Tour de France Automobile

Jean-Louis Clarr at the 1982 event with a Lancia 037

Tour de France Automobile was a sports car race held on roads around France regularly – mostly annually – between 1899 and 1986.

The first edition was held in 1899 at speeds of 30 mph (50 km/h). The first event was won by René de Knyff driving a Panhard et Levassor. Organized by Le Matin, under the control of the Automobile Club de France, held July 16 to 24, in seven stages: Paris-Nancy; Nancy-Aix-les-Bains; Aix-les-Bains-Vichy; Vichy-Périgueux; Périgueux-Nantes; Nantes-Cabourg; Cabourg-Paris. Out of 49 starters, 21 vehicles finished.^[1] The 1908 event was won by Clément-Bayard.^[2]

The 1951 event was won by Pagnibon-Barracquet in a 2.6-litre Ferrari.^[3] The event visited La Turbie Hill Climb, near Nice. In 1954 the event was won by the 2.5 litre Gordini of Jacques Pollet and M. Gauthier, running on the traditional Nice to Nice route.^[4] The 1956 event was won by de Portago/Nelson in a Ferrari 250 2.9 with Moss/Houel (Mercedes 300 SL) in second place.^[5]

The 1960 Tour de France took place between September 15 and 23 that year. Starting at Nice it visited Mont Ventoux, Nurburgring, Spa, Montlhéry, Rouen and Le Mans with the finish at Clermont Ferrand. The event was won overall by the Ferrari 250 G.T. of Willy Mairesse/Georges Berger. The Jaguar 3.8 litre Mk. II of Bernard Consten/J. Renel won the Touring category with the BMW 700 coupé of Metternich/Hohenlohe winning the Index of Performance.^[6]

The 1964 event was won by Lucien Bianchi/Georges Berger in a Ferrari GTO, entered by Ecurie Nationale Belge.^[7] The event started at Lille, visiting Reims, Rouen, Le Mans, Clermont-Ferrand, Monza and Pau. The Touring car category was won by Peter Procter/Andrew Cowan in a Ford Mustang,^[8] entered by Alan Mann Racing.^[9] The A.C. Shelby Cobras of Maurice Trintignant, Bob Bondurant and André Simon all retired.

The 1980s saw the event incorporated into the European Rally Championship which saw an influx of new competitors. The last event was held in 1986. Also known as Tour Auto, it was revived in 1992 for historic cars, with both a competition and a regularity class. The format is a 5-day event combining about 2,500 km of roads, 4 or 5 circuit races and 6 to 8 hillclimbs. Patrick Peter of Agence Peter is the organiser. The start of the International event with some 300 entrants is in Paris; the finish alternates between various cities like Cannes, St. Tropez and Biarritz. The winning cars over the years (since 1996 only pre '66 cars can win overall, even though cars up to 1974 are allowed): Ford Shelby Mustang 350GT, Ford GT40, AC Cobra 289, Lotus Elan, Ferrari Daytona Gr IV.

Winners 1951-1986

Year	Driver(s)	Co-driver	Vehicle
1951	Pierre Pagnibon	Alfred Barraquet	Ferrari 212 Export
1952	Marc Gignoux	Mme Gignoux	DB 750
1953	Jacques Péron - Sport	R. Bertramnier	Osca MT4
	Paul Condrillier - Touring car	Daniel	Renault 4CV 1062
1954	Jacques Pollet	Hubert Gauthier	Gordini T15S
1956	Alfonso de Portago	Edmont Nelson	Ferrari 250 GT
1957	Olivier Gendebien - GT Category	Lucien Bianchi	Ferrari 250 GT
	Jean Hébert - Touring car	Marcel Lauga	Alfa Romeo Giulietta
1958	Olivier Gendebien - GT Category	Lucien Bianchi	Ferrari 250 GT
	Jean Hébert - Touring car	Bernard Consten	Alfa Romeo Giulietta
1959	Olivier Gendebien - GT Category	Lucien Bianchi	Ferrari 250 GT
	Hermano da Silva Ramos - Touring car	Jean Estager	Jaguar Mark 1
1960	Willy Mairesse - GT Category	Georges Berger	Ferrari 250 GT
	Bernard Consten - Touring car	Jack Renel	Jaguar Mark 2
1961	Willy Mairesse - GT Category	Georges Berger	Ferrari 250 GT
	Bernard Consten - Touring car	Jack Renel	Jaguar Mark 2
1962	André Simon - GT Category	Maurice Dupeyron	Ferrari 250 GT
	Bernard Consten - Touring car	Jack Renel	Jaguar Mark 2
1963	Jean Guichet - GT Category	José Behra	Ferrari 250 GTO
	Bernard Consten - Touring car	Jack Renel	Jaguar Mark 2
1964	Lucien Bianchi - GT Category	Georges Berger	Ferrari 250 GTO
	Peter Procter - Touring car	Andrew Cowan	Ford Mustang
1969	Gérard Larrousse	Maurice Gélin	Porsche 911 R
1970	Jean-Pierre Beltoise Patrick Depailler	Jean Todt	Matra 650 [10]
1971	Gérard Larrousse	Johnny Rives	Matra 650
1972	Jean-Claude Andruet	Michèle Espinosi-Petit	Ferrari 365 GTB4
1973	Sandro Munari	Mario Mannucci	Lancia Stratos HF
1974	Gérard Larrousse Jean-Pierre Nicolas	Johnny Rives	Ligier JS2
1975	Bernard Darniche	Alain Mahé	Lancia Stratos HF
1976	Jacques Henry	Bernard-Etienne Grobot	Porsche Carrera
1977	Bernard Darniche	Alain Mahé	Lancia Stratos HF
1978	Michèle Mouton	Françoise Conconi	Fiat 131 Abarth
1979	Bernard Darniche	Alain Mahé	Lancia Stratos HF
1980	Bernard Darniche	Alain Mahé	Lancia Stratos HF
1981	Jean-Claude Andruet	Chantal Bouchetal	Ferrari 308 GTB
1982	Jean-Claude Andruet	Michèle Espinosi-Petit	Ferrari 308 GTB
1983	Guy Fréquelin	Jean-François Fauchille	Opel Manta 400
1984	Jean Ragnotti	Pierre Thimonier	Renault 5 Turbo
1985	Jean Ragnotti	Pierre Thimonier	Renault 5 Maxi Turbo
1986	François Chatriot	Michel Périn	Renault 5 Maxi Turbo

References

External links

• Official website