[su_dropcap style = »light»] T [/ su_dropcap] he commemorative version of the Tour de France motor vehicle has been held since 1991 without interruptions, although the event itself - before being considered historic - had an intermittent character. Since its inception in the 20s, in 1937 there was a first interruption after 19 editions held; the tour was resumed in 1951 - jumping 1955 - to stop again 13 years later when the test was in its clearest apogee ...
In 1969 it resurfaced under a regulation that allowed the Citroën DS to rub shoulders with the Sport Prototypes, as it happens in the current test and, however, it all ended in 1986 with the victory of Chatriot-Périn and his Renault 5 Maxi Turbo in the middle of general indifference. Five years later the concept would be dusted but focusing on classic vehicles.
Beautiful Alfa Romeo 1900 with Touring Supperleggera bodywork (Photo: Unai Ona)
Ford Mustangs from different vintages are legion (Photo: Unai Ona)
Nice 2 Aston Martin DB1957 that participated regularly (Photo: Unai Ona)
A Ranult Dauphine, yes, but in the rare '1093' sports version. He participated regularly (Photo: Unai Ona)
A major organizer
For several years now, the organizer of the Auto Tour is the french company Peter Self, that deals wonderfully with the problem of setting up an event of this magnitude, with almost 250 participants between the competition and regularity categories, and that the registration is around the not inconsiderable figure of 7.000 euros.
This year, as on other occasions, the Tour has been divided into 5 stages (from April 20 to 25, yes, we already know, what a hours) starting as always with the exhibition of the participants in the magnificent Grand Palais from Paris and ending to the south, specifically in the coastal town of Biarritz, overlooking the Atlantic.
"Jam" between the valuable cars of the HCV category (Photo: Unai Ona)
Rare and highly valued, a Lancia Flaminia Zagato (Photo: Unai Ona)
Despite being highly valued, there are still those who dare to put these 60s Ferraris on the track (Photo: Unai Ona)
Spectacular Maserati 200 SI from 1957 (Photo: Unai Ona)
Tiring days at Auto Tour 2015
The days are marathon, from 7 in the morning to 9 at night, they are perhaps too long for the number of disputed tests; especially when there are two road specials and one circuit daily. Speaking of routes, this year the mythical "Magny Cours" was visited, followed by Charade, Albi and Pau Arnos, in that order.
Although one day there was no circuit, it is in them where the final result of the competition is played, both for the accumulation of times and for breakdowns and accidents. And that in the road sections this year there were major accidents like the one suffered by the Lotus Elan of Jean Legras and Jean Philippe Debrie, which was destroyed when it crashed into a guardrail.
Another great classic of the Tour: A Lancia Stratos (Photo: Unai Ona)
The curious «service van» based on Alfa Romeo 1750 (Photo: Unai Ona)
Front characteristic of the Lotus Elan (Photo: Unai Ona)
Nice Porsche 356 A from the 50s (Photo: Unai Ona)
Aggressive front of a Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (Photo: Unai Ona)
Aged machinery and instrumentation
The participants - mostly French and Belgians - come year after year to Auto Tour with first class machines. Among the "modest", this year the Lotus and Alfa Romeo of the 60s and 70s abounded; and moving to higher level machines, the number of AC Shelby Cobra and Ford GT 40 was surprising, without forgetting the various Jaguar Type E Lightweight or invaluable Ferrari and Porsche from the 60s and 70s.
And among them, some less seen piece but no less interesting as are the Ligier-Cosworth JS2 or the Jidé 1600 with an Alpine Renault engine, both of French manufacture. And it should also be noted the large number of participants who come with venerable frames from the 50s: This year there were a few Jaguar XK, some Alfa Romeo 1900 or Ferrari 225 and an interesting Osca 1500, to give just a few examples.
An exotic French Jidié 1600 from the 70s, with an Alpine Renault engine (Photo: Unai Ona)
The winners of "G1 and G2 Competition": Philippe Vandromme/Frédéric Vivier with Ford GT40 (Photo: Unai Ona)
The unmistakable silhouette of a Jaguar XK 120 (Photo: Unai Ona)
The AC Shelby Cobra, spectacular on and off the track (Photo: Unai Ona)
Although racing cars occupy three complete categories, the two regularity classes have more or less the same number of participants. In this way, the organizer, Peter Auto, makes sure that only “professional” riders attend, for which he has also eliminated the measuring devices, limiting the chronometers to those of the needle and hiding the distances of the sections in the roadbooks.
The victors of the Auto Tour 2015 They have been, by categories: Jean-Pierre Lajournade / Christophe Bouchet with his Jaguar E Type in “VHC Competition”, Philippe Vandromme / Frédéric Vivier with his Ford GT40 in “G1 and G2 Competition”, Christophe Van Riet / Kristoffer Cartenan with Porsche 911 in "Competition H1, H2", Jean-François / François Nicoules with Alpine A110 1600Sn in “Regularity N1 81” and Frederic Puren / Caroline Bertrand with his Porsche 356 pre A in “VHC Competition”.
One of the few Spanish teams present this year, with its Alfa Romeo Giulietta (Photo: Unai Ona)
The mythical German pilot Jochen Mass (Photo: Unai Ona)
Long queues waiting for a stage start, in the middle of the forest (Photo: Unai Ona)
The warrior's rest (Photo: Unai Ona)
The Alpine A 110 1600 that brings us memories thanks to its orange color (Photo: Unai Ona)
And let's not forget that the participants will not only have enjoyed the vintage cars and the competition: the Tour de France is also going to eat great, stay in beautiful castles and drink champagne, which is served even in the closed parks.
Access more photos of Tour Auto 2015 ...
Attractive side of the Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (Photo: Unai Ona)
Coveted profile: BMW 3.0 CSL (Photo: Unai Ona)
The lightweight Lotus Elan are very efficient machines (Photo: Unai Ona)
A whole 4 Aston Martin DB1960 GT fighting on the circuit (Photo: Unai Ona)
Ford Mustangs from different vintages are legion (Photo: Unai Ona)
Despite being highly valued, there are still those who dare to put these 60s Ferraris on the track (Photo: Unai Ona)
Porsche, Maserati and Ferrari: Several million euros parading down the track (Photo: Unai Ona)
One of the few Spanish teams present this year, with its Alfa Romeo Giulietta (Photo: Unai Ona)
It is not too common to see a 1800 BMW 1965 Ti around the circuits (Photo: Unai Ona)
Speed without regard ... even if it is a whole Ferrari 250 GT (Photo: Unai Ona)
"Jam" between the valuable cars of the HCV category (Photo: Unai Ona)
Rare and highly valued, a Lancia Flaminia Zagato (Photo: Unai Ona)
A legend: a 550 Porsche 1955 (Photo: Unai Ona)
Beautiful Alfa Romeo 1900 with Touring Supperleggera bodywork (Photo: Unai Ona)
Spectacular Maserati 200 SI from 1957 (Photo: Unai Ona)
The unmistakable silhouette of a Jaguar XK 120 (Photo: Unai Ona)
It is not uncommon to see heavy sedans like the Jaguar MKII participating in the Tour Auto (Photo: Unai Ona)
The Spanish team De Miguel / Delso with Alfa Romeo Giulietta from 1957 (Photo: Unai Ona)
Fight of legends from the 70s, like this BMW 3.0 CSL (Photo: Unai Ona)
Another great classic of the Tour: A Lancia Stratos (Photo: Unai Ona)
Several Alfa Romeos in a moment of rest (Photo: Unai Ona)
A characteristic rear: the Porsche 906 (Photo: Unai Ona)
Moments before departure you can see the variety of brands and models (Photo: Unai Ona)
Aggressive Alfa Romeo 1750 GTAM (Photo: Unai Ona)
Front characteristic of the Lotus Elan (Photo: Unai Ona)
Nice Porsche 356 A from the 50s (Photo: Unai Ona)
Aggressive front of a Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (Photo: Unai Ona)
Ferraris of yesterday and today ... and we almost prefer the old one (Photo: Unai Ona)
The curious «service van» based on Alfa Romeo 1750 (Photo: Unai Ona)
A Mercedes 190 SL, more touristy than sporty (Photo: Unai Ona)
Nice rear of a Porsche 356 A roadster (Photo: Unai Ona)
Impressive rear of the Porsche 911 "ready" (Photo: Unai Ona)
Solo, the 225 Ferrari 1952 S (Photo: Unai Ona)
Austin Healey 100/4 at Les Labasseres (Photo: Unai Ona)
IN the Auto Tour you get to see dangerous contrasts like this (Photo: Unai Ona)
Long queues waiting for a stage start, in the middle of the forest (Photo: Unai Ona)
It is not bad to take advantage of the breaks to stretch the legs. In the foreground, a Jaguar E Lightweight (Photo: Unai Ona)
The warrior's rest (Photo: Unai Ona)
The mythical German pilot Jochen Mass (Photo: Unai Ona)
Concentration inside an Aston Martin (Photo: Unai Ona)
Lonely road for this Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint (Photo: Unai Ona)
Nice 2 Aston Martin DB1957 that participated regularly (Photo: Unai Ona)
A Ranult Dauphine, yes, but in the rare '1093' sports version. He participated regularly (Photo: Unai Ona)
The winners of "G1 and G2 Competition": Philippe Vandromme/Frédéric Vivier with Ford GT40 (Photo: Unai Ona)
The number of AC Shelby Cobras present this year was surprising (Photo: Unai Ona)
You can also participate with modest vehicles like this first-series Citroën 2CV (Photo: Unai Ona)
An exotic French Jidié 1600 from the 70s, with an Alpine Renault engine (Photo: Unai Ona)
A vintage rally classic: the Volvo Amazon (Photo: Unai Ona)
Two Jaguar E-Type coupe, with different levels of preparation (Photo: Unai Ona)
Jaguar XK Duo: A 150 and a 120 (Photo: Unai Ona)
Unique model, the Ferrari 365 / GTB 4 Spider Nart (Photo: Unai Ona)
Preparadísimo MG A (Photo: Unai Ona)
An aggressive FIat 131 Coupé Abarth (Photo: Unai Ona)
(Photo: Unai Ona)
Another of the many Alfa Romeo Giulietta present this year (Photo: Unai Ona)
Interesting Ferrari 308 with Michelotto preparation (Photo: Unai Ona)
The Alpine A 110 1600 that brings us memories thanks to its orange color (Photo: Unai Ona)
Repairs on the rear axle of this Lotus Elite (Photo: Unai Ona)
Reviewing the small twin-cam engine of the Lotus ELan (Photo: Unai Ona)
The AC Shelby Cobra, spectacular on and off the track (Photo: Unai Ona)
Francisco Carrion
