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Tour Auto Rally 2015 – Photo Gallery

1975 Ligier JS 2 DFV Julien Mahiels
1975 Ligier JS 2 DFV

The Tour Auto Rally 2015 was staged 20-25 April on the back roads and racing circuits of France. Over 230 cars gathered at the Grand Palais in Paris for the start of the 24th historical Tour de France rally, a multi-day event that combined 1,907 km of road driving with multiple circuit and hillclimb stages.

After leaving the Grand Palais at dawn on the 21st of April, the field in the 24th running of the Tour Auto Optic 2ooo headed off to the breathtaking Chateau de Courances where the official start of the event was given. The program of the 498-km first leg comprised a special stage on a closed road and the opening races on the Nevers Magny-Cours circuit.

After the first leg which brought the drivers to Vichy, the competitors in the 2015 Tour de France Auto Optic 2ooo left the French spa town and headed for Clermont-Ferrand. The second leg included two special stages and races on the Charade circuit on day two of the event.

On the third day of racing, Jean-Pierre Lajournade and Christophe Bouchet in their E-Type Jaguar left the Clermont-Ferrand parc ferme leading the 24th Tour Auto Optic 2ooo. Their aim was to reach Toulouse and to fend off the attacks of their most dangerous pursuers in the overall classification — Ludovic Caron and Charles de Villaucourt and Shaun Lynn and Kevin Kivlochan in their AC Cobras. These three outright victory contenders were covered by fewer than 30 seconds at the start of the third leg, the halfway mark of the 2015 event.

On the fourth day, the Tour Auto Optic 2ooo left Toulouse and headed off to the Pyrenees. Almost immediately the drivers feasted their eyes on a magnificent view of the mountains thanks to clear skies like those enjoyed by the 24th event since it left the Grand Palais in Paris. The day’s leg included the crossing of three passes one of which was ‘Hors-Categorie.’ It was enough to delight hill climbers and those who love pounding up twisty roads, and it gave the event a touch of the Tour de France for Bicycles.

On the last day, drivers tackled the fifth and last stage, over 212 km, which began on the Pau Arnos circuit. Then the field headed for the last special stage of the 2015 Tour Auto after which they set off for the finish in the brand-new Cite de l’Ocean in Biarritz.

At the finish of the Tour Auto Rally 2015, the team of Jean-Pierre Lajournade and Christophe Bouchet in their Jaguar E-Type emerged as overall winners after a battle with the teams of Ludovic Caron and Charles de Villaucourt and Shaun Lynn and Kevin Kivlochan, both in AC Cobra 289 models.

Given the strong field of historic cars at the Tour Auto Rally 2015, we ended up with not enough time to post all of the images provided by Julien Mahiels in our original story. Therefore, in addition to Julien’s Report and Photos, we offer the following gallery of images that are too stunning to not share. We split up Julien’s pictures into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view of Sports Car Digest, while the second gallery can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all 178 photographs. To see more from Julien, visit julienmahiels.net.

Tour Auto 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery

 

1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0
1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0
1951 Ferrari 212 Touring Berlinetta
1951 Ferrari 212 Touring Berlinetta
Alpine Renault A110 1600 S
Alpine Renault A110 1600 S
1961 Lotus Elite
1961 Lotus Elite
1975 Ligier JS 2 DFV
1975 Ligier JS 2 DFV
1973 De Tomaso Pantera Gr.IV
1973 De Tomaso Pantera Gr.IV
1974 Lancia Stratos Gr.IV
1974 Lancia Stratos Gr.IV
1954 Porsche 356 Pre-A Coupe
1954 Porsche 356 Pre-A Coupe

 

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Tour Auto 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two

 

Early morning on Day One of the Tour Auto Rally 2015
Early morning on Day One of the Tour Auto Rally 2015
AC Cobra 289 of Ludovic Caron
AC Cobra 289 of Ludovic Caron
MG detail
MG detail
Early morning on Day One of the Tour Auto Rally 2015
Early morning on Day One of the Tour Auto Rally 2015
1965 Alfa Romeo 1600 GTA
1965 Alfa Romeo 1600 GTA
AC Cobra 289 of Shaun Lynn
AC Cobra 289 of Shaun Lynn
Grounds of the Chateau de Courances on Day One of the Tour Auto Rally 2015
Grounds of the Chateau de Courances on Day One of the Tour Auto Rally 2015
Grounds of the Chateau de Courances on Day One of the Tour Auto Rally 2015
Grounds of the Chateau de Courances on Day One of the Tour Auto Rally 2015

 

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Tour Auto 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three

 

1964 Jaguar E-Type Coupe
1964 Jaguar E-Type Coupe
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
1961 Jaguar Mk II and 1965 Ford Cortina Lotus
1961 Jaguar Mk II and 1965 Ford Cortina Lotus
1973 Ford Escort Mexico
1973 Ford Escort Mexico
1960 Lotus Elite
1960 Lotus Elite
1965 Ford Mustang 289
1965 Ford Mustang 289
1963 AC Cobra 289 of Shaun Lynn
1963 AC Cobra 289 of Shaun Lynn
1967 Renault R8 Gordini
1967 Renault R8 Gordini

 

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Tour Auto 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four

 

Ferrari entrants at the Grand Palais in Paris
Ferrari entrants at the Grand Palais in Paris
Ferrari 225 S and other entrants at the Grand Palais in Paris
Ferrari 225 S and other entrants at the Grand Palais in Paris
Ferrari 275 GTB at the Grand Palais in Paris
Ferrari 275 GTB at the Grand Palais in Paris
Ferrari 275 GTB at the Grand Palais in Paris
Ferrari 275 GTB at the Grand Palais in Paris
1977 Ferrari 308 GTB Gr.IV at the Grand Palais in Paris
1977 Ferrari 308 GTB Gr.IV at the Grand Palais in Paris
Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
1957 Maserati 200 SI
1957 Maserati 200 SI
1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial
1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial

 

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Tour Auto 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five

 

1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial
1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial
1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial
1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial
1974 Lancia Stratos Gr.IV
1974 Lancia Stratos Gr.IV
1961 Porsche 356 B
1961 Porsche 356 B
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
1963 Alfa Romeo TZ
1963 Alfa Romeo TZ
1972 Lancia Fulvia 1.6 HF
1972 Lancia Fulvia 1.6 HF
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, s/n 3527GT
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, s/n 3527GT

 

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Tour Auto 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six

 

1972 BMW 3.0 CSL
1972 BMW 3.0 CSL
Ferrari 275 GTB
Ferrari 275 GTB
1979 Alpine Renault A310 V6 Gr.IV
1979 Alpine Renault A310 V6 Gr.IV
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8
1973 Jide 1600
1973 Jide 1600
1974 Alpine Renault A110 1800 Gr.IV
1974 Alpine Renault A110 1800 Gr.IV
1973 Jide 1600
1973 Jide 1600
1974 Lancia Stratos Gr.IV
1974 Lancia Stratos Gr.IV

 

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Tour Auto 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven

 

1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial
1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial
Great selection of Alpine Renault A110 1600 S models at the Grand Palais in Paris
Great selection of Alpine Renault A110 1600 S models at the Grand Palais in Paris
Lancia Fulvia 1.6 HF
Lancia Fulvia 1.6 HF
Lancia Flaminia Sport Special Zagato and Mercedes-Benz 190 SL
Lancia Flaminia Sport Special Zagato and Mercedes-Benz 190 SL
Ferrari Dino 246 GT entries at the Grand Palais in Paris
Ferrari Dino 246 GT entries at the Grand Palais in Paris
Additional Ferraris at the Grand Palais in Paris
Additional Ferraris at the Grand Palais in Paris
Tour Auto Rally 2015
Tour Auto Rally 2015
1954 Porsche 356 Pre-A Coupe of Frederic Puren and Caroline Bertrand won the Performance Index Class at the Tour Auto 2015
1954 Porsche 356 Pre-A Coupe of Frederic Puren and Caroline Bertrand won the Performance Index Class at the Tour Auto 2015

 

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Tour Auto 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight

 

1971 Alfa Romeo 1750 1971 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTAm
1971 Alfa Romeo 1750 1971 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTAm
1963 AC Cobra 289 of Shaun Lynn
1963 AC Cobra 289 of Shaun Lynn
Ferrari 275 GTB
Ferrari 275 GTB
1967 Ford GT40
1967 Ford GT40
1983 Ferrari 308 Gr. IV Michelotto
1983 Ferrari 308 Gr. IV Michelotto
1975 Ligier JS 2 DFV
1975 Ligier JS 2 DFV
Jaguar E-Type
Jaguar E-Type
Up and away goes the 1965 Alfa Romeo 1600 GTA
Up and away goes the 1965 Alfa Romeo 1600 GTA

 

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Tour Auto 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Nine

 

1965 Ford Mustang
1965 Ford Mustang
1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
1975 Ligier JS 2 DFV
1975 Ligier JS 2 DFV
Pack of Alfa Romeos at Tour Auto Rally 2015
Pack of Alfa Romeos at Tour Auto Rally 2015
1977 Ferrari 308 GTB Gr.IV
1977 Ferrari 308 GTB Gr.IV
1967 Ford GT40
1967 Ford GT40
1973 BMW 3.0 CSL
1973 BMW 3.0 CSL
1973 BMW 3.0 CSL
1973 BMW 3.0 CSL

 

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Tour Auto 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Ten

 

Grounds of the Chateau de Courances on Day One of the Tour Auto Rally 2015
Grounds of the Chateau de Courances on Day One of the Tour Auto Rally 2015
1964 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 Coupe
1964 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 Coupe
1951 Ferrari 212 Touring Berlinetta
1951 Ferrari 212 Touring Berlinetta
1951 Ferrari 212 Touring Berlinetta
1951 Ferrari 212 Touring Berlinetta
1971 Lotus Europa JPS at the Chateau de Courances
1971 Lotus Europa JPS at the Chateau de Courances
1961 Porsche 356 B at the Chateau de Courances
1961 Porsche 356 B at the Chateau de Courances
Grounds of the Chateau de Courances on Day One of the Tour Auto Rally 2015
Grounds of the Chateau de Courances on Day One of the Tour Auto Rally 2015
1954 Porsche 356 Pre-A Coupe
1954 Porsche 356 Pre-A Coupe

 

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Tour Auto 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eleven

 

Line-up of Porsche 911 Carrera RS and RSR entrants
Line-up of Porsche 911 Carrera RS and RSR entrants
Jochen Mass at the Grand Palais in Paris
Jochen Mass at the Grand Palais in Paris
Alfa Romeo TZ at the Grand Palais in Paris
Alfa Romeo TZ at the Grand Palais in Paris
Alfa Romeo entrants at the Grand Palais in Paris
Alfa Romeo entrants at the Grand Palais in Paris
Porsche entrants at the Grand Palais in Paris
Porsche entrants at the Grand Palais in Paris
AC Cobra 289 at the Grand Palais in Paris
AC Cobra 289 at the Grand Palais in Paris
AC Cobra 289 at the Grand Palais in Paris
AC Cobra 289 at the Grand Palais in Paris
Mini Cooper entrants at the Grand Palais in Paris
Mini Cooper entrants at the Grand Palais in Paris

 

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Tour Auto 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Twelve

 

1967 Ferrari 275 GTB
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB
Tour Auto Rally 2015
Tour Auto Rally 2015
1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0
1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0
1963 AC Cobra 289 and 1965 Porsche 911
1963 AC Cobra 289 and 1965 Porsche 911
1964 Porsche 904 GTS
1964 Porsche 904 GTS
AC Cobras on track at the Tour Auto Rally 2015
AC Cobras on track at the Tour Auto Rally 2015
1965 Porsche 911
1965 Porsche 911
1963 AC Cobra 289 of Ludovic Caron
1963 AC Cobra 289 of Ludovic Caron

 

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Tour Auto 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Thirteen

 

Ferrari 275 GTB
Ferrari 275 GTB
1971 Lotus Europa JPS
1971 Lotus Europa JPS
1966 Ford GT40
1966 Ford GT40
AC Cobra 289
AC Cobra 289
AC Cobra 289
AC Cobra 289
Jaguar E-Type
Jaguar E-Type
Jaguar E-Type
Jaguar E-Type
1963 Alfa Romeo TZ
1963 Alfa Romeo TZ

 

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Tour Auto 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Fourteen

 

1959 Triumph TR3
1959 Triumph TR3
1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS
1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS
1963 AC Cobra 289
1963 AC Cobra 289
1963 Jaguar E-Type
1963 Jaguar E-Type
1964 Porsche 904 GTS
1964 Porsche 904 GTS
1965 Porsche 911
1965 Porsche 911
1962 Jaguar E-Type
1962 Jaguar E-Type
1967 Ford GT40
1967 Ford GT40

 

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Tour Auto 2015 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

 

[nggallery id=787 images=15]

 

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[Source: Peter Auto; photos: Julien Mahiels]