Tour de France Automobile
Tour de France Automobile was a sports car race held on roads around France regularly - mostly annually - between 1899 and 1986.
The first edition was held in 1899 at speeds of 30 mph (50 km/h). The first event was won by René de Knyff driving a Panhard et Levassor. Organized by Le Matin, under the control of the Automobile Club de France, held July 16 to 24, in seven stages: Paris-Nancy; Nancy-Aix-les-Bains; Aix-les-Bains-Vichy; Vichy-Périgueux; Périgueux-Nantes; Nantes-Cabourg; Cabourg-Paris. Out of 49 starters, 21 vehicles finished.[1] The 1908 event was won by Clément-Bayard.[2]
The 1951 event was won by Pagnibon-Barracquet in a 2.6-litre Ferrari.[3] The event visited La Turbie Hill Climb, near Nice. In 1954 the event was won by the 2.5 litre Gordini of Jacques Pollet and M. Gauthier, running on the traditional Nice to Nice route.[4] The 1956 event was won by de Portago/Nelson in a Ferrari 250 2.9 with Moss/Houel (Mercedes 300 SL) in second place.[5]
The 1960 Tour de France took place between September 15 and 23 that year. Starting at Nice it visited Mont Ventoux, Nurburgring, Spa, Montlhéry, Rouen and Le Mans with the finish at Clermont Ferrand. The event was won overall by the Ferrari 250 G.T. of Willy Mairesse/Georges Berger. The Jaguar 3.8 litre Mk. II of Bernard Consten/J. Renel won the Touring category with the BMW 700 coupé of Metternich/Hohenlohe winning the Index of Performance.[6]
The 1964 event was won by Lucien Bianchi/Georges Berger in a Ferrari GTO, entered by Ecurie Nationale Belge.[7] The event started at Lille, visiting Reims, Rouen, Le Mans, Clermont-Ferrand, Monza and Pau. The Touring car category was won by Peter Procter/Andrew Cowan in a Ford Mustang,[8] entered by Alan Mann Racing.[9] The A.C. Shelby Cobras of Maurice Trintignant, Bob Bondurant and André Simon all retired.
The 1980s saw the event incorporated into the European Rally Championship which saw an influx of new competitors. The last event was held in 1986. Also known as Tour Auto, it was revived in 1992 for historic cars, with both a competition and a regularity class. The format is a 5-day event combining about 2,500 km of roads, 4 or 5 circuit races and 6 to 8 hillclimbs. Patrick Peter of Agence Peter is the organiser. The start of the International event with some 300 entrants is in Paris; the finish alternates between various cities like Cannes, St. Tropez and Biarritz. The winning cars over the years (since 1996 only pre '66 cars can win overall, even though cars up to 1974 are allowed): Ford Shelby Mustang 350GT, Ford GT40, AC Cobra 289, Lotus Elan, Ferrari Daytona Gr IV.
Winners 1951-1986
| Year | Driver(s) | Co-driver | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 |  Pierre Pagnibon |
Alfred Barraquet |
Ferrari 212 Export |
| 1952 | Marc Gignoux |
Mme Gignoux |
DB 750 |
| 1953 | Jacques Péron - Sport |
R. Bertramnier |
Osca MT4 |
| Paul Condrillier - Touring car |
Daniel |
Renault 4CV 1062 | |
| 1954 | Jacques Pollet |
Hubert Gauthier |
Gordini T15S |
| 1956 |  Alfonso de Portago |
 Edmont Nelson |
Ferrari 250 GT |
| 1957 |  Olivier Gendebien - GT Category |
Lucien Bianchi |
Ferrari 250 GT |
| Jean Hébert - Touring car |
Marcel Lauga |
Alfa Romeo Giulietta | |
| 1958 | Olivier Gendebien - GT Category |
Lucien Bianchi |
Ferrari 250 GT |
| Jean Hébert - Touring car |
Bernard Consten |
Alfa Romeo Giulietta | |
| 1959 | Olivier Gendebien - GT Category |
Lucien Bianchi |
Ferrari 250 GT |
| Hermano da Silva Ramos - Touring car |
Jean Estager |
Jaguar Mark 1 | |
| 1960 | Willy Mairesse - GT Category |
Georges Berger |
Ferrari 250 GT |
| Bernard Consten - Touring car |
Jack Renel |
Jaguar Mark 2 | |
| 1961 | Willy Mairesse - GT Category |
Georges Berger |
Ferrari 250 GT |
| Bernard Consten - Touring car |
Jack Renel |
Jaguar Mark 2 | |
| 1962 | André Simon - GT Category |
Maurice Dupeyron |
Ferrari 250 GT |
| Bernard Consten - Touring car |
Jack Renel |
Jaguar Mark 2 | |
| 1963 | Jean Guichet - GT Category |
José Behra |
Ferrari 250 GTO |
| Bernard Consten - Touring car |
Jack Renel |
Jaguar Mark 2 | |
| 1964 | Lucien Bianchi - GT Category |
Georges Berger |
Ferrari 250 GTO |
 Peter Procter - Touring car |
Andrew Cowan |
Ford Mustang | |
| 1969 | Gérard Larrousse |
Maurice Gélin |
Porsche 911 R |
| 1970 | Jean-Pierre Beltoise Patrick Depailler |
Jean Todt |
Matra 650 [10] |
| 1971 | Gérard Larrousse |
Johnny Rives |
Matra 650 |
| 1972 | Jean-Claude Andruet |
Michèle Espinosi-Petit |
Ferrari 365 GTB4 |
| 1973 |  Sandro Munari |
Mario Mannucci |
Lancia Stratos HF |
| 1974 | Gérard Larrousse Jean-Pierre Nicolas |
Johnny Rives |
Ligier JS2 |
| 1975 | Bernard Darniche |
Alain Mahé |
Lancia Stratos HF |
| 1976 | Jacques Henry |
Bernard-Etienne Grobot |
Porsche Carrera |
| 1977 | Bernard Darniche |
Alain Mahé |
Lancia Stratos HF |
| 1978 | Michèle Mouton |
Françoise Conconi |
Fiat 131 Abarth |
| 1979 | Bernard Darniche |
Alain Mahé |
Lancia Stratos HF |
| 1980 | Bernard Darniche |
Alain Mahé |
Lancia Stratos HF |
| 1981 | Jean-Claude Andruet |
Chantal Bouchetal |
Ferrari 308 GTB |
| 1982 | Jean-Claude Andruet |
Michèle Espinosi-Petit |
Ferrari 308 GTB |
| 1983 | Guy Fréquelin |
Jean-François Fauchille |
Opel Manta 400 |
| 1984 | Jean Ragnotti |
Pierre Thimonier |
Renault 5 Turbo |
| 1985 | Jean Ragnotti |
Pierre Thimonier |
Renault 5 Maxi Turbo |
| 1986 | François Chatriot |
Michel Périn |
Renault 5 Maxi Turbo |
References
- ↑ International Motor Cyclopaedia, Year Book-March 1908 to March 1909, Pages 114-115, Publisher: E.E. Schwarzkopf, New York.
- ↑ Hydro Retro, Clement-Bayard, pdf (French) Clément-Bayard, sans peur et sans reproche par Gérard Hartmann
- ↑ The Motor Year Book 1952, Temple Press, Page 196.
- ↑ The Autocar, September 17, 1954, Pages 401-402; The Autocar, September 24, 1954, Pages 426-427; Motor Sport, October 1954, Pages 557-558.
- ↑ The Motor Year Book 1957, Temple Press, Page 197.
- ↑ Motor Sport, August 1960, Page 627; Motor Sport, November 1960, Page 904.
- ↑ Motor Sport, November 1964, Pages 949, 956.
- ↑ Motor Sport, November 1964, Page 948.
- ↑ For a road test of the Ford Mustang, DPK5B, which Bo Ljungfeldt drove in this event see: Motor Sport, December 1964, Pages 1013-1014.
- ↑ Motor, October 3, 1970, Page 70.
