sylvie Laboisne #212 Shelby Cobra 289
