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Created in February 1929 by the Count de Rohan-Chabot, the first female Paris-Vichy-Hyères-Saint-Raphaël race was already a combination of sport, pleasure and entertainment.
 
With entries pouring in right from the start, this first classic female race seemed to be set in the vein of the grand rallies. Over the years, the participation of the great female drivers of each generation increased its notoriety.
 
The Countess de Lesguern and the Baroness d'Elern were notable participants in the first edition, followed by drivers such as the young Renée Friderich in her Buggatti, the excellent English champion Miss Betty Haig, Lucy Schell, a great fan of Delahaye, Simone des Forest in her Amilcar, Mrs Marinovitch in a Voisin, Germaine Rouault, the English aircraft pilot Amy Johnson, Yvonne Simon with her Hotchkiss Grand Sport and her incredible run of six victories.
 
The war brought everything to a halt until 28th February, 1951, after which the "new wave" brought in a new generation of champion female works drivers, such as Nicole Roure and Annie Soisbault, the French and European Champion, Gilberte Thirion and her Porsche 936, Lucette Pointet, winner in 1963 in a DS19, Louisette Texier, Cathy Pitt, Colette Perrier, Gaby Renaud and Annie Gérard.
 
Then came Claudine Trautmann, several times champion of France who won 5 times, in 1964, '66, '67, '68 and '69, Marie-Pierre Palayer, winner in 1970, first-time competitor Michelle Mouton, Martine de Cortanze, Annie-Charlotte Verney, Christine Dacremont, Pat Moss and her Alpine Renault, Marie-Claude Beaumont and Marie-Madeleine Fouquet in their Chevrelet Camaro, Marianne Hopfner, who won twice, in 1972 and 1973, with the last edition in 1974 being won by "Biche" and Christine Becquers.
Count Edme de Rohan-Chabot died on 5th October, 1972, and the first version of the rally sadly came to an end two years later.