2014 TOUR AUTO Optic 2000

Model of Vaux-le-Vicomte at France Minature

On Tuesday 8th April 2014 the 24th Tour Auto took place and the participants started officially from the Chateau Vaux-Le-Vicomte and set off towards to Dijon.  We joined them close to Chablis and took the lovely pictures that accompany this post.   It is lovely seeing these old sports, touring and GT cars on real roads rather than modern race tracks.  This reflects the real tradition of motor racing in France.   On Saturday 12th April the cars finally arrived in the old port of Marseilles and the AC Cobra of Shaun Lynn and Kevin Kivlochan was declared the winner.

Shaun Lynn in the winning AC Cobra driving towards Chablis

The winning 1963 AC Cobra of Shaun Lynn about to enter Chablis.

The main competition to Shaun Lynn came from a number of other AC Cobras, especially that of Ludovic Caron, and some Jaguar E Types.

4th placed Jean-Marc Merlin in his beautiful 1963 AC Cobra driving through Maligny

Hugo Payen at speed in the 3rd placed 1963 Jaguar E Type

There was some nice racing exotica present as well as the E Types and Cobras such as the GT 40s and particularly the Ferrari 250 GT Breadvan.  I saw the Breadvan at speed leaving Maligny and then later broken down just outside of Chablis.  Luckily the mechanics got it going again.

Chris Wilson in his 1964 Ford GT40 passing the Chateau in Maligny

Martin Halusa in the rare Ferrari Breadvan near Maligny

Ferrari Breadvan undergoing repairs outside of Chablis

Repairs continue

The V12 Ferrari engine is a work of art!

As well as the famous cars there were a number of famous ex-F1, sports car and rally drivers in the field including Rauno Aaltonen, Olivier Panis, Erik Comas and Jurgen Barth.

Erik Comas in the 1974 Grp4 Lancia Stratos

Olivier Panis in the Ferrari 308GTB

Jurgen Barth in the 1973 Porsche 911RSR passing the famous Chablis vines

It was not all about overall victory and famous cars and drivers.  Everyone was racing for victory in the Index of Performance and in their class.

Runner-up in the Index of performance was Vincent Tourneur in this 1954 Porsche 356

Winner of his class was Roman Rocher in his 1966 Porsche 906

2nd in the same historical category was Philippe Vandromme in his 1967 Ford GT40

3rd in his historical category was Jean-Claude Basso in his BMW 3.0CSL

The feature of the 2014 Tour Optic was the honour given to the BMW and Minis many of which had competed in the early events.

The 1965 Ausin Cooper S of Jean-Louis Lachet in Maligny

Siegfried Brunn and his 1961 BMW 700S in Maligny

Julien Lemeille and the 1965 BMW 1800Ti pass the Chateau in Maligny

Arnaud Gaudel and the 1971 BMW 2800CS and the Chablis vines

Perhaps the marque that seemed the most represented was my favourite - Alfa Romeo. They were represented from the 50s through the 70s and even included a police car!

Pierre Adamski and 1973 Alfa Romeo Guilia Super police car

Beautiful 1962 Alfa Romeo Guilieta SZT crosses the bridge in Maligny

1961 Alfa Romeo Guilietta Sprint Veloce passes the Chateau in Maligny

Jean Laurent-Bellue in the 1963 Alfa Romeo TZ

Charles Nearburg's 1965 Alfa Romeo 1600GTA

Many other marques were represented including Mercedes, Alpine Renault, MG, Austin Healey, De Tomasco, Triumph, Lotus, Citroen, Renault etc.

1965 MGB of Eugene Deleplanque

A pair of 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwings pass through Maligny

1954 Austin Healey 100/4 of Stefano Frischa

1967 Renault 8 Gordini of Gerard Salat in Maligny

Stephane Guyot-Sionnest and 1957 Triumph TR3

1964 Lotus Elan 26R of Mike Humphreys

Norbert Fradin thundering past the Chablis vines in his 1972 De Tomaso Pantera

1973 Alpine Renault A110 of Christian Chamboral

The 1970 Citroen Maserati SM of Eric Belooussoff in Chablis

If you are still not convinced to come to next year's event, here are a few more of my favourite pictures from the day.

Terence W Hefty and his 1955 Lancia Aurelia B20S

Dominique Vuillaume and 1972 Lancia Fulvia 1300S heads out off Maligny

Thanks for hooting as you drove past!

One of there largest cars, a 1963 Ford Galaxie of Stephane Sabates

Another Ford, this time a 1965 Mustang 289

A real beauty, the 1965 Ferrari 275GTB of Eric Everard

The Mr John of B/Sibel 1966 Porsche 906 races by the vines

1971 Porsche 914/6 GT of Jacques Bertoni

After seeing all these cars we retired into Chablis to visit one of our favourite wine makers and restaurants - Daniel-Etienne Defaix in Chablis.  He is unusual in that he sells mature Chablis - we sampled the 2003 1er Cru Vaillon and would recommend it.

At Daniel-Etienne Defaix's restaurant - La Cuisine au Vin.

The photographer, John Etherton asserts his copyright to all photos in this blog.  If you are the owner or driver of these cars please email me at rouenlesafx@gmail.com should you wish a full format copy of any of these photos.

One of the older cars, a 1950 Jaguar XK120 of Didier Benaroya