The grid including 19 brands and numerous models of cars had never been so varied in the two previous years.
Fine-sounding models like Alfa Romeo 33/2 Daytona (s/n AR 75033015), Ford GT 40, two Porsche 910, Aston
Martin DB 3S (s/n 11) and DB 3S Coupe (s/n 120), AC Cobra, Ferrari 166 MM (s/n 0040M)and 225 S (s/n 0172 ET),
Jaguar XK 150 and E-types gathered amongst others on the starting line of this third "Tour de Espana."
More than 150 applications have been received from around the world, but only 82 selected crews took part of this
Andalusian tour from 7 to 11 November.
The grid were splitted into two sections as in previous years:
Competition Section: three racetracks (Jerez, Tabernas and Guadix) and ten road special stages with different
degrees of difficulty must been driven in the quickest possible time - nothing for slowpokes! Sport Section: in this
class the most clever and consistently team will win the trophy.
Wednesday 7 November: Jerez - Cadix
After the administrations affairs in the morning and the following Scruteneering in the palm fringed "Parque Goyales
Hontoria" of Jerez with 28° Celsius the cars started to the racetrack which is in the outskirts of the city. Here at Jerez
the GT 40 of Chiles and Mountford dominated the whole grid and won the race with the Porsche of Connor/Sullivan
in 2nd place. In the Sport Section the two girl team Milojkovic/Ljubisavljevic in the Porsche 911 RS were the only
competitors to score a zero driving in agreement and precision. The superb Alfa Romeo 33/2 Daytona of Franco
Meiners suffered a small technical problem and retired. The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competition (s/n 14407) of
John Bosch (Holland) could not start suffering a gear box problem - so he got a lot of penalty time. This situation
dropped him into the last place, a position from which the crew never fully recovered. By the end of the day, the cars
drove down to Cadix, built on a peninsular island. The port of Cadix has open squares, sailors, alleyways and high
turreted houses. It also has a great atmosphere slightly seedy, definitive in decline but full of mystique. Ist annual
carnival in February is considered to be the best and wildest in Spain. The dinner party was even held at the Royal
Tobacco Manufacture.
Thursday 8 November: Cadix - Antequera - Malaga
The second day has three road special stages on the program. "Alcala de los Gazules" (SS1=9,5kms), followed by
"Ubrique" (SS2=6,1kms) and the famous "El Chorro" (SS3=6,2kms). Once in the hills and mountains the 1st of the
breathtaking views was experienced. Driving to the Ubrique stage the road corkscrewed around the mountainside
until the snow white vista of Ubrique was clearly visible, spreading along the valley of the Rio Ubique with the
daunting knife-edge crag of the "Cruz de Tajo" rearing up and dominating. The lunch was given at the Parador in
Antequera during all the classic cars were concisely and geometrically parked inside the "Plaza de Toros" - the
famous bullring of Antequera. This location and also the weather were really outstanding so it was the
photographers paradise. The rally then headed 40km to Malaga, the smallest of Andalucia´s eight provinces and its
most populous. The day ended with a dinner party at the "Parador del Golf" Malaga where Carlos Monteverde (BR)
and David Franklin (GB) received congratulations driving their Jaguar E-type and also the Ford GT 40 crew which
set the fastest time followed closely by the track prepared Ferrari 308 Gr. 4 Michelotto of Entremont/Entremont.
Friday 9 November: Malaga- Motril - Roquetas de Mar
The third day has also three road special stages on the program. "Casabermeja" (SS4=25kms !) followed by
"Rigordo" (SS5=5kms) and finally "Motril" (SS6=5kms).The caravan passed near Colemar, another brilliant white
hill town, a center of honey Production thanks to the rich variety of plants and shrubs. A stop at Motril consisted of a
typical Spanish Paella concoction which the competitors ate outside underneath temporary white awnings, as the
first drops of rain splashed down - a clear warning of what lay ahead. The day ended nearly in a disaster: a
middling tornado supported by very heavy rain showers and cold temperatures came up and brought us a negative
surprise. The dinner party under the Moroccan "jaima" on the beach was cancelled but the organizers found an
alternative dry and warm place to serve the dinner. The silver coloured Jaguar E-type of Monteverde/Franklin
headed the results with the GT 40 (Chiles/Mountford) following closely, and keeping them very much in their sights
with closely related performances on the stages. In the Sport Section , the Porsche 911 S (Bohrer/Giminez) led,
closely followed by the Mercedes 300 SL driven by Raposo/Raposo and the well driven Cobra 4,7 of Walduck/Mc
Swan in third.
Saturday 10 November: Roquetas de Mar - Cordoba
The fourth day had two racetracks and one road special stage on the program. The convoy started early in the
morning and arrived at the "Circuit of Tabernas" - a great experience with a series of connected corners and with
long and fast sweeping bends. John Bosch´s enthusiasm wasn't broken so he won the race in his Ferrari 365
GTB/4 Comp.(s/n 14407). Reveled in a great linked series of power slides and definitively was the master of his
Daytona and similar Chiles showed everyone how the slightly more nimble GT 40 could perform. It was a great
driving display with Sullivan (Porsche 911) and Franklin (E-type) demonstrating equally impressive driving skills.
The official route to the second racetrack of the day must be changed because of snow and lousy temperatures in
the "Sierra de los Filabres", so the cars arrived at the racetrack of "Guadix" from the South. At Guadix circuit the HWM
Ferrari team of Pozner and Aarons (Ferrari 275 GTB, s/n 09737) scored its first zero together with Walduck (Cobra)
and the Belgian Ferrari team Verbeeck/Van Looy (Ferrari 275 GTB, s/n 07651) and also another Ferrari team of
Argentinean Sucari (s/n 10525), who won the Tour Auto 2001 in the Sport Section. The Ford GT 40 crew won the
race in a superb performance followed by Daytona racer John Bosch, who never gave up. "Guadix" is a nice track
with long straights in combination with fast curves and a spectacular chicane at the end of the start and finish line -
the competitors enjoyed the track in the sunshine but cold temperatures. The Ford GT 40 loved these
circumstances and won the race in front of two Ferraris, and an American entered Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2,7 litre.
After having a delicious lunch the competitors left Guadix to reach "Los Frailes (SS7-9kms). The long stage
completed, the rally headed once again for Cordoba and dinner at the Parador de Cordoba. At the end of the
penultimate day the GT 40 was still in the lead challenged by David Franklin (E-type). The Sport Section showed
Bohrer and Gimenez (Porsche 911S)
Sunday 11 November: Cordoba - Cordoba
The final day saw three route special stages. "Trassierra" (SS8=11,5kms), located only a few kms outside the city of
Cordoba, was a very steep and narrow route winding up to the top. From time to time Cordoba could been seen
disappearing in the valley - a very scenic part of Andalusia. The following two special stages "Los Arenales"
(SS9-9,4kms) and "Villaviciosa" (SS10-6kms) were located in a very wooded area and the cars had to pass very
stony routes before a delicious lunch was served at a "Cortijo" where a young bull tested the agility and quick
reflexes of several young matadors as they skillfully avoided the noms of the charging charger with their lightening
reactions as competitors looked on under a warm sun and sipped chilled champagne. The last hundred
kilometres back to Cordoba have been completed very quick and so the remaining 64 cars (which is a total of 78%)
reunited in the parc ferme in the center of Cordoba welcomed by hundreds of Spanish classic car enthusiasts. A
visit to the Mezsquita was optional that evening, the grandest and most beautiful mosque ever constructed by the
Moors. Finally the events finished in Cordoba, a city of considerable charm, trickling fountains and a profusion of
flowers, and a shady oasis of small squares. The final dinner party and prize giving was presented by the
Deputation of Cordoba at the "Cercle de l´Amitie, a grand imposing empire era building of ornate marble and
glittering chandeliers.
Resume´: The " Tour de Espana" 2001 was a remarkable event in the classic car calendar: congratulation and
thanks to all who helped to make it possible, in particular: The "Federation Andaluza de Automovolismo", Patrick
and Silviane Peter (Paris) and their crew, Carlos de Miguel and the large number of stewards. The fourth version of
the "Tour de Espana" will be held in mid of October 2002.
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