The 2010 Tour Auto sponsored by Optic 2000 was held April 19-24 in France, leaving once again from Paris. After an incursion to the North and the shores of the Channel, the 2010 edition returned to the South, with a finish in Beaulieu-sur-Mer.
After the Ferrari 250 “Tour de France” in 2007, the OSCA in 2008, the Jaguar MkII and Ford GT40 in 2009, the Tour Auto Optic 2ooo celebrated in 2010 the 50th anniversary of the first victory of the Ferrari 250 SWB in the Tour de France Automobile. The grid for this year’s event included seventeen Ferrari 250GT SWB, all paying tribute to the anniversary.
As in 2009, the Tour began from the Jardins des Tuileries in Paris. An ideal location situated in the heart of the capital, for the many visitors could come and admire the public exhibition of the cars on Monday April 19, day of checks and scrutineering.
1st stage: Tuesday 20 April / Paris – Vichy
Escorted by the Garde Republicaine, the competitors taking part to the 19th edition of the Tour Auto Optic 2ooo left the Jardin des Tuileries at the day break to join Fontainebleau, place of the official start of the rally. As in 2008, the whole grid took benefit from a privileged welcome in the main courtyard, to the spectators’ great delight. These ones were really numerous to encourage the competitors and admire the cars.
The History then immediately gave up its place to the competition, with a first special stage on a very sinuous and narrow closed road. A very technical stage which didn’t scared Hugo Payen on his powerful Jaguar Type E. The French young man scored the best time of the VHC category. The 2009 winner, Shaun Lynn on his Ford GT40, lied in ambush.
At Magny Cours, first circuit of the 2010 Tour, the Competition grids, which were the first to take the start, ensured the show with some very strong battles on the track. Hugo Payen, one of the favourite competitors of the rally unfortunately had to abandon, made way for Shaun Lynn to lead the classification at the end of the day.
Porsche 904 GTS at Paul Ricard driven by France/France
Alfa GTV chasing Ferrari 250 GT SWB
Rosello/Richard Austin Cooper S creates traffic Jam at Paul Ricard
Forerunner Mercedes 300SL Roadster - Consten/Consten
2nd stage: Wednesday 21 April / Vichy – Lyon
A very sporting day awaited the competitors. To begin with, the winding and hilly layout of Charade, before the day’s first special stage and lunch at the Vollore castle from where they admired a sumptuous panorama. Then another road stage before arriving at the second stop-over town. A novelty for this 2010 edition as the Tour’s caravan stopped in the heart of Lyon, in the Tete d’Or Park.
Alfa Romeo TZ - Ellerbrock/Saft
Panhard Junior - Godefroy/Duprat
Chevrolet Corvette - Salam/Salam
Ferrari 275 GTB of Read/Robertson
Alfa Romeo GTA of Wildenburg/Hahne leads Lotus Elan of Verquin/Lambert
Ferrari 250 GT SWB - Devis/Clevely
Porsche 914-6 GT - Logan/Hampton finished second overall in Groupe G
Ferrari 308 GTB Group IV Michelotto - Entremont/Entremont
Porsche 911 T/H - Humphreys/Beverley avoids the Jaguar E-Type of Vial/Thomas
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