17.10.2011, 11:17:16 cet

Biarritz, 20 April, 2002

Classic Cornucopia
”The Names”
La Route
Sommaire
Results
Participating Ferrari Models

Sommaire
For a pleasant change the event was blessed with predominantly fine weather, which together with some early finish days provided a more enjoyable experience for those without problems, and gave additional ”fix it” time for those experiencing some. As usual, the carefully chosen route provided entrants with a wide variety of splendid driving roads and spectacular scenery, discovering the ”hidden France” that is so easily passed by on the autoroutes.

Classic Cornucopia
As the Tour Auto retrospective gathering entered its second decade with the eleventh running, it boasted a richly diverse entry list of some two hundred cars, that was a veritable cornucopia for the classic car enthusiast. There was an Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 from Japan, no less than six Ford GT 40s, Porsches aplenty, with examples of 356, 904 and 906, plus of course a raft of 911 variants. These, together with some real rarities like the 1952 Siata Daina SL Sport of Alexander Fyshe, and the Berga entered 1972 CG Simca 1200S, plus a selection of ”minnows” including a Honda N600, Renault Dauphine Gordini and a DKW 1000, that rubbed shoulders with milestone classics like the AC Cobra, BMW 507, Jaguar E Type and Lotus Elite. Then there was the Ferrari element, which with forty- five examples present comprised of around twenty per cent of the entry list. They ranged from a 1953 250 MM PF berlinetta to a pair of Gp 4 308 GTBs, including along the way no less than six 250 GT Lusso models, eleven 250 GT SWBs and a total of thirteen 275 GTB variants.

”The Names”
The Tour Auto always a strong entry of personalities both from motor sport and other fields of entertainment. This year was no exception as amongst ”The Names” to be found on the entry list were Bobby Rahal, Jaques Laffite, Jean Ragnotti, Jean-Marie Almeras, Jean Sage, Danny Sullivan, Paloma and Claude Picasso, whilst the successful rally partnership of Jean-Claude Andruet and ”Biche” was also brought together again.

Participating Ferrari Models

Entrant

Von Muralt

G. Marchesi

J. Masterson

H. Wildenburg

S. Dudley

B. Wang

J-M. Merlin

Marcy

J. Agace

D. Meier

A. Beecroft

J. Sage

Schwingen

D’Ansembourg

W. Binnie

Laidlaw

J-P. Grave

P. Ma

O. Cazalieres

C. Pozzi

Beaumartin

M. Lee

P. Lacksweert

T. Lewis

B. Haquette

De Miguel

H. Leventis

C. Macaya

P. Verbeeck

M. Delbreil-Berges

A. Cadiou

Ribadeneira

E. Park

Steur

P. Vestey

Thadani

M. Sucari

A. Luethi

E.Traber

J. Bosch

C. Monteverde

D&S Mason-Styrron

Slavic

W. Noon

Entremont

Text Keith Bluemel
Images Edwin van Nes, Thierry Lesparre

La Route
From the now traditional Trocadero starting point opposite the Eiffel Tower, the route took competitors south out of the Paris rush hour traffic on the morning of Tuesday 16 April, towards the first circuit competition venue at Magny Cours. The route encompassed mainly ”D” classification roads through the heart of the country, providing a great taste of its pastoral splendour. After the circuit sessions and lunch, the cavalcade headed further south to the overnight stop at Vichy via a special stage at Le Gue Chervais.

On a misty Wednesday morning the route took entrants south west to the Charade circuit, where the sun had burned off the mist to provide pleasant conditions for the track action. From there it was a trek southward through the Ardeche region taking in a special stage at Le Monastier Laussonne and a splendid lunch at a 17th century farm offering views of Mont Gerbier Le Jonc. The end of the second day was in Avignon, famous for its bridge in the song ”Sur Le Pont d’Avignon”, where dinner was taken at the Palis des Papes.

Thursday, and the combatants headed a short distance south west to the Ledenon circuit for the third track trials of the event, before continuing in the same direction towards the overnight stop in the Principality of Andorra. En route the third special stage was held at the Col de la Dona, after lunch at the Abbaye de Valmagne.

The fourth day was devoid of track activity, but included three spectacular special stages in the Pyrennees, the Col d’Ordino, Col du Chioula and Molandier, on the relatively short run to the overnight halt in Toulouse. Lunch was taken under the covered market in the medieval village of Mirepoix, which stunned many entrants with its unspoiled beauty and charm.

The final day saw the party head west to the Nogaro circuit for the final round of track activity, followed by another special stage at Arzacq, before the run in to the finish at Biarritz in mid afternoon on Saturday 20 April.

Results

Scratch VHC

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Final Weighted Classification

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Groups G/H/I

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Sport Regularity

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Tour Auto

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