2002 FINAL PRESS RELEASE
Rallye des Princesses, Year IIIWith 56 teams at the starting line, the 2002 Rallye des Princesses had already beaten all its previous records. This figure alone is ample proof of the popularity the only regularity race exclusively reserved for women (male participation being limited to the role of navigator) has gained since its inception just two years ago. In the tradition of the legendary Paris-Saint-Raphaël féminin, the Rallye des Princesses took a step forward this year when both categories (100% women’s teams and mixed teams) were won by « real » race drivers Vanina Ickx and Patricia Bertapelle. The presence of these two young women, regulars on the classic rally circuit, and the professionalism with which they attacked this regularity race—a discipline at which they were complete novices—constitutes fresh proof of the aura « Les Princesses » has acquired. Moreover, the competition they faced in their respective categories is evidence of a balance of equal strength. The pure « amateurs » have and will always have a fighting chance to compete with the “professionals”. And finally, femininity and conviviality, the prime ingredients that make the Rallye des Princesses such an attractive event, in every sense of the word, were, as ever, omnipresent. Without a doubt, this third year was one of a superb vintage. And the fourth, in 2003, promises to be even better ! We’re working on it already !
So one might wonder if Carole Gratzmuller and Michelle Pâques took up the challenge at the wheel of an Austin Healey Lenham 1961 (N° 15) missing its convertible top out of sheer masochism. The daily drizzle of at least a few hours of rain transformed what they and others (who had no idea) imagined would be a charming scenic trip into a wet and withering nightmare odyssey! This only increased their ultimate pleasure : in addition to a week’s adventure that was anything but ordinary, the two young women triumphantly surpassed what they had imagined to be their own limitations. Doubtless they were not the only ones to have occasionally wondered what on earth they were doing in this predicament, especially since no one had forced them to be there, it was their own choice! The answer, of course, can be summed up in one word : the challenge. The sporting challenge, the challenge of a regularity race, the Rallye des Princesses demands of its competitors unceasing efforts, but ones to which they have freely consented. And the reward of pauses and overnights at sites of incomparable luxury and unique, even « noble » character cannot help but appeal to these princesses, whether of royal lineage or of royal heart.
The estime and mutual respect the contestants share with one another is one of the keys to the congenial atmosphere that reigned during the week-long rally. Even if your name is Vanina Ickx and you are the daughter of the six-time winner of the « 24 Hours of Le Mans » and vice-World Champion of the 1970 F1, yourself an old hand at Dakar and the “24 Hours of Francorchamps”, you cannot help but admire the daring tenacity of Claudine and Jean-Marie Fresnault (N°21), who undertook this race at the wheel of a 1932 Fiat Camerano FIII and were forced to bow out at the end of the second leg. Each of the “princesses” runs “her » race with the equipment and the experience she has acquired, but every one of them gives her all, even if the ultimate objective is that of contemplating oneself in the mirror and being able to say, “I did it!
After this duel at the summit, Sophie Bachette-Peyrade and Caroline Lesieur seemed sure to occupy third place on the podium. But the cable of their accelerator gave out in the last regularity trial, much to the pleasure of Axelle d'Oustrac and Anne-Charlotte Médan (1969 Matra 530 « Musée de Lohéac » N°48).
Special thanks was given to our friends Wendy Gibbs and Suzan Stephen specially came from Australia with a Lancia Fulvia (Nr28).
RENAULT also provided us with the warmth and the active presence of Jean Ragnotti who, in the opening car (N°00), gave from one to several journalists the daily opportunity of an inside view of all or part of the course. Given « Jeannot »’s talented balancing act, his fine sense of humor, and his incomparable kindness, several of those so privileged lived through some exceptionally exciting moments that all of them appreciated immensely.
One « little plus » may help to illustrate the exceptional quality of the Rallye des Princesses. While the basic recipe of the rally will never change, in the past three years the organisers have incessantly reviewed its various elements, and this with constant improvement in mind. The amusement and relaxation of soirées designed to drench the contestants in luxury and comfort after long and demanding (although, of course, exciting) days contributes greatly to the excellent and much appreciated atmosphere. This is true to such an extent that those, like Gayle and Patrick Levêque, that destiny forces to abandon the race have often offered their assistance to another team, just to stay with the rally!
Ever since the first race, all the contestants arriving at the finish line were sorry that it was over so soon, especially those who, at the end of the first day, had wondered if they would have what it takes to make it through to the end. This is perhaps the greatest source of satisfaction for the organisers, along with the enthusiasm of the crowds throughout the course, who enjoyed the opportunity to admire a parade of automobile museum pieces—seven Ferraris, three Jaguars, two Aston Martins, etc.—all of them in splendid condition.
Prestigious sites, both for the classing trials (the Dijon-Prenois circuit, the Monte-Carlo special stages) and for the stopovers, the magnificence of France’s natural scenery, a professional and well-prepared organisation team, a congenial atmosphere, thanks to the determination of all to do things seriously without taking themselves seriously, and of course, the opportunity to contribute to the noble cause of sponsoring aid to children stricken with heart disease.
All of these elements will be part of next year’s fourth Rallye des Princesses ». And more! But that’s another story, one that we will save for the future. What we can let you know, right away, are the dates : June 1st to June 6th—note and underline it immediately on your 2003 calendar!
Heartfelt thanks to AGATHA Paris, who not only donated many of the awards night gifts, but also contributed the heart-shaped broches, specially designed for the association we support, Professeur Francine Lecat’s MECENAT CHIRURGIE CARDIAQUE – ENFANTS DU MONDE The sale of these little jewels brought in the sum of 3,000 Euros on opening night at the Ritz in Paris. And bravo as well to the three cars in the rally lineup sponsored by the association, a team whose creation was the initiative of Hermine de Clermont-Tonnerre along with Sophie Favier, Martine Lievens, Jacques Heymans, Sylvia Deutsch and Hubert Konrad, who have the big heart of the Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque.
Leaving the place Vendôme in Paris, driving south to the Esplanade de la Pinède at Juan-Les-Pins
it seems like a classic summer vacation itinerary, from the capitol to the « French Riviera ». Except that, in this case, we’re “rallying” the two points. And that we’re doing it at the wheels of vintage automobiles, all of them produced between 1925 and 1974. And that the drivers of all of these four-wheeled ancients are women. To these three exceptions, add the fact that we boycott the A6 and A7 motorways and even the N7 national highway, replacing them with sinuous little roads that run through countryside like something out of a dream. Sprinkle the entire event liberally with regularity circuits skillfully concocted by a team of experts, and you have the Rallye des Princesses...CHARM, ELEGANCE, SPORTSMANSHIP
The recipe looks so simple. All one has to add is ambiance, an element as impossible to measure as it is to arbitrarily produce, and that intangible quality of femininity. Even the greatest promoter’s power is, by definition, limited in creating either one. The magic touch is inevitably the creation of the participants and their spontaneous enthusiasm and willingness to revel in a spirit that can be defined but not imposed. If this third version of the Rallye des Princesses has evolved considerably in comparison to the first two, the tradition of charm, elegance, and sportsmanship, in every sense of these terms, remains a constant. Geared to bring out the “princess lying dormant in every woman », the race, from its very beginning, has been proud to count among its contestants some “true” princesses as well as a number of celebrities that has increased each year. But the better part of the participants remain “normal” women who possess the spirit of a princess within themselves, one that compels them to seek a special kind of adventure where human warmth, fair play and elegance of the mind and the heart are of prevailing importance.So one might wonder if Carole Gratzmuller and Michelle Pâques took up the challenge at the wheel of an Austin Healey Lenham 1961 (N° 15) missing its convertible top out of sheer masochism. The daily drizzle of at least a few hours of rain transformed what they and others (who had no idea) imagined would be a charming scenic trip into a wet and withering nightmare odyssey! This only increased their ultimate pleasure : in addition to a week’s adventure that was anything but ordinary, the two young women triumphantly surpassed what they had imagined to be their own limitations. Doubtless they were not the only ones to have occasionally wondered what on earth they were doing in this predicament, especially since no one had forced them to be there, it was their own choice! The answer, of course, can be summed up in one word : the challenge. The sporting challenge, the challenge of a regularity race, the Rallye des Princesses demands of its competitors unceasing efforts, but ones to which they have freely consented. And the reward of pauses and overnights at sites of incomparable luxury and unique, even « noble » character cannot help but appeal to these princesses, whether of royal lineage or of royal heart.
The estime and mutual respect the contestants share with one another is one of the keys to the congenial atmosphere that reigned during the week-long rally. Even if your name is Vanina Ickx and you are the daughter of the six-time winner of the « 24 Hours of Le Mans » and vice-World Champion of the 1970 F1, yourself an old hand at Dakar and the “24 Hours of Francorchamps”, you cannot help but admire the daring tenacity of Claudine and Jean-Marie Fresnault (N°21), who undertook this race at the wheel of a 1932 Fiat Camerano FIII and were forced to bow out at the end of the second leg. Each of the “princesses” runs “her » race with the equipment and the experience she has acquired, but every one of them gives her all, even if the ultimate objective is that of contemplating oneself in the mirror and being able to say, “I did it!
BERTAPELLE & ICKX : A TRIAL RUN, A MASTER RUN
In terms of the sport, it will be recalled that seven of the cars never made it to the finish: six of the all-women teams, and one mixed. Ironically, one of them was the 1955 Jaguar XK140 whose race identification (N°1) denotes the special stature of the driver. Registered this year in the 100% feminine category, Delphine de Rohan-Chabot-Brooks, grand-neice of the founder of the Rallye Paris-Saint Raphaël féminin, had the distinction of winning the first two years’ titles of the Rallye des Princesses in the “mixed” category! Patricia Bertapelle and her team mate Jean-Christophe Marchand replaced her in this category in a 1971 Aston Martin DBV8S (N°18) and proved themselves worthy of the title. Winners of the third and fourth stages, they had to hustle to overcome Marie-Claude and Charles Firmenich (1973 Porsche Carrera, N°29) by a mere 14 points. The Swiss couple put up a strong fight, acing the first stage and running away with the fifth and last, in which they regained 31 of the points lost to the victors. Ranking third, as they did in last year’s race, Nathalie and Philippe Bermudes in their 1974 Triumph (N° 5) were handicapped by a major problem with their gearbox, and this after they had scored a real triumph, so to speak, running away with a 28 point advantage over their runners-up in the second stage, Monique and Pascal Goury in their 1956 Jaguar XK140 (N°23). In the category of 100% feminine teams, the struggle for first place was Belgian vs Belgian. Easily winning the first stage, Sophie Dekens and her team mate Stéphanie Dekelver were sure their 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (N°2) would effortlessly succeed at the next one. But they had not taken into account the presence of their compatriots in the 1972 Porsche 911T (N° 10) Vanina and Larissa Ickx. The following day, the siblings demonstrated their capacity to adapt to the complications of the regularity circuit by placing first in the general category (112 points to 119). On the third day, the title holders surged ahead again, 141 point to 145, but on Thursday, the Ickx sisters came on strong, scoring a mere 3-point penalty in comparison to the 24 racked up by runners-up Sophie Bachette-Peyrade and Caroline Lesieur at the wheel of a 1974 Innocenti (N°12), and 46 by Dekens-Dekelver. The cause was understood, and the Ickx duo perfected its achievement in the last stage, winning first place with a 48-point margin.After this duel at the summit, Sophie Bachette-Peyrade and Caroline Lesieur seemed sure to occupy third place on the podium. But the cable of their accelerator gave out in the last regularity trial, much to the pleasure of Axelle d'Oustrac and Anne-Charlotte Médan (1969 Matra 530 « Musée de Lohéac » N°48).
AND AN A FOR EFFORT
Much to our regret, it is practically impossible to mention here each of the 54 teams that confronted the pitfalls of this third Rallye des Princesses. Carline Illouz and Maria Alves-Martini (1964 MGB convertible, N°54), 29th and bringing up the rear of the feminine category, nonetheless deserve congratulations, as do Catherine Pic and Isabelle Charles (N°7) and Frédérique d’Ornano de Calbiac and Ombeline Seyler T. de Clermont-Tonnerre (N°8), who are sure to recall the tribulations of the long climbs in Alpine passes in their sweet little Renault 4CV!Special thanks was given to our friends Wendy Gibbs and Suzan Stephen specially came from Australia with a Lancia Fulvia (Nr28).
RENAULT also provided us with the warmth and the active presence of Jean Ragnotti who, in the opening car (N°00), gave from one to several journalists the daily opportunity of an inside view of all or part of the course. Given « Jeannot »’s talented balancing act, his fine sense of humor, and his incomparable kindness, several of those so privileged lived through some exceptionally exciting moments that all of them appreciated immensely.
One « little plus » may help to illustrate the exceptional quality of the Rallye des Princesses. While the basic recipe of the rally will never change, in the past three years the organisers have incessantly reviewed its various elements, and this with constant improvement in mind. The amusement and relaxation of soirées designed to drench the contestants in luxury and comfort after long and demanding (although, of course, exciting) days contributes greatly to the excellent and much appreciated atmosphere. This is true to such an extent that those, like Gayle and Patrick Levêque, that destiny forces to abandon the race have often offered their assistance to another team, just to stay with the rally!
Ever since the first race, all the contestants arriving at the finish line were sorry that it was over so soon, especially those who, at the end of the first day, had wondered if they would have what it takes to make it through to the end. This is perhaps the greatest source of satisfaction for the organisers, along with the enthusiasm of the crowds throughout the course, who enjoyed the opportunity to admire a parade of automobile museum pieces—seven Ferraris, three Jaguars, two Aston Martins, etc.—all of them in splendid condition.
Prestigious sites, both for the classing trials (the Dijon-Prenois circuit, the Monte-Carlo special stages) and for the stopovers, the magnificence of France’s natural scenery, a professional and well-prepared organisation team, a congenial atmosphere, thanks to the determination of all to do things seriously without taking themselves seriously, and of course, the opportunity to contribute to the noble cause of sponsoring aid to children stricken with heart disease.
All of these elements will be part of next year’s fourth Rallye des Princesses ». And more! But that’s another story, one that we will save for the future. What we can let you know, right away, are the dates : June 1st to June 6th—note and underline it immediately on your 2003 calendar!
And note as well these coming television appearances:
M6-Turbo – Saturday June 15th at 5:35 P.M. and Sunday June 16th at 11:50 A.M.– www.M6.fr AB Moteurs – Friday, July 5th at 6 :00 P.M. and Saturday, July 6th at 10:30 A.M. and 8:OO P.M., and Tuesday, July 9th at 10:00 P.M., as well as all the other re-runs on www.abmoteurs.frMany thanks to all our sponsors for their support and their assistance:
The RITZ PARIS, the COMITE VENDOME who received us royally, Champagne MUMM, the champagne of victory, the Constance and the PRINCE MAURICE hotels, represented by the team of Hélène de Yougoslavie and Constance de Bourbon-Parme, who does us honor, the prestigious Relais & Châteaux de l’Ile Maurice, BERNEY-BLONDEAU swatches, RENAULT, official provider of transportation for the rally, ELF LUBHTX RETRO, BACCARAT, LANCEL, SWAROVSKI, LA VIE DE L’AUTO, number one of the auto collection press, ICC Assurances, les Parfums GIVENCHY, , M6 WEB, sculptor Michel LEVY, who donated the trophies for the final awards, ETINCELLE Couture ready-to-wear, Lunettes EDEN-PARK, l’Institut ESTHEDERM, SERGIO BOSSI hair styling salons, who styled the tresses of all the « princesses » for the gala awards soirée, VERDO.COM, CAUDALIE Vinothérapie, MARINA de BOURBON boutique, Maître Parfumeur & Gantier, CACAO BARRY, ELIE BLEU cigar accessories, ALTADIS Cigares France, les Rhums CLEMENT, CIGARES & Co and PLANET VINS & SPIRITUEUX magazines, PULIGNY-MONTRACHET and ALOXE-CORTON wines, the Burgundys that graced our evening in Beaune, as well as the Coteaux Varois of the closing evening: CHÄTEAU LA LIEU and LA LIEU CUVEE BATHILDE PHILOMENE wines, the MERIDIEN Garden Beach of Juan-les-Pins and the Groupe PARTOUCHE, and the new site dedicated to L’Automobile au Féminin, CARKOO.COM.Heartfelt thanks to AGATHA Paris, who not only donated many of the awards night gifts, but also contributed the heart-shaped broches, specially designed for the association we support, Professeur Francine Lecat’s MECENAT CHIRURGIE CARDIAQUE – ENFANTS DU MONDE The sale of these little jewels brought in the sum of 3,000 Euros on opening night at the Ritz in Paris. And bravo as well to the three cars in the rally lineup sponsored by the association, a team whose creation was the initiative of Hermine de Clermont-Tonnerre along with Sophie Favier, Martine Lievens, Jacques Heymans, Sylvia Deutsch and Hubert Konrad, who have the big heart of the Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque.
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