The Tour Auto 2011 will be held April 11-16th along the scenic and interesting secondary roads of France. For its 20th edition, the Tour Auto Optic 2ooo pays tribute to Zagato; the famous coachbuilder will hold the place of honour during the whole journey between Paris and Biarritz via Poitiers, Objat, Bordeaux and Pau.
The Tour Auto 2011 is multifaceted – slow circuits, fast circuits, endurance on road stages and sprints on sinuous special stages. With new unsuspected landscapes, revealed bend after bend along both road and special stages on roads far from ordinary traffic, from Paris to Southwest of France. As Ferrari Berlinettas last year or OSCAs two years ago, this year a famous troublemaker, maverick stylist and multi-brand mercenary will top the bill: Zagato.
Zagato is certainly one of the most outstanding bodywork specialists whose name is linked to mythical models of great automobile brands. From the very beginning, Ugo Zagato uses the aeronautical techniques which he masters with great skill. The result is light cars of avant-garde design and aerodynamic profile; among others, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Lancia and Maserati special Z versions. The big boom of the “Carrozzeria Zagato” came in the ‘50s and ‘60s, with the development of GTs. During this time appeared dreamcars dressed with Zagato’s characteristic fluid and aerodynamic lines and the original double “doppia bolla” bubble roof.
(Click to see “My Favorite Zagato” article)
The provisional entry list has eleven Zagato creations scheduled to take part in Tour Auto 2011. Among them, impressive racing cars – Alfa Romeo SZ and TZ, elegant models – Lancia Flaminia Zagato, Alfa Romeo SS Zagato – and, rarity of rarities, a splendid Maserati A6 G54 Zagato exhibited at the Paris Motor Show in 1955, which took the start of the Tour de France Automobile two years later. In addition to the Zagato-bodied entrants, there will be cars for all tastes and the provisional entry list, including an Aston Martin DB2 of 1953, Ligier JS2 of 1972, Morris Cooper S of 1965, Ferrari Daytona Groupe IV of 1970.
For more information, visit www.tourauto.com.
[Source: Tour Auto; photo credit: Michael DiPleco]
