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 Report - Tour de France

Tour Auto 1998

250 GT Berlinetta LWB nicknamed "Tour de France"
Now re-named as "Tour Auto"
The Time Schedule
Start and first race
The Route
Gallery - Tour de France Auto '97

Since the early 1990's, France has one major event for historic motor racing: the Tour de France Auto.

Patrick Peter, one of the men behind the well-known BPR sports car racing series, has since then been the organizer of this revival of the famous, identically named road race across France that took place for the last time in the 1980's. The Tour de France had always been an important event for Ferrari, especially in the late 1950's and 1960's when Ferrari's famous GT cars were driven to glory in the Tour - the 250 GT Berlinetta LWB was even nicknamed "Tour de France" after the event. The last Ferrari ever to compete in the original Tour in the 1980's was a 308 GTB prepared by Giuliano Michelotto of Padova. To be eligible for the event, a car of the identical type or even the very car in question should have participated once in the original Tour de France.

img01.monthlery308 GTB Michelotto s/n 20021 001

However, in our days the Tour de France is a major event for all enthusiasts of historic cars, compared very often to Italy's famous Mille Miglia Storica. Now re-named as "Tour Auto", Patrick Peter's event again is to attract many enthusiast drivers this year in the time between April 14 and April 18, 1998.

The event will start on Tuesday, April 14 when the scrutineering will take place in the Jardin du Trocadéro ("Trocadero Garden") in Paris, right at the bottom of this famous stairway which is found close to the Eiffel Tower. All cars entered in the event will be there to pass a technical inspection by the officials, hence this is one of the best occasions for the spectators to get "in touch" with the machinery.

275 GTB's250 GT SWB s/n 2731GT330LM s/n 4381SA

Next day, Wednesday, the 15th of April, will see the depart of the cars from the Fontaines du Trocadéro ("Trocadero Fountains"), starting at 9.00 h. The pack will then work through the dense Paris traffic in the fastest possible way to reach the Circuit of Montlhéry in the outskirts of the French capital at about 9.30 h.

img02.monthleryimg13.paris212 Tuboscocca Touring Berlinetta s/n 0141T

In the following three days, the route of the Tour Auto '98 will lead the particpants to La Rochelle, a city well-known for its harbour at the Atlantic Ocean. On their way, the drivers will have to prove their driving skills at three other race tracks: Dijon-Prénois, Charade and Mas du Clos (near Aubusson in the Central Massive); the latter is famous among Ferraristi for its owner, the long-time Ferrari-collector Pierre Bardinon, whose fabulous collection is on display next to the circuit.

250 GT SWB s/n 2011GTAlbi Grid

itineraire2

Gallery - Tour de France

Information regarding this automotive spectacle can be obtained from:

Peter Auto
103, rue Lamarck
F-75018 Paris
Tel.: +33 / (0)1 / 42 59 73 40
Fax: +33 / (0)1 / 42 59 48 28

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