Tour de France Automobile was a sports car race held on roads around France, first held in 1899 at speeds of 30 mph (50 km/h). The first event was won by René de Knyff

René de Knyff

Chevalier René de Knyff was a French pioneer of car racing and later a president of Commission Sportive Internationale , now known as FIA....

 driving a Panhard et Levassor. Organized by Le Matin

Le Matin (France)

Le Matin was a French daily newspaper created in 1883 and discontinued in 1944.Le Matin was launched on the initiative of Chamberlain & Co, a group of American financiers, in 1883, on the model of the British daily The Morning News. The direction of the project was entrusted to the French...

, under the control of the Automobile Club de France, held July 16 to 24, in seven stages: Paris-Nancy; Nancy-Aix-les-Bains; Aix-les-Bains-Vichy; Vichy-Périgueux; Périgueux-Nantes; Nantes-Cabourg; Cabourg-Paris. Out of 49 starters, 21 vehicles finished. The 1908 event was won by Clément-Bayard

Clément-Bayard

Clément-Bayard was a French manufacturer of automobiles, aeroplanes and airships founded in 1903 by the entrepreneur Adolphe Clément-Bayard . The name celebrated the Chevalier Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard who saved the town of Mézières in 1521...

.

The 1951 event was won by Pagnibon-Barracquet in a 2.6-litre Ferrari. The event visited La Turbie Hill Climb, near Nice. In 1954 the event was won by the 2.5 litre Gordini

Gordini

Gordini is a French sports car manufacturer. The firm was founded by Amédée Gordini nicknamed "Le Sorcier" .Gordini competed in Formula One from 1950 to 1956....

 of Jacques Pollet and M. Gauthier, running on the traditional Nice to Nice route. The 1956 event was won by de Portago

Alfonso de Portago

Alfonso Antonio Vicente Eduardo Angel Blas Francisco de Borja Cabeza de Vaca y Leighton, Marquis of Portago, best known as Alfonso de Portago was a racing driver from Spain.-Notable heritage:Portago was 6' tall and weighed 170 pounds . He was educated in France...

/Nelson in a Ferrari 250 2.9 with Moss/Houel (Mercedes 300 SL) in second place.

The 1960 Tour de France took place between September 15 and 23 that year. Starting at Nice it visited Mont Ventoux

Mont Ventoux Hill Climb

Mont Ventoux Hill Climb is a car and motorcycle race course near Avignon in France. The course of the Mont Ventoux Hill Climb starts from the village of Bédoin and rises 5,289 feet for 13.4 miles to the observatory at the summit....

, Nurburgring, Spa, Montlhéry, Rouen

Rouen-Les-Essarts

Rouen-Les-Essarts was a race track in Grand-Couronne, near Rouen, France.From its opening in 1950, Rouen-Les-Essarts was recognized as one of Europe's finest circuits, with modern pits, a wide track, and spectator grandstands...

 and Le Mans with the finish at Clermont Ferrand. The event was won overall by the Ferrari 250 G.T.

Ferrari 250

The Ferrari 250 is a sports car built by Ferrari from 1953 to 1964. The company's most successful early line, the 250 series included several variants. It was replaced by the 275 and the 330.-Similarities:...

 of Willy Mairesse

Willy Mairesse

Willy Mairesse was a Formula One and sports car driver from Belgium. He participated in 13 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 19 June 1960. He achieved 1 podium, and scored a total of 7 championship points...

/Georges Berger

Georges Berger

Georges Berger was a racing driver who raced a Gordini in his two World Championship Formula One Grands Prix....

. The Jaguar

Jaguar Mark 2

The Jaguar Mark 2 is a medium sized saloon car built from 1959 to 1967 by the Jaguar company in Coventry, England, as successors to the Jaguar 2.4 and 3.4 models, manufactured between 1957 and 1959...

 3.8 litre Mk. II of Bernard Consten/J. Renel won the Touring category with the BMW 700

BMW 700

The BMW 700 was a small rear-engined car produced by BMW in various models from August 1959 to November 1965. It was the first BMW automobile with a monocoque structure. The 700 was a sales success at a time when BMW was close to financial ruin...

 coupé of Metternich/Hohenlohe winning the Index of Performance.

The 1964 event was won by Lucien Bianchi

Lucien Bianchi

Lucien Bianchi , born Luciano Bianchi, was a Belgian racing driver who raced for the Cooper, ENB, UDT Laystall and Scuderia Centro Sud teams in Formula One...

/Georges Berger in a Ferrari GTO, entered by Ecurie Nationale Belge

Ecurie Nationale Belge

Ecurie Nationale Belge was a Formula One and sportscar racing team in the 1950s and 1960s, which was formed through a merger of Jacques Swaters' Ecurie Francorchamps and Johnny Claes' Ecurie Belge....

. The event started at Lille, visiting Reims, Rouen, Le Mans, Clermont-Ferrand, Monza and Pau. The Touring car category was won by Peter Proctor/Andrew Cowan

Andrew Cowan

Andrew Cowan is a Scottish former rally driver, and the founder and senior director of Mitsubishi Ralliart until his retirement on 30 November 2005.-Early years:...

 in a Ford Mustang

Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...

, entered by Alan Mann Racing

Alan Mann Racing

Alan Mann Racing was a British motor racing team. It was organized by Alan Mann, born in 1936, who was a part-time racing driver and team manager. The team ran a substantial part of the Ford works racing effort in Europe from 1964 to 1969, when it closed its doors...

. The A.C. Shelby Cobras of Maurice Trintignant

Maurice Trintignant

Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant was a motor racing driver and vintner from France. He competed in the Formula One World Championship for fourteen years, between 1950 and 1964, one of the longest careers in the early years of F1...

, Bob Bondurant

Bob Bondurant

Robert Bondurant is an American former racecar driver who raced for Shelby American, Ferrari and Eagle teams.During his teens, Bondurant raced an Indian motorcycle on dirt ovals...

 and André Simon all retired.

The last event was held in 1986. Also known as Tour Auto, it was revived in 1992 for historic cars, with both a competition and a regularity class. The format is a 5-day event combining about 2,500 km of roads, 4 or 5 circuit races and 6 to 8 hillclimbs. Patrick Peter of Agence Peter is the organiser. The start of the International event with some 300 entrants is in Paris; the finish alternates between various cities like Cannes, St. Tropez and Biarritz.
The winning cars over the years (since 1996 only pre '66 cars can win overall, even though cars up to 1974 are allowed): Ford Shelby Mustang 350GT, Ford GT40, AC Cobra 289, Lotus Elan, Ferrari Daytona Gr IV.

Winners 1951-1986

Year	Driver(s)	Co-driver	Vehicle
1951	Pierre Pagnibon	Alfred Barraquet	Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...  212 Export
1952	Marc Gignoux	Mme Gignoux	DB DB (car) DB was a French automobile maker between 1938 and 1961, based in Champigny-sur-Marne near Paris. The firm was founded by Charles Deutsch and René Bonnet...  750
1953	Jacques Péron - Sport	R. Bertramnier	Osca O.S.C.A. Officine Specializzate Costruzioni Automobili - Fratelli Maserati SpA was an Italian brand of sports car automobiles, usually abbreviated to O.S.C.A., OSCA or Osca.- History :...  MT4
	Paul Condrillier - Touring car	Daniel	Renault 4CV Renault 4CV The Renault 4CV was an economy car produced by the French manufacturer Renault from August 1947-July 1961. The first French car to sell over a million units, the 4CV was ultimately superseded by the Renault Dauphine....  1062
1954	Jacques Pollet Jacques Pollet Jacques Pollet was a racing driver from France. He participated in 5 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on July 4, 1954. He scored no championship points....	Hubert Gauthier	Gordini Gordini Gordini is a French sports car manufacturer. The firm was founded by Amédée Gordini nicknamed "Le Sorcier" .Gordini competed in Formula One from 1950 to 1956....  T15S
1956	Alfonso de Portago Alfonso de Portago Alfonso Antonio Vicente Eduardo Angel Blas Francisco de Borja Cabeza de Vaca y Leighton, Marquis of Portago, best known as Alfonso de Portago was a racing driver from Spain.-Notable heritage:Portago was 6' tall and weighed 170 pounds . He was educated in France...	Edmont Nelson	Ferrari 250 Ferrari 250 The Ferrari 250 is a sports car built by Ferrari from 1953 to 1964. The company's most successful early line, the 250 series included several variants. It was replaced by the 275 and the 330.-Similarities:...  GT
1957	Olivier Gendebien Olivier Gendebien Olivier Gendebien was a war hero and race car driver. He has been cited as "one of the greatest sportscar racers of all time".-Background:...  - GT Category	Lucien Bianchi Lucien Bianchi Lucien Bianchi , born Luciano Bianchi, was a Belgian racing driver who raced for the Cooper, ENB, UDT Laystall and Scuderia Centro Sud teams in Formula One...	Ferrari 250 Ferrari 250 The Ferrari 250 is a sports car built by Ferrari from 1953 to 1964. The company's most successful early line, the 250 series included several variants. It was replaced by the 275 and the 330.-Similarities:...  GT
	Jean Hébert - Touring car	Marcel Lauga	Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...  Giulietta
1958	Olivier Gendebien Olivier Gendebien Olivier Gendebien was a war hero and race car driver. He has been cited as "one of the greatest sportscar racers of all time".-Background:...  - GT Category	Lucien Bianchi Lucien Bianchi Lucien Bianchi , born Luciano Bianchi, was a Belgian racing driver who raced for the Cooper, ENB, UDT Laystall and Scuderia Centro Sud teams in Formula One...	Ferrari 250 Ferrari 250 The Ferrari 250 is a sports car built by Ferrari from 1953 to 1964. The company's most successful early line, the 250 series included several variants. It was replaced by the 275 and the 330.-Similarities:...  GT
	Jean Hébert - Touring car	Bernard Consten	Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...  Giulietta
1959	Olivier Gendebien Olivier Gendebien Olivier Gendebien was a war hero and race car driver. He has been cited as "one of the greatest sportscar racers of all time".-Background:...  - GT Category	Lucien Bianchi Lucien Bianchi Lucien Bianchi , born Luciano Bianchi, was a Belgian racing driver who raced for the Cooper, ENB, UDT Laystall and Scuderia Centro Sud teams in Formula One...	Ferrari 250 Ferrari 250 The Ferrari 250 is a sports car built by Ferrari from 1953 to 1964. The company's most successful early line, the 250 series included several variants. It was replaced by the 275 and the 330.-Similarities:...  GT
	Hermano da Silva Ramos - Touring car	Jean Estager	Jaguar Mark 1
1960	Willy Mairesse Willy Mairesse Willy Mairesse was a Formula One and sports car driver from Belgium. He participated in 13 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 19 June 1960. He achieved 1 podium, and scored a total of 7 championship points...   - GT Category	Georges Berger Georges Berger Georges Berger was a racing driver who raced a Gordini in his two World Championship Formula One Grands Prix....	Ferrari 250 Ferrari 250 The Ferrari 250 is a sports car built by Ferrari from 1953 to 1964. The company's most successful early line, the 250 series included several variants. It was replaced by the 275 and the 330.-Similarities:...  GT
	Bernard Consten - Touring car	Jack Renel	Jaguar Mark 2
1961	Willy Mairesse Willy Mairesse Willy Mairesse was a Formula One and sports car driver from Belgium. He participated in 13 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 19 June 1960. He achieved 1 podium, and scored a total of 7 championship points...  - GT Category	Georges Berger	Ferrari 250 Ferrari 250 The Ferrari 250 is a sports car built by Ferrari from 1953 to 1964. The company's most successful early line, the 250 series included several variants. It was replaced by the 275 and the 330.-Similarities:...  GT
	Bernard Consten - Touring car	Jack Renel	Jaguar Mark 2
1962	André Simon - GT Category	Maurice Dupeyron	Ferrari 250 Ferrari 250 The Ferrari 250 is a sports car built by Ferrari from 1953 to 1964. The company's most successful early line, the 250 series included several variants. It was replaced by the 275 and the 330.-Similarities:...  GT
	Bernard Consten - Touring car	Jack Renel	Jaguar Mark 2
1963	Jean Guichet Jean Guichet Jean Guichet won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1964.A racing car originally owned by Guichet sold at auction recently for over 15 million dollars. He previously owned one of only thirty-six Ferrari 250GTO Ferrarissima cars ever produced, originally created by Enzo Ferrari in 1966...  - GT Category	José Behra	Ferrari 250 GTO Ferrari 250 GTO The Ferrari 250 GTO is a GT car which was produced by Ferrari from 1962 to 1964 for homologation into the FIA's Group 3 Grand Touring Car category....
	Bernard Consten - Touring car	Jack Renel	Jaguar Mark 2
1964	Lucien Bianchi Lucien Bianchi Lucien Bianchi , born Luciano Bianchi, was a Belgian racing driver who raced for the Cooper, ENB, UDT Laystall and Scuderia Centro Sud teams in Formula One...  - GT Category	Georges Berger	Ferrari 250 GTO Ferrari 250 GTO The Ferrari 250 GTO is a GT car which was produced by Ferrari from 1962 to 1964 for homologation into the FIA's Group 3 Grand Touring Car category....
	Peter Procter - Touring car	Andrew Cowan Andrew Cowan Andrew Cowan is a Scottish former rally driver, and the founder and senior director of Mitsubishi Ralliart until his retirement on 30 November 2005.-Early years:...	Ford Mustang Ford Mustang The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
1969	Gérard Larrousse Gérard Larrousse Gérard Larrousse is a former sports car racing, rallying and Formula One driver from France.He participated in two Grands Prix, debuting on 12 May 1974, scoring no championship points. He drove Brabham BT42s for Scuderia Finotto....	Maurice Gélin	Porsche 911 Porsche 911 The Porsche 911 is a luxury 2-door sports coupe made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a distinctive design, rear-engined and with independent rear suspension, an evolution of the swing axle on the Porsche 356. The engine was also air-cooled until the introduction of the Type 996 in 1998...  R
1970	Jean-Pierre Beltoise Jean-Pierre Beltoise Jean-Pierre Maurice Georges Beltoise is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver who raced for the Matra and BRM teams. François Cevert was his brother-in-law ....   Patrick Depailler Patrick Depailler Patrick André Eugène Joseph Depailler was a racing driver from France. He participated in 95 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 2 July 1972. He also participated in several non-Championship Formula One races.Depailler was born in Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dôme. As a child, he...	Jean Todt Jean Todt Jean Todt was born on February 25, 1946, in Pierrefort, Cantal, France. After a successful career as a rally co-driver he made his reputation in motor sport management, first with Peugeot Talbot Sport, then with Scuderia Ferrari, before being appointed Chief Executive Officer of Ferrari from 2004...	Matra Matra Mécanique Aviation Traction or Matra was a French company covering a wide range of activities mainly related to automobile, bicycles, aeronautics and weaponry. In 1994, it became a subsidiary of the Lagardère Group and now operates under that name.Matra was owned by the Floirat family...  650
1971	Gérard Larrousse Gérard Larrousse Gérard Larrousse is a former sports car racing, rallying and Formula One driver from France.He participated in two Grands Prix, debuting on 12 May 1974, scoring no championship points. He drove Brabham BT42s for Scuderia Finotto....	Johnny Rives	Matra Matra Mécanique Aviation Traction or Matra was a French company covering a wide range of activities mainly related to automobile, bicycles, aeronautics and weaponry. In 1994, it became a subsidiary of the Lagardère Group and now operates under that name.Matra was owned by the Floirat family...  650
1972	Jean-Claude Andruet Jean-Claude Andruet Jean-Claude Andruet is a retired French professional rally driver who competed in the World Rally Championship.Andruet took three WRC event wins during his career; 1973 Monte Carlo Rally, 1974 Tour de Corse and 1977 San Remo Rally. The 1973 Monte Carlo was the first ever rally in the FIA World...	Michèle Espinosi-Petit	Ferrari 365 GTB4 Ferrari Daytona The Ferrari 365 GTB/4, better known by the unofficial name Ferrari Daytona, is a Gran Turismo automobile produced from 1968 to 1973. It was first introduced to the public at the Paris Auto Salon in 1968 and replaced the 275 GTB/4...
1973	Sandro Munari Sandro Munari Sandro Munari is a former motor racing and rally driver from Italy.-Career:Born at Cavarzere, Veneto, Sandro Munari began rallying in 1965 and won the Italian Rally Championship in 1967 and 1969, adding the European Rally Championship title in 1973. In 1972 he won the Targa Florio sports car...	Mario Mannucci	Lancia Stratos Lancia Stratos The Lancia Stratos HF, widely and more simply known as Lancia Stratos, is a car made by Italian car manufacturer Lancia. The HF stands for High Fidelity...
1974	Gérard Larrousse Gérard Larrousse Gérard Larrousse is a former sports car racing, rallying and Formula One driver from France.He participated in two Grands Prix, debuting on 12 May 1974, scoring no championship points. He drove Brabham BT42s for Scuderia Finotto....     Jean-Pierre Nicolas Jean-Pierre Nicolas Jean-Pierre Nicolas is a retired French professional rally driver who competed mainly in the 1970s.Nicolas took five WRC event wins in the World Rally Championship...	Johnny Rives	Ligier Ligier For the related Formula One team, see Equipe LigierLigier is a French automobile maker created by former racing driver and rugby player Guy Ligier.-History:...  JS2
1975	Bernard Darniche Bernard Darniche Bernard Darniche is a French former rally driver. He won the European Rally Championship in 1976 and 1977 and the French Rally Championship in 1976 and 1978, each time behind the wheel of a Lancia Stratos...	Alain Mahé	Lancia Stratos Lancia Stratos The Lancia Stratos HF, widely and more simply known as Lancia Stratos, is a car made by Italian car manufacturer Lancia. The HF stands for High Fidelity...
1976	Jacques Henry	Bernard-Etienne Grobot	Porsche Carrera Porsche 911 The Porsche 911 is a luxury 2-door sports coupe made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a distinctive design, rear-engined and with independent rear suspension, an evolution of the swing axle on the Porsche 356. The engine was also air-cooled until the introduction of the Type 996 in 1998...
1977	Bernard Darniche Bernard Darniche Bernard Darniche is a French former rally driver. He won the European Rally Championship in 1976 and 1977 and the French Rally Championship in 1976 and 1978, each time behind the wheel of a Lancia Stratos...	Alain Mahé	Lancia Stratos Lancia Stratos The Lancia Stratos HF, widely and more simply known as Lancia Stratos, is a car made by Italian car manufacturer Lancia. The HF stands for High Fidelity...
1978	Michèle Mouton Michèle Mouton Michèle Mouton is a French former rally driver. Competing in the World Rally Championship for the Audi factory team, she took four victories and finished runner-up in the drivers' world championship in 1982...	Françoise Conconi	Fiat 131 Fiat 131 The Fiat 131, additionally called "Mirafiori", is a small/medium family car produced by the Italian car manufacturer Fiat from 1974 to 1984. It was exhibited at 1974 Turin Motor Show....  Abarth
1979	Bernard Darniche Bernard Darniche Bernard Darniche is a French former rally driver. He won the European Rally Championship in 1976 and 1977 and the French Rally Championship in 1976 and 1978, each time behind the wheel of a Lancia Stratos...	Alain Mahé	Lancia Stratos Lancia Stratos The Lancia Stratos HF, widely and more simply known as Lancia Stratos, is a car made by Italian car manufacturer Lancia. The HF stands for High Fidelity...
1980	Bernard Darniche Bernard Darniche Bernard Darniche is a French former rally driver. He won the European Rally Championship in 1976 and 1977 and the French Rally Championship in 1976 and 1978, each time behind the wheel of a Lancia Stratos...	Alain Mahé	Lancia Stratos Lancia Stratos The Lancia Stratos HF, widely and more simply known as Lancia Stratos, is a car made by Italian car manufacturer Lancia. The HF stands for High Fidelity...
1981	Jean-Claude Andruet Jean-Claude Andruet Jean-Claude Andruet is a retired French professional rally driver who competed in the World Rally Championship.Andruet took three WRC event wins during his career; 1973 Monte Carlo Rally, 1974 Tour de Corse and 1977 San Remo Rally. The 1973 Monte Carlo was the first ever rally in the FIA World...	Chantal Bouchetal	Ferrari 308 GTB Ferrari 308 GTB The Ferrari 308 GTB are mid-engined sports cars manufactured by the Italian company Ferrari in the 1970s-1980s. They made up the lower end of the company's range...
1982	Jean-Claude Andruet Jean-Claude Andruet Jean-Claude Andruet is a retired French professional rally driver who competed in the World Rally Championship.Andruet took three WRC event wins during his career; 1973 Monte Carlo Rally, 1974 Tour de Corse and 1977 San Remo Rally. The 1973 Monte Carlo was the first ever rally in the FIA World...	Michèle Espinosi-Petit	Ferrari 308 GTB Ferrari 308 GTB The Ferrari 308 GTB are mid-engined sports cars manufactured by the Italian company Ferrari in the 1970s-1980s. They made up the lower end of the company's range...
1983	Guy Fréquelin Guy Fréquelin Guy Fréquelin is a former French rally and sports car driver.Perhaps Fréquelin's finest hour as a driver came when he finished runner-up only to Ari Vatanen, alongside then-navigator Jean Todt, at the wheel of a briefly competitive Sunbeam Lotus Talbot in the driver's classification of the 1981...	Jean-François Fauchille	Opel Manta Opel Manta The Opel Manta was a rear-wheel-drive sports coupé motor vehicle built by Opel, from 1970 to 1988.-1970–75: Opel Manta A:The Manta A was released in September 1970, two months ahead of the then new Opel Ascona on which it was based...  400
1984	Jean Ragnotti Jean Ragnotti Jean "Jeannot" Ragnotti , is a French former rally driver for Renault in the World Rally Championship....	Pierre Thimonier	Renault 5 Turbo Renault 5 Turbo The Renault 5 Turbo or R5 Turbo is a high-performance hatchback automobile launched by the French manufacturer Renault at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1980...
1985	Jean Ragnotti Jean Ragnotti Jean "Jeannot" Ragnotti , is a French former rally driver for Renault in the World Rally Championship....	Pierre Thimonier	Renault 5 Maxi Turbo Renault 5 Turbo The Renault 5 Turbo or R5 Turbo is a high-performance hatchback automobile launched by the French manufacturer Renault at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1980...
1986	François Chatriot	Michel Périn	Renault 5 Maxi Turbo Renault 5 Turbo The Renault 5 Turbo or R5 Turbo is a high-performance hatchback automobile launched by the French manufacturer Renault at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1980...