Paris to Biarritz in 5 legs for the 242 entrants.
11 special stages on closed roads and 4 circuits (Le Mans, Val de Vienne, Albi, Pau Arnos) were scheduled for this edition with, for the fist time the visit of the Brittany, with the end of the fist leg in Saint-Malo.
Vanished French makes honoured
Every year Peter Auto makes a point of highlighting a manufacturer or a type of car that has been involved in the history of the Tour de France Automobile.
For the 26TH event, the spotlight will be focused on French makes that are no longer produced (CG, Hotchkiss, Ligier, Jide, René Bonnet, Gordini, DB, Panhard).
Many of them took part in the original event.
CG
Hotchkiss
Ligier
Jide
René Bonnet
Gordini (Renault 8/Renault 12)
DB
Panhard
BSH
For my part, I contented myself with the circuits of Albi the 28th April and Pau Arnos the day after.
Albi circuit
Once the two stages of the day ended,is to 3.565 km of Albi circuit, mixing long straights, chicanes and fast corners that competitors are directed to.
At the end of the day, the British crew Andrew SMITH/James COTTINGHAM Ford GT40 confirms, in Competition VHC, his lead at the top of the hierarchy by winning two of the three events of the day.
It is now 3 minutes 47 seconds ahead of the French Ludovic CARON/Denis GIRAUDET (Shelby Cobra 289) winners of the Saint-Céré stage and 5 minutes 32 seconds on Raphael FAVARO/Lucien Charles NICOLET (Jaguar Type E 3,8l ).
The duo Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE/Christophe BOUCHET (E Type Jaguar 3,8l), winner of the last two editions, has had to give up on breakdown engine at the end of the stage of Saint-Céré.
Pau-Arnos Circuit
With a length of 3030 meters and 15 curves, the Pau Arnos circuit is unique by the natural quality of its site located in the middle of a green valley and by its selective configuration.
It was a first for me and I was pleasantly captivated by the track and the geographical localisation of the circuit.
In Competition VHC, We take the same and we start again, first Andrew SMITH/James COTTINGHAM on their Ford GT40, second Ludovic CARON/Denis GIRAUDET on Shelby Cobra 289, third Olivier ELLERBROCK/Olivier LOUISODER on a Ford GT 40 in place of Raphael FAVARO/Lucien Charles NICOLET today fourth.
The crews then joined Biarritz for the last two night stages that closed this 2017 edition of the Tour Auto.
The pair formed by Ludovic CARON/Denis GIRAUDET (Shelby Cobra 289) long time second in the overall standings, had to give up following a road exit in the penultimate stage.
The winners
British crew Andrew SMITH/James COTTINGHAM aboard his Ford GT40,day after day, has built its success by winning eleven victories over fifteen possible: four on the track and seven stages.
MR JOHN OF B./SIBEL imposes its Ligier JS2 DFV in the group H1, H2 and I (JS2 winner in 1974 with G. Larrousse/JP. Nicolas/J. Rives).
Daniel VIARD/Didier HAQUETTE win the Group G1 and G2 at the wheel of their Ford Escort MK1 RS 2000.
The duo Jean-François PENILLARD/Carole VERLAINE (Porsche Pre A) wins the ranking at the performance index.
The victory in Regularity finally saw the Argentinian team Tomas HINRICHSEN/Solange MAYO imposed on their Maserati 200 SI (S/N 2419).
My favourite of the race.
For this race my favorite is the number 22 of the crew Thomas de CHESSE/Doriane RAFFIN, a Fiat 600 D 1967, running in regularity.
It was the smallest car entered in the race and it finished at 27th place of the overall regularity classification.
all entrants (or almost)
See you next year for the 27th edition.
(Based on Peter Auto Press release)