2018 Tour Auto - Competition cars 1966 to 1971 - Etape 1

Fourth placed BMW 2800 CS driving through the wine towm of Nuits-Saint-Georges, with a vine helping frame the car.

The Tour Auto Optic 2000 cars of 1966 to 1971 are really from my era as this was the period when I first became interested in motor racing.  It was lovely to see a couple of Ford GT40 MkIIs lead this category, even if the disappointment was not to see the Matra MS650 turn up as it had blown its engine the week before.  The pictures below are of the top dozen cars in order of classification after the first day.  Pictures were taken on the ES1 Sinotte special stage near Auxerre and in Nuits-Saint-Georges the famous Burgundian wine town.

1st.  272 – Ford GT40 MkII – Patrick Hautot /Sylvian Cantrel

The leading Ford Gt40 MkII on the ES1 special stage.

The Ford Gt40 in Nuits-Saint-Georges.

2^nd.  263 – Ford GT40 MkII – Philippe Vandromme/Frédéric Vivier

Beautiful Ford GT40 negotiating a tight corner on the Special Stage.

Fprd GT40 MkII in Nuits-Saint-George.

3rd.  247 – BMW 2800 CS – Richard Depargneux/Eric Joyeux

BMW under the careful scrutiny of the spectators on ES1.

BMW 2800 CS in Nuits-Saint-Georges.

4th.  257 – BMW 2800 CS – Alexandre Delaye

5^th.  237 – Alfa Romeo 1750 GTAM – Jean-Baptiste Repellin

The Alfa passing a wine shop in Nuits-Saint-George.

Purposeful looking Alfa exits a slow corner on ES1.

6^th.  223 – Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA – Tim Meinrenken/Fynn Schroder

Another Alfa on the special stage.

7^th.  231 – Porsche 911 2.2L S – Ivan Vercoutere/Charles Rupp

The top Porsche in this age category.

A Porsche driving through the tight streets of Nuits-Saint-Georges.

8^th.  178 - Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT – Olivier Pernaut/Margot Laffite

Jacques Laffite's daughter , Margot, was co-driver in this Alfa.

9^th.  168 – Austin Cooper S 1300 – Philippe Belin/Dominique Rosello

Mini-Cooper understeering through a fast corner.

A very fast Mini-Cooper on the special stage.

10^th.  198 – Renault 8 Gordini – Gérard Salat/Jean-Pierre Biggi

The Gordini exits a fast corner on ES1

Nice to see a French Renault Gordini in the top ten.

11^th.  187 – Porsche 911 S 2.2L – David Pastor/Jean-Philippe Braconnier

Porsche braking for a tight right hander.

12th.  227 – BMW 2002 – Jean-Francois Barre/Christophe de Bouet du Portal

The BMW negotiating the tight right hander.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.