100 crews to contest Richard Mille Rallye des Princesses in France
A total of 100 all-female crews will start the Richard Mille Rallye des Princesses in Paris this week, in five days of competition across France in classic cars
This unique event is the brainchild of Viviane Zaniroli and is a regularity rally for female competitors only.
It is Europe's leading women-only motorsport event and a stunning array of classic cars will gather for the start at the Place Vendome in Paris.
The event draws inspiration from the Paris-Saint Raphael Rally, the first all-female motor sport event first held in 1929.
Ahead of the crews are 1000 miles of classic French roads covering stunning scenery and a series of regularity tests before the finishers arrive in Saint Tropez on Thursday.
The competitive element of the rally is based around maintaining, as closely as possible, an average of 40km/h or 50km/h, depending upon the age of the car.
The route takes in overnight halts at Saint Aignan, Vichy, Alpe D'Huez and Mandelieu, and all the stops feature four- and five-star hotels so that competitors are well looked after at the end of each day of sporting competition.
The journey from Paris to the French Riviera is a wonderful adventure and the spectacular field of cars ranges from a 1955 Jaguar XK140 to classics of the 1960s and 1970s, with Porsche, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Mercedes all represented.
Among the competitors is Anne Sampeur, who will be co-driven by her 14-year-old daughter Matisse in a 1979 Alfa Romeo Spider, pictured above.
Along with two other crews, they will be supporting Le Parti des Enfants, a childrens' cancer charity.
"I like the spirit of the rally: it is very convivial," said Anne Sampeur.
"It is a regularity rally and if we get lost we take a lot of penalties. This is my fourth time competing on the rally.
"This year I am participating with my oldest daughter and it is a good experience for her.
"This is special for us as we are a team of three cars and the rally will help the charity to raise money and awareness.
"We travel on very nice roads through beautiful landscapes and we start from Place Vendome, which is a beautiful place.
"Vichy is a thermal town in the mountains and from there it will get more difficult as we drive from Vichy to Alpe D'Huez, which is very high."
"The famous climb to Alpe D'Huez covers nearly nine miles and 21 hairpin bends as the road climbs to 6000ft above sea level at an average gradient of 1:8.
"The last day takes us to Saint Tropez and a party at the finish.
"For a woman, it is a very magical event. All the time we see men driving and women as co-drivers, but this is for women only and it is very special."
2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed rallying highlights announced
Rallye des Princesses decided by lead change on last of five days
Verstappen buoyed by new handling characteristics of 2023 F1 tyres
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is hopeful the new Pirelli tyres will help further dial out the inherent understeer of the current generation of cars.
Pastrana adds NASCAR Truck Series race to Daytona programme
Travis Pastrana has added the season-opening NASCAR Truck Series race to his appearance at Daytona International Speedway this month.
Turkington continues with WSR BMW for 2023 BTCC season
Four-time British Touring Car champion Colin Turkington will bid for a fifth title in 2023 with the West Surrey Racing BMW squad, the team confirmed on Wednesday morning.
Domenicali: F1 doesn’t want to “gag” drivers
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says the series will “never put a gag on anyone” in the light of the controversial FIA clampdown on drivers speaking out.
How F1's greatest sound has returned to the track
The first of three new BRM V16s is bringing the greatest-sounding engine to a new audience – and back to the race track - at the Goodwood Revival this weekend. Here is the story of the ambitious 1950 Formula 1 project's resurrection for historic competition
Porsche’s hopeful Le Mans future meets its illustrious past
Rising sportscar star Adam Smalley had to pinch himself when offered the chance to drive the car that won the world’s most famous enduro in 1987
How a little electric storm thundered to Goodwood's hillclimb record
Nick Heidfeld's official Goodwood Festival of Speed record in McLaren's MP4/13 Formula 1 car - and the unofficial hillclimb record set by the Volkswagen ID.R - were both brushed aside by the McMurtry Speirling driven by Max Chilton on Sunday. Here's a look at the fan car that blew away the competition
How Lotus emerged as a period Goodwood force
Colin Chapman’s marque was the most successful across Goodwood’s 71 contemporary era Members’ Meetings, from 1949 to 1966. Many of the future Formula 1 pacesetter's finest creations will be in action during this weekend's 2022 event, attempting to re-live an era when period Lotus was gaining unstoppable momentum
Remembering Goodwood’s heroes at 78th Members' Meeting
A year and a half after it was originally scheduled, this weekend’s 78th Goodwood Members’ Meeting honours key figures from the circuit’s history, including the likes of Stirling Moss, Dan Gurney and Gerry Marshall
The restorer keeping a land-speed record-holder's memory alive
From a famous land-speed special to an Indianapolis 500 frontrunner, restorer and racer Geraint Owen has a fascination for making old machines work
The restored BSCC battler back in its family's hands after 50 years
The Imps of George Bevan became famous in British Saloon Car Championship competition during the early 1970s. Thanks to the efforts of a small band of enthusiasts, including Bevan's grandson Jonathan, one of the ex-Bill McGovern title winners has recently returned to the race track
Why Goodwood Revival’s revival will be an unmissable event
After a year's enforced absence due to the pandemic, the Goodwood Revival Meeting returns this weekend for the 23rd in a series that transports fans to a bygone era of motorsport. Here's 10 reasons why you should check it out
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.