FRIDAY, JUNE 7th : Last stage
Monte Carlo or bust (Serre-Chevalier/Juan-les-Pins)The itinerary of this last day, the route from Serre-Chevalier to Juan-les-Pins, promises some pithy challenges, both in terms of navigational skill and of driving. And it’s no surprise, since, on this Friday morning, the Rallye des Princesses is taking off on the legendary route of the Rallye du Monte Carlo, whose special trials enjoy a deserved and daunting reputation !
For aficionados, the ascent of the Col d’Entrevaux, for example, evokes myriad exploits and recalls the names of those who have written the legends of automobile sports. Final destination: the promised land of the French Riviera, departure takes place at 9 A.M. But the last straight path in the princesses’ long march is soon broken, and the procession even split into two distinct groups, due to excessive traffic in one of the tunnels of the Col de Vars. After about an hour’s delay, the rallye is back on schedule, this mishap having scarcely perturbed the leading teams.
Uncompromisingly disciplined, Vanina and Larissa Ickx in their 1972 Porsche 911T speedster (N°10) transform their trial run in a regularity race into a master run. Their victory in the all-feminine team category is all the more commendable given the merits of the runners-up, Sophie Deckens, victorious in this category in 2001, and her team mate Stéphanie Dekelver, in their 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (N° 2).
Double congratulations to Jacky Ickx’s two daughters, who brightened this week with their smiles and their kindness, and to Belgium, the country that provided quantity as well as quality. Broadly represented in number, the country also provided the ultimate in excellence—twice!
No change from yesterday, then, for the two first place teams in the 100% feminine category, but a coup de théâtre for the third place leaders: Sophie Bachette-Peyrade and Caroline Lesieur’s 1974 Mini Innocenti (N°12), suffered a ruptured accelerator cable in the last regularity sector. The result was a loss of forty precious minutes in repair, which put them back to a final fifth place rather than the third they had hoped for. Main beneficiaries of this stroke of bad luck were the Musée de Lohéac team, Axelle d’Oustrac and Anne-Charlotte Medan in their 1969 Matra 530 (N°48), who, at the last minute, earned their place on the third step of the podium. The old saying, ‘the race isn’t won until one crosses the finish line’, has once again proven gospel!
Placing in the mixed teams, however, remained fairly stable. Patricia Bertapelle and Jean-Christophe Marchand, in their 1961 Aston Martin DB4S (N°18) hung on to their lead right through til the end, closely followed by, in order, the Swiss team of Marie-Claude and Charles Firmenich in their 1973 Porsche Carrera (N°29), and Nathalie and Philippe Bermudes in their 1974 Triumph TR6 (°5), once again in the third place they occupied at last year’s race.
The first cars began to arrive on the Esplanade de La Pinède at Juan-les-Pins around 5:00 P.M., marking the beginning of the end of this 3rd Rallye des Princesses. But such a great adventure, too brief for many (in particular for the neophytes, as is often the case, who, after the first day, were muttering to themselves “what on earth am I doing here??”) cannot be allowed to end in such an anti-climactic manner.
And the closing soirée that ended very late in the night, or rather, in the wee hours of the morning, will remain in the memories of many for a long while. The Hôtel Méridien Garden Beach was the scene of a festive atmosphere that was at once unrestrained and great fun.
Several special prizes were enthusiastically applauded at the awards ceremony, including the Prize for Perseverance—which could just as easily have been dubbed the Prize for a Sporting Spirit—deservedly awarded the Franco-American team of Gayle and Patrick Levêque, who followed the entire rally at the wheel of an assistance car. They certainly did not plan their first “Princesses” experience this way, but they did finally recuperate their Ferrari Dino, in working order, Friday at noon! The Adventure Prize went to literally heroic Carole Gratzmuller and Michèle Pâques, who stayed behind the wheel of their 1961 Austin Healey Lenham (N° 15) which, by the way, had no convertible top whatsoever, despite the fact that it rained nearly every day.
The Award for Eternal Youth was richly deserved by irrepressible Georgette Respaut (82 springtimes !), efficient team mate of Christine Taravel in their 1972 Fiat 124B convertible (N°17), who did admit that she was a bit tired, but said so with a radiant smile.
A special « Direction de Course » Prize was awarded to three teams. Words are inadequate to describe the efforts of those who drove the smallest cars of this Rallye des Princesses, the Renault 4CVs of Catherine Pic and Isabelle Charles (N°7) and Frédérique d’Ornano de Calbiac and Ombeline T. de Clermont-Tonnerre (N°8), labouring valiantly all the way up the mountain passes! And those of the drivers of the largest car in the rally, Evelyne Davoust and Marie-Pierre Servary, in their 1966 Ford Thunderbird convertible (N°33), that squeezed its way through roads that always seemed too narrow.
Our praise to « the princess who lies dormant in every woman », a sporting adventure, the ideal place for unforgettable encounters and improbable stories, this 2002 version will, like those that preceded it, remain an indelible memory for those who lived it with such passion.
“The King is dead, long live the King ! », as the saying goes. Among those of noble spirit, we’ve changed the wording a bit : « The 2002 Rallye des Princesses is dead, long live the Princesses 2003!” And hang on, it’s only another year to wait.
Put it on your calendar right away : the 4th Rallye des Princesses will take place from June 1st to June 6th 2003.
For aficionados, the ascent of the Col d’Entrevaux, for example, evokes myriad exploits and recalls the names of those who have written the legends of automobile sports. Final destination: the promised land of the French Riviera, departure takes place at 9 A.M. But the last straight path in the princesses’ long march is soon broken, and the procession even split into two distinct groups, due to excessive traffic in one of the tunnels of the Col de Vars. After about an hour’s delay, the rallye is back on schedule, this mishap having scarcely perturbed the leading teams.
Uncompromisingly disciplined, Vanina and Larissa Ickx in their 1972 Porsche 911T speedster (N°10) transform their trial run in a regularity race into a master run. Their victory in the all-feminine team category is all the more commendable given the merits of the runners-up, Sophie Deckens, victorious in this category in 2001, and her team mate Stéphanie Dekelver, in their 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (N° 2).
Double congratulations to Jacky Ickx’s two daughters, who brightened this week with their smiles and their kindness, and to Belgium, the country that provided quantity as well as quality. Broadly represented in number, the country also provided the ultimate in excellence—twice!
No change from yesterday, then, for the two first place teams in the 100% feminine category, but a coup de théâtre for the third place leaders: Sophie Bachette-Peyrade and Caroline Lesieur’s 1974 Mini Innocenti (N°12), suffered a ruptured accelerator cable in the last regularity sector. The result was a loss of forty precious minutes in repair, which put them back to a final fifth place rather than the third they had hoped for. Main beneficiaries of this stroke of bad luck were the Musée de Lohéac team, Axelle d’Oustrac and Anne-Charlotte Medan in their 1969 Matra 530 (N°48), who, at the last minute, earned their place on the third step of the podium. The old saying, ‘the race isn’t won until one crosses the finish line’, has once again proven gospel!
Placing in the mixed teams, however, remained fairly stable. Patricia Bertapelle and Jean-Christophe Marchand, in their 1961 Aston Martin DB4S (N°18) hung on to their lead right through til the end, closely followed by, in order, the Swiss team of Marie-Claude and Charles Firmenich in their 1973 Porsche Carrera (N°29), and Nathalie and Philippe Bermudes in their 1974 Triumph TR6 (°5), once again in the third place they occupied at last year’s race.
The first cars began to arrive on the Esplanade de La Pinède at Juan-les-Pins around 5:00 P.M., marking the beginning of the end of this 3rd Rallye des Princesses. But such a great adventure, too brief for many (in particular for the neophytes, as is often the case, who, after the first day, were muttering to themselves “what on earth am I doing here??”) cannot be allowed to end in such an anti-climactic manner.
And the closing soirée that ended very late in the night, or rather, in the wee hours of the morning, will remain in the memories of many for a long while. The Hôtel Méridien Garden Beach was the scene of a festive atmosphere that was at once unrestrained and great fun.
Several special prizes were enthusiastically applauded at the awards ceremony, including the Prize for Perseverance—which could just as easily have been dubbed the Prize for a Sporting Spirit—deservedly awarded the Franco-American team of Gayle and Patrick Levêque, who followed the entire rally at the wheel of an assistance car. They certainly did not plan their first “Princesses” experience this way, but they did finally recuperate their Ferrari Dino, in working order, Friday at noon! The Adventure Prize went to literally heroic Carole Gratzmuller and Michèle Pâques, who stayed behind the wheel of their 1961 Austin Healey Lenham (N° 15) which, by the way, had no convertible top whatsoever, despite the fact that it rained nearly every day.
The Award for Eternal Youth was richly deserved by irrepressible Georgette Respaut (82 springtimes !), efficient team mate of Christine Taravel in their 1972 Fiat 124B convertible (N°17), who did admit that she was a bit tired, but said so with a radiant smile.
A special « Direction de Course » Prize was awarded to three teams. Words are inadequate to describe the efforts of those who drove the smallest cars of this Rallye des Princesses, the Renault 4CVs of Catherine Pic and Isabelle Charles (N°7) and Frédérique d’Ornano de Calbiac and Ombeline T. de Clermont-Tonnerre (N°8), labouring valiantly all the way up the mountain passes! And those of the drivers of the largest car in the rally, Evelyne Davoust and Marie-Pierre Servary, in their 1966 Ford Thunderbird convertible (N°33), that squeezed its way through roads that always seemed too narrow.
Our praise to « the princess who lies dormant in every woman », a sporting adventure, the ideal place for unforgettable encounters and improbable stories, this 2002 version will, like those that preceded it, remain an indelible memory for those who lived it with such passion.
“The King is dead, long live the King ! », as the saying goes. Among those of noble spirit, we’ve changed the wording a bit : « The 2002 Rallye des Princesses is dead, long live the Princesses 2003!” And hang on, it’s only another year to wait.
Put it on your calendar right away : the 4th Rallye des Princesses will take place from June 1st to June 6th 2003.
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