2017 Tour Auto Optic 2000 - First Day

Three stars of the Tour Auto.  Above a Lancia Stratos and a Ligier JS2.  Below right, Derek Bell.

For the last four years, a day following the Tour Auto has been my post-Birthday treat.  This year it was very easy for me to follow as it drove right past my house!   One of the many joys of living in France.   Highlights as usual included Ford GT40s, Ferraris, Lancia Stratos and the Ligier JS2-DFV.  Plus of course more Porsches and Alfa Romeos than you could throw a hat at.  I started watching the cars at around 7.00am in Bourdonné near the start at Chateau de Neuville, followed them through Maintenon, caught up with them again at the first Special Stage at Courcemont in the Sarthe and finally saw the last race at the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans.  From then I left them as they continued to Saint Malo and then down to Biarritz.  In the end a Ford GT40 won the VHC,  the Ligier JS2 won the competition for newer cars and a Porsche 356 took the Index of Performance.

See some of the competition cars below on the first day of the 2017 Tour Auto.     They are presented in the order they were classified in the Tour Auto after Le Mans.

2nd - 1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce - Luis Delso / Carlos de Miguel.  No.184.

Alfa Romeo on the first stage.

4th - 1959 Jaguar Mk1 3.4L - Pierre Le Gloahec-Henanff / Alexandre Brasseur.  No.153.

Lovely Mk1 Jaguar in Bourdonné.

5th - 1952 Jaguar XK120 - Peter Terrell / Michael Holland. No.196.

Even lovelier Jaguar XK120 at speed.

6th - 1960 DB HBR5 - Antoine Laureau.  No.192.

7th - 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Special - Pierre Macchi / Isabelle Mertrou.  No.191.

Special bodied Alfa Romeo on stage 1.

9th - 1961 Alfa Romeo Giuietta Spint Zagato - Philippe Lanternier / Gildas Lecomte du Nouy. No.176.

Zagato bodied Alfa on the first stage.

11th - 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing - Joachim & Christina von Finkenstein. No.182.

Mercedes 300SL on the first stage at Courcemont.

12th - 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina Mk1 - Richard Depagneux / Eric Joyau.  No.151.

The first of the cars makes its way through Bourdonné just after the start.

13th - 1965 Lotus Elan - David Graus / Martin Stretton.  No.226.

Lotus Elan takes off on to the first special stage.

14th - 1965 Lotus Elan - Damien Kohler/Sylvie Laboisne. No.212.

Lotus Elan passing under the Louis XIV aquaduct at Maintenon early in the day

Lotus Elan battle on the Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans.

16th - 1956 Austin Healey 100/4 - Sébastien Berchon / Julien Chadenet.  No.229.

Austin Healey 100/4 just after the start of the first stage.

17th - 1965 Mini Cooper S - Bernard and Francoise Queyroix.  No.175.

Mini Cooper S in Bourdonné heading for the start.

18th - 1961 Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta - Arnold Meier / Sarah Amoroso. No.179.

Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta at speed on the fist stage.

Just after the start.

20th - 1965 Lotus Elan - Nicolas Melin / Paul Edouard Gondard.  No.214.

The No.214 Lotus Elan involved in a closely fought group at Le Mans. 

21st - 1961 Porsche 356 B Coupé 1600S - Jeam-Michel Arlaut / Marie-Francoise Arlaut. No.180.

Porsche 356 on the first stage.

22nd-1960 Jaguar XK150S - Frédéric Lemos / Julien Rollet.  No.165

Jaguar XK150S accelerates away from the start of the 1st stage in Courcemont.

23rd - 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA - Daniela Ellerbrock / Jackie Rohwer. No.217.

Alfa Romeo on stage 1.

25th - 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta - Adrian Beecroft / Susan Roy. No.156.

A Ferrari just after the start, negotiating the roundabout at Bourdonné.

26th - 1965 Porsche 911 2.0L - Bertrand and Anne Penlae. No.218.

In Bourdonné.

27th - 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 - Frédéric Jousset / Paul Miliotis. No.205.

Cobra at speed on the first special stage.

Cobra at the aquaduct.

28th - 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA - Roderick & Patrick Jack.  No.225.

The Alfa goes onto the kerbs at the Bugatti Circuit.

29th - 1964 Jaguar MkII - Rolland d'Abel de Libran / Stéphane de Luze.  No154.

Another Jaguar in Bourdonné.  Not sure I like the colour scheme.

30th - 1962 Jaguar Type E 3.8L - Jean-Pierre Lajournade / Christophe Bouchet. No.201.

Jaguar E Type rounding a fast turn on stage 1.

31st - 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 - Ben Gill / David Didcock.  No.209.

The 209 Cobra leads a group on the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans.

Earlier on the way to the official start.

33rd- 1965 Porsche 911 2.0L - Gaby von Oppenheim / Andreas Middendorf. No.216.

In Bourdonné

On the first special stage.

34th - 1962 Jaguar Type E 3.8L - Raphael Favaro / Lucien Charles Nicolet. No.222.

Jaguar E Type at speed on the first special stage.

35th - 1965 Porsche 911 2.0L - Diminique and Macha Vananty.  No.235.

Porsche 911 in Bourdonné.

37th - 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 - Jean-Marc Merlin / Sophie Merlin. No.206.

Shelby Cobra near Courcemont.

Jean-Marc Merlin contemplates as his mechanics make repairs in the Le Mans paddock.

38th - 1963 Jaguar Type E 3.8L - Thomas Leriche / Hugo Payen. No.211.

On the way to the official start.

39th - 1963 Porsche 904 GTS - Jean-Marc and Patricia Bussolini. No.210.

The Bussolinis with their 904 in the Le Mans paddock.

40th - 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 - Ludovic Caron / Denis Giraudet. No.202.

Ludovic Caron made a good recovery after problems on the dummy grid at Le Mans led to him starting from the pit lane.

43rd - 1963 Jaguar Type E 3.8L - Serge Cozzolino / Pascale Cozzolino Legay. No.219.

Jaguar E Type on the first special.

44th - 1965 Ford Mustang 289 - Stéphane Guyot-Sionnest / Marie Nolin. No.246.

Ford Mustang near the start of the first Special Stage.

46th - 1963 Jaguar Type E 3.8L - Marc-Antoine Falcon / Marcy de Soultrait.  No.215.

The Jaguar goes wide at the Bugatti Circuit Epingle.

Earlier in the day in Bourdonné.

47th- 1963 MG B - MOZ / Cédric Ternois. No.167.

MG B accelerates away from the start of the first stage.

48th - 1967 Renault 8 Gordini - Gérard Salat / Jean-Pierre Biggi.  No.195.

The essential Renault 8 Gordini.

49th - 1965 Porsche 911 2.0L - Bernard Filliers / Koen Buyse. No.228.

In Bourdonné.

50th - 1965 MG B - Jean-Luc Durand / Sylvain Proyart.  No.170.

MG B on the first stage.

51st - 1955 Austin Healey 100/4 - Richard Hadjimegrian / Adrien Dutour. No.188.

Ausin Healey at speed on the Sarthe special stage.

52nd - 1965 Ford GT40 - Andrew Smith / James Cottingham.  No.203.

The No.203 Ford GT40 leads the field around the Bugatti circuit.  

The eventual winner of the VHC competion passes under the Maintenon aquaduct.

53rd - 1966 Porsche 911T - Ivan Vercoutere / Charles Rupp. No.238.

Porsche on stage 1

The Porsche holds off a hard charging Jidé.

54th - 1963 MG B - Jérôme Barre / Patrick Percevalt. No.171.

MG B on the first stage.

55th - 1968 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTAM - Jorg Richard and Louis Lemberg.  No.223.

In Bourdonné.

56th - 1973 BMW 2002 - Jean-Francois Barre / Christophe de Bouet. No.166.

BMW 2002 at the start of the special stage.

57th - 1962 Jaguar Type E 3.8L - Michaël Lok / Mathieu Vedrenne. No.230.

Jaguar E Type just after the start of Stage 1.

58th - 1965 Ford GT40 - Olivier Ellerbrock / Olivier Louisoder. No.204.

Ford GT40 on the first stage.

61st - 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB - Eric Everard / Eric Werner. No.234.

A Ferrari starts the first special stage.

62nd - 1965 Austin Mini Cooper 1275 S - Jean-Louis Lachet / Etienne Calmes.  No.164.

63rd - 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL - Alexandre Guesdon / Sébastien Seveau.  No.272.

BMW 3.0 CSLs in Bourdonné.

65th - 1975 De Tomaso Pantera - Didier Sirgue / Jean-Michel Carriere.  No.253.

Pantera coming up to the start of the special stage.

68th - 1970 Alpine Renault A110 1800 - Richard Doux / Sylvain Guy. No.233.

Alpine Renault ready to go at the start of the Special Stage.

Alpine Renault just after the start of the special stage.

69th - 1974 Porsche 911 RSR 3.0L - Cooper Mac Neil / Gunner Jeannette. No.1267.

Americans in Bourdonné.

70th - 1967 Ford GT40 - Philippe Vandromme / Frédéric Vivier. No.263.

Ford GT40 leads a De Tomaso Pantera through Bourdonné.

73rd - 1971 Porsche 911 ST - Ross Warburton / Andrew Newall.  No.286.

Porsche arriving for the first special stage.

76th - 1971 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV - Patrick & Benjamin Baigneres.  No.187.

Alfa Romeo on stage 1.

77th - 1975 Ligier JS2 DFV - Mr John of B / Sibel.  No.251.

The Ligier on the first Special Sage.

On the way to the official start.

81st - 1970 Lancia Fulvia 1600HF Fanalone - Jean-Francois Piquet / Jean-Michel Piquet. No.178.

Lancia Fulvia on the first stage.

83rd - 1976 Alpine Renault A310 1800 Grp IV - Christian Chambord / Patrick Fourestie. No.284.

Alpine Renault in the Le Mans paddock.

84th - 1973 Porsche 911 RS 2.7L - Clive Joy / Thomas Boue.  No.271.

Porsche in Bourdonné.

86th - 1974 Porsche 911 RS 3.L - Carlos Beltran Andreu / Derek Bell.  No.257.

Derek Bell chatting to the spectators in the Le Mans paddock.

88th - 1972 Jidé 1300 - Alexandre Leroy / Nicolas Delangue. No.243.

Jidé on the 1st Special Stage.

94th - 1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1300S - Erwin Museur / Olivier Imberdis. No.198.

Lancia on the Courcemont stage.

97th- 1965 Shelby Cobra 289 - Mark Freemann / Nigel Armstrong. No.207.

Beautiful Shelby American tuned Ford engine.

98th - 1973 Jidé 1600 - Arnault Graignic / Olivier Petitfils.  No.242.

Jidé on special stage 1.

99th - 1972 CG Proto 548 - Philippe Lero / Cédric Pomarede. No.199

CG Proto near Courcemont.

The CG Proto passes under the Maintenon aqueduct.

101st - 1954 Austin Healey 100M - Stefano Friscia / Natalie Fricia Forest. No.169.

Austin Healey 100 M on the first stage in Sarthe.

102nd - 1961 Triumph TR4 - Stanislas Gurdjian / Gonzague Ruchaud.  No152.

Triumph TR2 just after the start.

106th - 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 - Matthieu Izidi / Rèmi Guillot.  No.245.

Chevrolet Camaro on the 2017 Tour Auto.

109th - 1973 Jidé 1600S - Julien Bounie / Stephanie Verlhac.  No.241.

Jidé on special stage 1.

110th - 1973 Porsche 911 RSR 2.8L - Michel Lecourt / Alexis Fondere.  No.252.

Porsche in Boudonné

112th - 1964 Jaguar Type E 3.8L - Daniel Spadini / M.Ellinger.  No.236.

Jaguar in Bourdonné.

The Zenith Jaguar team.

113th - 1960 Lotus Elite - Gilles and Marielle Couraudon.  No.162.

Lotus just after the official start of the rally.

115th - 1974 Lancia Stratos HF - Christophe van Riet / Caroline Grifnee.  No.258.

Lancia Stratos on the way to the start.

116th - 1974 Lancia Stratos HF - Patrick Hautot / Sylvain Cantrell.  No.273.

Lancia Stratos in Bourdonné.

123rd - 1983 Ferrari 308 GrpIV Michelotto - Florent Jean / Philippe Talabard.  No.254.

Ferrari setting off on the Tour Auto.

For pictures of the 2016 Tour Auto click here.

For pictures of the 2015 Tour Auto click here.

For pictures of the 2014 Tour Auto click here.

Finally, a collage of some pictures taken from our front gate by my wife Jane Etherton McCarty.

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