Le Comité Vendôme
Delbard
Christian Dior
Ilias Lalaounis
Bioscreen
Louis Vuitton
Voditi
ICC Assurances

Founded in 1936, the Comité Vendôme is a non-profit organisation which brings together the businesses located in the Place Vendôme, on the Rue de Castiglione, the Rue de la Paix, the Rue Saint-Honoré and surrounding streets.

An independent organisation, the Comité Vendôme is financed by the contributions of its members, which include jewellers, watchmakers, prêt-à-porter establishments, luxury hotels, perfume houses, luggage-makers, footwear specialists, dealers in fine leather goods, art galleries, important French and foreign banks, asset management companies, and service sector companies.

In addition to representing and defending the general interests of its members and looking at measures to contribute to the development of the neighbourhood's activity, the Comité Vendôme's objective is to promote by means of special events this prestigious Parisian neighbourhood centred around the Place Vendôme.

The December evening events, which for more than twenty years served as a highlight of the Paris season, gave way in 1996 to a program of Christmas decorations and events which every year during the year-end festivities light up the Place Vendôme and the adjacent streets for the space of a month and continue to demonstrate the Comité Vendôme's vocation for organising activities.

After the glow of festivities, festivals and carousels, the Place Vendôme, a majestic open-air art gallery, now hosts temporary exhibitions of monumental sculpture. This series, inaugurated in 1994 by the Italian Marino Marini, continued in the spring of 1995 with an exhibition of sculptures based on Salvador Dali. In November 1997, the Place Vendôme paid tribute to one of the best-known contemporary Asian sculptors, Ju Ming of China, followed in the spring of 1998 by the great Croatian sculptor Dusan Dzamonja. For 2000, the Comité Vendôme has decided to turn the Place Vendôme over to a Frenchman. Until June 24, the long, mystical silhouettes of Louis Derbré's work will occupy the centre of the Place Vendôme, making way here and there for an entire fantastic bestiary, fruit of the artist's observation.

Other prestigious events with which the Comité Vendôme would be happy to be associated may also take place in the Place Vendôme.

Thus, on 18 September 2000, the Rallye des Princesses will start at the Place Vendôme. This rally of classic cars, driven exclusively by renowned female crews, combines history, elegance and sport: three good reasons to hold it at the Place Vendôme and a sight not be missed!

The Rallye des Princesses in Malicorne
On Wednesday, 20 September 2000, the second day of the Rallye des Princesses, during the La Chatre-Vichy leg of the race, the crews in their wonderful classic cars will stop off at Delbard's.

The garden orchard
During this special stop, the competitors will go through the Malicorne garden orchard. This experimental orchard, planted by Georges Delbard nearly sixty years ago, is part of an extraordinary heritage which Henri Delbard, who now heads the business, shares with all those who are passionate about nature.

Rosebushes, fruit trees and flower-filled meadow
The course will take Princesses and their copilots on a search for clues among the rows of fruit trees trained in the shape of double U's as in the time of Louis XIV, and along the paths of the rose gardens in full bloom. Then they will be able to lose themselves in a flower-filled meadow where their senses will be awakened in an entertaining manner in order to teach them to better appreciate nature.

Feast of Delbard apples
Michel Rubod, a chef from Commentry, has come up with inventive recipes using the Delbard varieties of apples, which he knows well, and local produce. This pastoral feast will allow the competitors to experience all the pleasures of Malicorne before setting out for Vichy.

Three bouquets of Delbard roses
At the start in Paris, the stop in Malicorne, and the finish in Saint-Raphaël, Henri Delbard will be giving out bouquets of roses created by Delbard: Paris 2000®delave, Empress Farah®delivour, and Grimaldi®delstror.

Christian Dior Watches is delighted to be participating in the first Rallye des Princesses as a sponsor.

We have chosen to be a sponsor of this prestigious event because the idea of having our watches associated with a Women's Rally appealed to us, and because the sporty and refined aspect of this race goes well with the spirit and positioning of our brand name.

For this reason, we have also decided to enter a car in the Rallye des Princesses.

Ilias Lalaounis comes from a family which for four generations have specialised in watch-making and working with precious metals. In 1968, he opened several Galleries, first in Greece, then all over the world, and in 1976 opened the Paris Gallery at 364 Rue Saint-Honoré. His workshop, where a team of 210 artisans works, is located on the outskirts of Athens.

In 1984, he published Métamorphoses, in which he presented 19 of his collections, and which earned him the Prix Thorlet from the Académie des Beaux-Arts. As a Foreign Associate of the Académie des Beaux-Arts, in December 1991 he became a member of the Institut de France.

In 1995, the Ilias Lalaounis Jewellery Museum, located at the foot the Acropolis, opened its doors.

Recognised for its luxurious creations, Ilias Lalaounis Jewellery represents a magnificent blend of past and present. As such, the association with the first Rallye des Princesses is entirely natural because, like Ilias Lalaounis Jewellery, the rally-the heritage of French automobile racing-stands for the modern-day interpretation of the culture of yesteryear.

The Ilias Lalaounis grand prize will be a set of gold jewellery-earrings, necklace and bracelet-created especially for the Rallye des Princesses.

Dream complexion for the Rallye des Princesses!

Do you know about the amazing properties of gingko biloba?

This tree, which first appeared 200 million years ago, has survived through the ages and can now offer you the benefit of its incredible properties.

Are you looking for innovative products combining effectiveness and comfort?

Then the Bioscreen products were made for you!

The exclusive gingko biloba extract, perfected by Bioscreen, provides a high level of protection and rejuvenation for your skin. Free radicals are trapped, elastin fibres are protected, collagen synthesis is activated, and your microcirculation is regulated.

Today, François Granotier and Marc Bonnevay are pleased to have you discover the products in the Bioscreen line.

By using them, you will give your skin the best natural extract there is and discover soft and lightly perfumed textures which will give your skin radiance and tone.

In keeping with its concern for perfect care, Bioscreen joins the Rallye des Princesses by distributing its products every evening at the stopover points.

The participants will thus derive the maximum benefit from the "gingko effect"!

There is a long-standing love affair between Louis Vuitton and the automobile
From Paris to New York, London to Beijing, the Louis Vuitton Classic events bring together the most prestigious and most amazing cars.

In keeping with its desire to be associated with prestigious events, Louis Vuitton will participate in this first Rallye des Princesses by providing its luxurious luggage for the prize-giving ceremony.

Renting a classic car for the RALLYE DES PRINCESSES

Ladies, if the idea of taking part in the Rallye des Princesses appeals to you, the date suits you, and you have the right budget and co-driver but the only thing you don't have is the car… Your worries are now over, thanks to our partner, VODITI, the classic car rental specialist, which can provide you with a 1949 MGTC, 1957 MGA, or even a 1963 E Type JAGUAR, if you'd rather… They also offer special rates for the Paris-Saint-Raphaël event. For further information, call Jean-Claude PRUVOT au 00 33 (0) 1 49 74 03 32. Web : http://www.voditi.com

The organisation has taken out complementary insurance from the leading specialist in insurance for classic cars ICC Assurances. As a result, the competitors are insured against the monetary consequences of their third-party liability for property damages and physical injuries, either in the absence of or in addition to the individual insurance policy which each competitor took out separately to cover her vehicle participating in the Rallye des Princesses.

Please contact : ICC Assurances - Mr Eric Léonard - Tel. ++ 33 (0) 1 42 46 52 52. - Fax : ++ 33 (0) 1 42 46 31 19 or www.iccassurances.fr