Paris, 11th of April to Biarritz 16th of April
The original Tour de France started in 1899 as a road race to
show the reliability of the automobiles of its time. The cars had to
do more than 2000 km on open roads in several stages on a loop
with the start and finish in Paris. After several editions before the
war the Tour became one of the most popular road races in the
early 1950th and attracted many works teams to compete in this
prestigious event. As with the Mille Miglia in Italy Ferrari was the
dominant marque of this period and their 250 GT model was even
named after the success at the TdF to stand beside other famous
models named Monza or MM showing the importance of the race.
Whereas the Mille Milgia had its last edition in 1957 after a fatal
accident the Tour de France Auto (the addition “Auto” was made
to differ it from the bicycle race) carried on over the years and was
won several times by the Ferrari 250 GT series either on the LWB
or SWB chassis or the famous GTO.
In the sixties the event was opened for sports prototypes as the
GT40, Porsche 906, Matra MS650 or Ligier JS2 and was a rare
opportunity to see these racers outside of closed race circuits on
open roads. These are also the cars that make the modern
equivalent so interesting both for owners of those cars and the
attending spectators.
The last edition of the original TdF was held in 1986 when safety
reasons and economics made it impossible to continue the race
over the 50th edition.
In 1992 the organization of Peter Auto (that is also responsible for
the Le Mans Classics) resurrected the event under the name Tour
Auto for historic automobiles. The event was a success right from
the beginning and never missed a year since then so 2011 saw
its 20th edition. Part of the success is beside the perfect
organization the capture of the sportive character of the event as
beside the usual regularity classes the Tour still has a strong
competition link with races on closed tracks or special stages.
On the 11th of April about 235 crews found their way to the Parc
des Tuileries in Paris for the scrutineering. The cars arrived the
day before and over night when the park was opened at 6 pm for
the cars to enter and their unloading on the nearby Place de la
Concorde took a good part of the night. The cars were checked
for their originality, their papers and in case of the competition
cars for their safety equipment. A red number on the cars
indicates that it is entered in the regularity class where the drivers
and navigators have the choice of three different average speeds
for the special stages. The black race number indicates that the
car is entered in one of the 3 competition groups sorted by age.
As the name indicates the only goal for the competition cars is to
go as fast as they could both on the track or the closed stages
on the road. Due to their different age, displacement and type (GT
or prototype) there are more separate classes within these groups
and the cars have a coefficient to make them comparable in the
so-called index of performance.
The Tour itself started on Tuesday morning with a timely
neutralized passage to the nearby track of Montlhery were the
Tour officially started. Part of the secret of the Tour is the
changing route that leads to different parts of France year by
year. After a trip to the north and the Cote d´Azuree in the last
two years this Tour was first heading west to make a stop at the
Circuit de Bugatti in Le Mans before going south to finish at the
Atlantic coast at Biarritz the following Saturday. The ever
changing route makes the Tour very attractive for all those coming
back year by year as it does not get routine at all with new tracks
and stages every time, especially the tracks vary from very
modern (like Paul Ricard last year) to very charismatic (like Pau
Arnos or even more Charade in 2010) and a new track is always a
challenge.
Furthermore the Tour Auto has every year a featured car, marque
or coach-builder that attracts many highlights for the spectators.
After the 50th anniversary of the Ferrari 250 GT SWB victory in
2010 with no less than 14 examples of this multimillion dollar
sports racer this years feature were the cars with coachwork by
Zagato. Many sportive cars of the 50s had a Zagato body as they
were usually light and aerodynamic such as the 7 Alfa Romeo TZ
entered or the Lancia Flaminia, but highlights were without doubt
the two original Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato (out of 19 build) who
are widely considered to be the most beautiful cars of their era
and competitors of the famous Ferrari 250 GTO that will celebrate
its 50th anniversary in 2012 (and might be the next featured
car...). Unfortunately the ultimate entry was missing as one of the
few Ferrari 250 GT LWB (TdF) with Zagato body would have been
the star of the Tour but they are more likely seen on concours
than on a tough rally.
For the following 5 days the crews had to master 4 different
tracks (Le Mans, Val de Vienne, Nogaro and Pau Arnos), several
special stages on small country roads and about 2000km of
distance. Although this is spread over 5 stages the driving days
are usually very long and the Tour Auto is not a joy ride compared
to other rallies, but this is part of the pleasure.
If you have followed our daily report during the Tour you might
have noticed that the landscape changes a lot along the road.
When the Tour started in Paris the dominant elements where the
rape fields on the first legs to Poitiers and the second to Objat.
On the third day with the trip down to Bordeaux one could see
how important the famous wine is for the region as the vineyards
were omnipresent. Highlight of this day was the lunch stop at
Château Villebois Lavalette with its gravel approach and the pale
stone walls.
These lunch stops in some of the numerous castles along the
road are another feature of the TA where the cars are lined-up in
great locations and the crews can take their lunch in a great
atmosphere open air under the trees, if the weather is as good as
it was this year. Although a lunch stop at the visited circuits is
the less time-consuming way as it combines the waiting time
between the grids with the lunch break the organization finds the
time for the visits of the Chateaus year by year and when asking
some of the competitors this is something they do not want to
miss.
On the next stage the route followed the Garonne and crossed
some of their small side channels with old bridges and alleys to
approach Pau. Although the city is known for the town grand prix
there is a separate track outside of Pau that saw the last race of
the TA2011 on Saturday morning. As the region is close to the
Pyrenees the last day brought a change of the landscape once
more when crossing the extensions of the mountains on narrow
roads and forests just to widen up for the coastal region for the
final miles.
So after 5 days the remaining crews reached the finish in Biarritz
and although everyone who brought the car home without (or with
small) wounds should be considered as a winner here are the
results:
The regularity was won by John Ruston and his navigator Jeremy
Haylock in their Porsche 356 A Speedster. The beautiful
white/green Speedster is a regular entrant and after finishing in
the top 3 for the last 4 years the crew finally succeeded in this
years edition making clear that this is not a fluke.
Overall winner of the competition class within the VHC regulation
is Ludovic Caron/Didier David on AC Cobra. In this class the
Cobras had to fight with the very competitive Ford GT40, these
were the fastest cars on the tracks but due to a lack of reliability
and problems on the narrower special stages none of them
finished on the podium. Second became the winner of the last
years TA, Jean-Pierre Lajournade on his fast Lotus Elan in front of
another Cobra.
Fastest car of the entire Tour and winner of the Groups G/H/I was
the Ligier JS2 of Paul Knapfield. After several attempt in the past
and an improvement of the car year by year he finally succeeded
and won every single race on the track without problems 37 years
after a Ligier won the original Tour Auto.
The prestigious Performance index classification was won by
another Porsche 356 in the hands of Yves Junne and Porsche
specialist Lee Maxted Page. The small Porsche won all of the 13
stages and was 12th overall compared to many much more
powerful cars.
So another fantastic Tour Auto is over and at the finish in Biarritz
one could have seen just smiling faces. Most of this years
entrants will come back next year, some just to enjoy, some with
improved cars for another attack for the podium. This competition
is part of the fascination, where else do you see Porsche 906 or
Ligiers on the open road. This makes the Tour Auto to a one of a
kind event and one could be curious where Tour ends 2012, just
the start will be in Paris next April, that is for sure.
One competitor summarized the event with the following words:
“This event is not for the unprepared individuals or the faint-
hearted! “ which gives a good conclusion.
Text&Images: Peter Singhof … www.ClassicCarPhotography.de
Tour Auto Entries
001 BMW 507 s/n 70055 1957 TRABER/RAPP
002 LANCIA Aurelia B 20 GT 1955 VERBEECK/VAN LOOY
003 MERCEDES BENZ 220 1952 VON FINCKENSTEIN/VON
FINCKENSTEIN
005 ASTON MARTIN DB 2 s/n LML/50/273 1952 VAN DE
VELDE/VAN DE VELDE
006 ASTON MARTIN DB 2 s/n LML/50/316 1953
FREILING/GROPP
008 PORSCHE 356 Speedster 1954 RUSTON/HAYLOCK
009 AC ACE Bristol 1959 LERICHE-PICARD/LERICHE-PICARD
010 PORSCHE 356 Speedster 1958 MATHIEU/MATHIEU
012 MERCEDES BENZ 190 SL 1963 POELAERT/
015 PORSCHE 356 1965 GOLD/SHAUB
017a Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato
020 FERRARI 250 GT Berlinetta s/n 3539gt 1962
VALENTINI/RUNGE
023 FERRARI 275 GTB/C s/n 07185 1966 LAIDLAW/ABBOTT
025 ASTON MARTIN DB 4 GT Zagato s/n DB4GT/0181/L 1959
LAIDLAW/BAILEY
026 FERRARI 275 GTB 4 s/n 10681 1967 SENFT/SENFT
028 ALFA ROMEO Giulietta SZ 1960
TEISSERENC/TEISSERENC
029 MASERATI A6 G54 Zagato s/n 2107 1955
HAYES/STARKEY
030 ALFA ROMEO SZT s/n 10126 1962 MARIS/TIGGELER
031 ALFA ROMEO TZ 1963 WARBURTON/BARNARD
032 ROMEO TZ 1963 AUVRAY/SERPAGLI
033 ALFA ROMEO TZ 1964 MELLINGER/PETER
035 ALFA ROMEO Giulietta SS 1960 SARTHOU/SARTHOU
036 OSCA Maserati 750S 1958 RICCI/STOESSER
037 LANCIA Flavia Zagato 1967 MITCHELL/DUFFY
038 FERRARI 250 GT Berlinetta s/n 3367gt 1962
SHARP/EDWARDES
040 FERRARI 212 EXPORT s/n 0170et 1952
STREMINSKI/STREMINSKI
040 FERRARI 225 EXPORT s/n 0170RT 1952
STREMINSKI/STREMINSKI
041 ASTON MARTIN DB 2/4 s/n AM300/1262 1957
CLARKE/CLARK
042 AC ACE Bristol 1957 KOENIG/KOENIG
044 ALFA ROMEO Giulia Super 1969 THEVENIN/VALLET
045 ALFA ROMEO Giulietta Sprint Veloce 1957
DARLING/QUEEN
046 AUSTIN HEALEY 100 M 1955 TROUSSIER/TROUSSIER
047 FERRARI 275 GTB s/n 07473 1965 FLEURY/BONORON
050 FERRARI 275 GTB 4 s/n 10403 1967 POZNER
051 HONDA N 600 1968 AMANT/DECULTOT
053 PORSCHE 356 Cabrio Pré A 1500 S 1953 MUNDT/MUNDT
055 JAGUAR XK 150 1958 BAUD/BILLOT
056 JAGUAR Type E 3.8L Coupé 1963 BAUD/LATHAM
061 FERRARI 275 GTB s/n 07517 1965 THADANI/
062 FERRARI 250 GTO s/n 4219gt 1962 WANG/
063 FERRARI 275 GTB s/n 09067 1967 MA/WANG
065 LANCIA Flaminia Zagato 1962 FABRI/
077 FORD Mustang 1966 NICOULES/PEYRONNET
078 RENAULT Alpine A110 MÖLLENKAMP/MÖLLENKAMP
079 Jaguar XK120 Roadster 1950 RAYNAUD/AUDEMARS
080 AUSTIN Cooper S BELIN/ORLOWSKI
081 PORSCHE 911 S 2,4L 1972 ARLAUD/ARLAUD
082 FERRARI Dino 246 GT s/n 05284 1973 MONOT/
083 PORSCHE 911 RS 2,7l 1973 ROUER/HENARD
090 AUSTIN HEALEY 100/4 1955 HECTOR/DA ROCHA
091 AC ACE Bristol 1958 ARAGOU/PUJOL
092 JAGUAR XK 140 1956 REILLE/MALLET
094 JAGUAR XK 150 S 1959 NEURRISSE/de FOLMONT
095 TRIUMPH TR3 1958 de BEAUREGARD/ARMANDET
096 AC ACE 1957 PINÖSCH/FONBONNE
097 PORSCHE 356 1963 GUITTARD/VIDAL
098 LANCIA Flaminia Zagato 1962 BRUNHES/de LACRETELLE
099 FERRARI 250 GT Berlinetta s/n 2439gt 1961
ELLERBROCK/ROHWER
100 PORSCHE 356 1961 MENARD/KAISER
101 ALFA ROMEO 2000 GTV 1971 BAIGNERES/WASILEWSKI
102 ALFA ROMEO 2000 GTV 1973 de BEAUFORT/DUMEZ
104 FORD Mustang 1967 VAN EEKERT/DJIAN
108 AC Cobra 1965 DEMOLE/DEMOLE
111 FERRARI 275 GTB 2 s/n 06603 1965 SAIER/ALTIERI
114 BMW 2002 TII 1971 ROSTANG/LAMELOISE
114a Porsche 911
115 FERRARI Dino 246 GT 1971 SNOW/SNOW
118 PORSCHE 914 / 6 1970 CLEON/AUBIN
120 LANCIA Fulvia 1.3 HF 1970 LAFONT/PENICAUD
121 MORGAN + 8 1971 MADER/CARRIERE
122 DE TOMASO Pantera 1972 SEVESTRE/SEVESTRE
123 DE TOMASO Pantera 1972 AREZINA/AREZINA
124 PORSCHE 914 / 6 1972 KUEHN/VIDAL
125 ALFA ROMEO 2000 GTV 1972 MARIE/BLASER
127 FERRARI Dino 246 GTS s/n 05462 1973
PAPAZYAN/VIEVILLE
128 CG B 1200 1972 Haute MAHUL/ASPERTI-BOURSIN
129 FERRARI Dino 246 GT 1970 DEMOLE/AEDO
132 ALFA ROMEO 2000 GTV 1973 SABATIE-GARAT/SABATIE-
GARAT
133 BMW 2002 Turbo 1974 SILIO/LETELLIER
134 LOTUS Europa 1975 LACROIX/LACROIX
136 CITROËN SM 1971 HAEFELIN/HAEFELIN
152 PORSCHE 911 1965 PENILLARD/BILLION-REY
153 BMW 2002 TI 1973 BURNICHON/MOLLAR
154 ALFA ROMEO TZ 1964 MHITARIAN/MEINERS
156 ALFA ROMEO 1600 GTA 1965 COMAR/GOUBLE
157 ALFA ROMEO 1600 GTA 1965 BERCHON/BERCHON
159 ALFA ROMEO 1600 GTA 1965 GRUNDY/TROUVE
160 ALFA ROMEO 1600 GTA 1965 AMOROSO/MEIER
162 ALFA ROMEO 1600 GTA 1965 TATE/MEADEN
163 BMW 1800 Ti 1965 FAULX/VANANTY
166 JAGUAR Type E 1963 VIAL/de NOYELLE
168 AUSTIN HEALEY 100/4 1954 AUGIS/CHAMPAGNON
172 AUSTIN HEALEY 100/4 1955 RAWE/SANZ DE ACEDO
173 AUSTIN HEALEY 100 M 1956 MASSIMI/CHAROY
JONVILLE
176 JAGUAR Mk II 1964 d’ABEL DE LIBRAN/GALOP
177 JAGUAR Mk I (3,4l) 1959 LE GLOAHEC/DOIZE
180 PORSCHE 356 1953 JUNNE/MAXTED-PAGE
181 PORSCHE 356 A 1952 CATHIARD/CATHIARD
181a Porsche 911
182 MG A 1959 MAZOYER/TOUZE
183 MG B 1964 MARGAINAUD/MARGAINAUD
185 ALFA ROMEO Giulia TI Super 1964 HENGY/BEAUGRAND
187 ALFA ROMEO 2600 Sprint 1965 VIGNOT/MAURICE
189 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA 1600 TI Super 1974 HOLTZ/LEISER
190 PORSCHE 356 coupé pré A 1953 ZELMANSKI/DALLA-
MUTTA
191 JAGUAR XK 140 1954 URBAN/URBAN
192 JAGUAR XK 120 1950 BENAROYA/DISCHAMP
194 AUTOBIANCHI A 112 1979 SGUBBI/DHIEUX
200 AC Cobra 1963 LYNN/KIVLOCHAN
204 AC Cobra 1963 GUENAT/FRAGNIERE
207 JAGUAR Type E 1963 MERLIN/MERLIN
208 LOTUS Elan 1965 LAJOURNADE/BARON
210 PORSCHE 911 KOHLER/LABOISNE
211 LOTUS Elan 1964 GUTZWILLER/MESSNER
212 LOTUS Elan 1963 MEY/MEY
213 AC Cobra 1964 FREEMAN/FREEMAN
214 JAGUAR Type E 1962 DUCHENE/
216 LOTUS Elan 1964 QUEFFELEC/COLLAS
218 PORSCHE 904 s/n 904068 1964 HARRISON/HARRISON
220 FERRARI 275 GTB/C s/n 09041 1965 DUNBAR/CARTER
221 ASTON MARTIN DB 4 GT s/n DB4GT/0137/R 1960
SINGLETON/SINGLETON
222 FERRARI 250 GT Berlinetta s/n 2129gt 1960
BEECROFT/BEECROFT
223 FERRARI 275 GTB s/n 07641 1965 READ/NORFLEET
224 FERRARI 275 GTB s/n 06601 1965 CHAVY/VAN RIET
225 FERRARI 275 GTB/C s/n 09007 1965 MEIER/MEIER
226 FERRARI 250 GT SWB s/n 3401gt 1962 DUMOLIN/ADYNS
227 LOTUS Elan 1966 LEGRAS/DEBRIE
228 LOTUS Elan 26R 1964 FATEMI/KNOCHE
230 PORSCHE 911 1965 OPPENHEIM/de SIEBENTHAL
232 PORSCHE 911 1965 KOEL/KOEL
233 PORSCHE 911 1965 TWAITES/LIECHTI
235 FORD Mustang 1965 REGENT/GRANSART
236 BMW 2002 Turbo 1975 VALETTE/METAIS
240 FORD Mustang 1965 SABATES/LEGAT
253 FERRARI 308 Gr IV Michelotto s/n 31135 1980
ENTREMONT/ENTREMONT
256 PORSCHE 910 s/n 910022 1967 PERRODO/LEGRAET
258 FERRARI 308 GTB Gr.IV s/n 33879 1976 PAGES/PAGES
260 PORSCHE 906 s/n 906114 1966 BERNARD/BERNARD
261 PORSCHE 910 s/n 910005 1970 VANDROMME/VIVIER
263 SCORA 1800 1975 TCHINE/PASQUIER
267 LANCIA Stratos Gr. IV 1978 FRANCE/FRANCE
270 LANCIA Stratos Gr. IV 1977 HAUTOT/CANTREL
271 FERRARI 365 GTB/4 Gr.IV s/n 13715 1970
DONALDSON/SHAUGHNESSY
273 ALPINE RENAULT A 110 1800 Gr. IV 1973
CHAMBORD/BASCHIERA
275 CHEVROLET Corvette 1971 SALAM/SALAM
276 DE TOMASO Pantera Gr. IV 1973 KLINGHOFER/MACHARD
277 DE TOMASO Pantera 1972 FRADIN/FRADIN
280 PORSCHE 911 RS 3,0l 1974 SENGER/EGGLY
281 PORSCHE 911 ST 2.5l 1972 LOGAN/HAMPTON
283 PORSCHE 914/6 GT 1970 BOURIEZ/PASCAL
284 PORSCHE 914/6 GT 1970 BUSSOLINI/BUSSOLINI
285 PORSCHE 914/6 GT 1971 BERTONI/BATHELOT
287 FORD Capri 2600 RS 1971 COMPAS/ORSUCCI
288 PORSCHE 911 RS 2,7l 1973 GODIN/GERBAULT
291 DE TOMASO Pantera Gr. IV 1972 CHRIQUI/ABBOUD
292 CITROËN SM 1971 MEURDRA/COUTIN
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