TOUR AUTO 2015. La Defense!

[nikbj68]

As I write, almost 300 Classic Cars and their teams of racers are preparing themselves for 4 days flat-out through the French countryside, Starting from the Grand Palais in Paris.
   
   
   
   
   This year, Shaun Lynn & Kevin Kivlochan defend their 2014 crown in the 1963 Cobra that took them to victory after several years of trying, and I will try to keep you up to date with their progress over the next 5 days!
   
   "Allez...Victoire pour Les Rosbifs!"

[nikbj68]

The winners from Class and Overall winners from last year!
   
   

[nikbj68]

The view from Kevin`s Taxi as they arrived this morning!
   
   

[nikbj68]

All pristine & ready to go:
   
   
   
   What a line-up!
   
   

[TLegate]

Nice day for it....

[nikbj68]

Greetings!
   
   Day 1 was the longest in terms of mileage(over 300), and saw the teams travel 40 miles before they even reached the Official start at Chateau Courances:
   
   
   
   First out of the gates was an Aston Martin:
   
   
   
    Shaun  & head mechanic Nigel check the oil cooler blanking plate prior to heading out.
   
   
   
   The first special stage at Egleny features 3 Cobras in the top 10, with Shaun & Kevin sitting in a comfortable 7th:
   201 Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT Shelby Cobra 289 4m56s
   207 Mark FREEMANN / Nigel ARMSTRONG Shelby Cobra 289  4m56s
   212 Damien KOHLER / Sylvie LABOISNE Lotus Elan  4m56s
   211 Jean-Marc BUSSOLINI / Patricia BUSSOLINI Porsche 904  4m58s
   245 Nicolas MELIN / Paul Edouard GONDARD Lotus Elan 26R  4m58s
   202 Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET Jaguar E Type 3,8L  4m59s
   203 Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN Shelby Cobra 289 5m00s
   222 Jurgen END / Yvonne END  Alfa Romeo 1600 5m01s
   163 Julien LEMEILLE / Jérémy GARAMOND  BMW 1800 Ti 5m05s
   242 Eric EVERARD / Juliette EVERARD BEL/BEL Ferrari 275 GTB 5m05s
   
   
   Some video action, courtesy of Bosch France
   
   Next stop Magny Cours!
   
   
   
   Drivers` briefing, Plateau 4:
   
   
   
   On the Grid, waiting to start the race for Plateau 4.
   
   
   
   
   On the circuit, a familiar pattern is starting to appear:
   
   201 Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT Shelby Cobra 289 16m44s
   205 Richard MEINS / Timothy HUXLEY Ford GT 40 16m46s
   204 Andrew BEVERLEY / Mike HUMPHREYS Shelby Cobra 289 16m48s
   202 Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET Jaguar EType 3,8L 16m54s
   203 Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN Shelby Cobra 289 17m04s
   207 Mark FREEMANN / Nigel ARMSTRONG Shelby Cobra 289 17m24s
   211 Jean-Marc BUSSOLINI / Patricia BUSSOLINI  Porsche 904 GTS 17m27s
   212 Damien KOHLER / Sylvie LABOISNE Lotus Elan 17m35s
   237 Franck AUGIS / Xavier CHAMPAGNON  Jaguar E Type 3.8L 17m38s
   245 Nicolas MELIN / Paul Edouard GONDARD Lotus Elan 26R 17m45s
   
   BUT, that's not how it should have been, as Shaun was leading the race when 2 plugleads decided to turn the Cobra into a 6-cylinder!!! This ended up slowing the Cobra by around 35/40 seconds...Dammit! could explain Shaun`s expression in this park fermé photo!
   
   
   
   From Magny Cours, the Tour rolls on to Vichy for the first stop, and preparation for day 2.
   
   At the end of day one, Shaun & Kevin are in 4th place, 24 seconds behind Ludovic Caron in the Cobra,
   11 seconds behind Lajournade ( in the E-type who came second last year ),
   4 seconds behind Meins in GT40.
   
   BUT... Kevin just told me that the GT40 appears to have not arrived in Vichy, effectively promoting the Lads to 3rd!!!
   
   Also, Mark Freeman`s cobra requires a gearbox swap in 2 hours... Will they manage it?
   
   
   
   Wednesday morning`s notes... 2 special stages and one race!

[nikbj68]

Day 2. Vichy to Clermont Ferrand.
   
   Today has 2 special stages and one circuit event, and despite Kevin not seeing the GT40 of Richard Meins last night, their crew were able to have the Ford ready for action...although with a 5 minute penalty for being late arriving at Vichy:
   
   
   
   ...so Shaun & Kevin start the day in 3rd!
   
   First special stage of the day,  Augerolles - Les Mines.
   
   202 Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET Jaguar Type E 3,8L 4m43s
   232 Alexander FURIANI / Maximilian WERNER Alfa Romeo 1600 GTA  4m53s
   245 Nicolas MELIN / Paul Edouard GONDARD Lotus Elan 26R  4m55s
   201 Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT Shelby Cobra 289 4m57s
   203 Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN Shelby Cobra 289 5m01s
   212 Damien KOHLER / Sylvie LABOISNE Lotus Elan 5m02s
   242 Eric EVERARD / Juliette EVERARD Ferrari 275 GTB 5m04s
   207 Mark FREEMANN / Nigel ARMSTRONG Shelby Cobra 289 5m07s
   205 Richard MEINS / Timothy HUXLEY Ford GT 40 5m09s
   161 Pierre BUFFET / Alexandre MARNAS MG B 5m10s
   
   
   2nd special stage, Montbrison.
   
   232 Alexander FURIANI / Maximilian WERNER Alfa Romeo 1600 GTA 8m06s
   201 Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT Shelby Cobra 289 8m10s
   210 Stéphane GUTZWILLER / Robert VANTAGGI Lotus Elan GTS 8m18s
   242 Eric EVERARD / Juliette EVERARD Ferrari 275 GTB 8m18s
   202 Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET Jaguar Type E 3,8L 8m20s
   203 Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN Shelby Cobra 289 8m21s
   226 Gabriele SPANGENBERG / Andreas MIDDENDORF Porsche 911 8m21s
   212 Damien KOHLER / Sylvie LABOISNE Lotus Elan GTS 8m22s
   245 Nicolas MELIN / Paul Edouard GONDARD Lotus Elan 26R 8m26s
   207 Mark FREEMANN / Nigel ARMSTRONG Shelby Cobra 289 8m27s
   205 Richard MEINS / Timothy HUXLEY Ford GT 40 8m29s
   
   For some, getting through the stages and to lunch proved harder than for others: Lots Of Trouble...Unconnected Stubaxle!
   
   It`s not all glitz and glamour, as our poor heroes have to survive, Bear Grylls style, on whatever they can find at the lunch stop at Parentignat:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   ...As well as having to water the horses!
   
   
   
   And then it`s on to the Charade circuit:
   
   
   
   Results from the track: (to Follow)
   
   
   
   
   From the Circuit de Charade, the teams make their way to Clermont Ferrand, and the day ends in the shadow of the Stade Michelin.
   
   
   
   
   
   This is how the overall leaderboard looks at the end of Day 2:
   
   1. 201 Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT  Shelby Cobra 289 34m47s
   2. 202 Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET Jaguar Type E 3,8L 34m56s
   3. 203 Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN Shelby Cobra 289 35m26s
   4. 207 Mark FREEMANN / Nigel ARMSTRONG Shelby Cobra 289 35m54s
   5. 212 Damien KOHLER / Sylvie LABOISNE Lotus Elan 35m55s
   6. 245 Nicolas MELIN / Paul Edouard GONDARD Lotus Elan 26R 36m04s
   7. 232 Alexander FURIANI / Maximilian WERNER Alfa Romeo 1600 GTA 36m27s
   8. 237 Franck AUGIS / Xavier CHAMPAGNON Jaguar Type E 3.8L 37m02s
   9. 222 Jurgen END / Yvonne END Alfa Romeo 1600 GTA 37m06s
   10.226 Gabriele SPANGENBERG / Andreas MIDDENDORF Porsche 911 37m10s
   And with their 5 minute penalty:
   32.205 Richard MEINS / Timothy HUXLEY Ford GT 40 40m38s
   
   Day 2 over, NEARLY halfway home!

[nikbj68]

Day 3, Clermont Ferrand to Toulouse.
   Very brief update for now, more detail to follow.
   
   The 2 special stages saw some stronger performances from other competitions, BUT at the Albi Circuit, Shaun took his first Victory!
   
   Usually, the attention of the Gendarmerie would be unwelcome, but when they give you an escort through every red light, it's as Cool as it gets!!!
   
   
   
   Holding back motorway traffic:
   
   
   
   Shaun looks a lot more relaxed than on Day 1, waiting for 2nd special stage of the day:
   
   
   
   
   Overall, Shaun & Kevin are holding 3rd, but 1st & 2nd have reversed with the E Type taking the lead from Ludovic Caron's Cobra.
   
   Day 4 takes the Tour to Pau.

[nikbj68]

Day 4, Toulouse to Pau. A mere 230 miles to cover today, with 2 special stages, and no circuit action.
   How's this for a view? Col de Mente, Pyrenees:
   
   
   
   At the lunch stop:
   
   
   
   
   
   And waiting to start the 2nd stage of the day, which was unfortunately cancelled due to an MGB having an 'Off':
   
   
   
   The day ended in the Place de Verdun in Pau, with Shaun & Kevin in a solid 3rd place, but fingers crossed that tomorrow they can wring a little bit more out of the Cobra in the final special stages and on the Pau circuit, and possibly get in front of at least the Caron Cobra, and be the first 'AC' home!

[nikbj68]

C'est Finis!!![:D]
   
   The Tour Auto rolled into Biarritz  Saturday afternoon to be greeted by huge crowds of enthusiasts at the Cite de L'Ocean.
   
   The day comprised the final special stage and one last track event on the spectacular Pau Circuit, with the GT40 taking glory on the circuit for the first time:
   
   1.Richard MEINS / Timothy HUXLEY Ford GT40
   2.Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT Shelby Cobra 289
   3.Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET Jaguar E Type 3.8L
   4.Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN Shelby Cobra 289
   
   
   Overall results remained unchanged from Friday, so the top 3 looks like this:
   
   1. 202 Jean Pierre LAJOURNADE / Christophe BOUCHET Jaguar E Type 3,8L
   2. 201 Ludovic CARON / Charles de VILLAUCOURT  Shelby Cobra 289 +31s
   3. 203 Shaun LYNN / Kevin KIVLOCHAN Shelby Cobra 289 +1min42s
   
   Pretty close after nearly 1200 miles down the length of France!
   Congratulations to Our Lads for a strong week of competition and well done to their support crew for keeping things all together.
   Next year I will have to be 'on the spot reporter' I think... [;)]
   
   Another video clip from BOSCH
   More updates & photos to follow in the next few days.

[rstainer]

Congratulations to Shaun & Kevin.
   
   According to the Register theirs was the first Shelby/AC home. The Register's appendix records car #201 as other than a Shelby/AC constructed ten years ago.
   
   RS

[TLegate]

Many congratulations once again to the brave lads! They must have spines of solid titanium, unlike the car. Great work by MotoHistorics to keep the wheels turning (and attached)
   
   I wonder if there is an award for Originality? Non?

[AC Ace Bristol]

.
   Congratulations  Shaun & Kevin. Flying the AC Flag in true AC style.
   Great team work, good result......... Can't win every year, you have to let others take the spoils occasionally.  Well just this once.[;)]
   
   Seriously....... Well Done, finished in one piece, Home and chill out for a few days to recharge your batteries and rest them bones..
   
   Keith

[nikbj68]

Maybe next year TES1E will have to come out to play, and defend HER title!!!

[TLegate]

Bring forth the TES1E!
   
   A bit unsporting though - should really give the others a fighting chance