The 2003 Journey

To liven up the program, 31 time controls and 32 regularity sectors. A sporting challenge for the ladies to look forward to!

MAPS to follow the race

The competitors need to have the following new maps :
Michelin - 1/200 000 Orange - Nr. 513 / 519 / 522 / 523 / 528. The yellow maps are stopped.

1st stage (Monday, 2 June 2003):
PARIS/LA CHÂTRE (36) : 370 km - 5 regularity sectors

Right from the starting line at the Place Vendôme, our course is set directly south. The Beauce will be the setting of the first regularity sectors, and we’ll soon rally at the forest of Orléans. A stop for lunch at the Hostellerie du Château Les Muids, right next to La Ferté Saint-Aubin. Then on to Sologne, with a drive through the forest during the afternoon until we reach the outskirts of Bourges. Then, the contestants will cross the wooded farmlands of Berri all the way to La Châtre, whose auto circuit will be the scene of the last trial of the day. We’ll look forward to a reception, prepared for us at the Hôtel de Ville, then to pass the night in this charming town in the heart of George Sand country.

2nd stage (Tuesday, 3 June 2003):
LA CHÂTRE/VICHY (03) : 310 km - 9 regularity sectors

Starting off from the hotel, we’ll head for the first regularity sectors, traced along the little interlacing roads of the countryside of Sainte Sévère. Then a long liaison directly east, to reach the foothills of the Massif Central and the Monts de la Madeleine as rapidly as possible. There, the first uphill trials before a luncheon in Saint-Alban-les-Eaux, given in honor of the rally. The entire village will see to it that this stop will constitute an extraordinary celebration for all the contestants! Plans for a relatively short afternoon will bring us to Vichy fairly early, and everyone will have the time and leisure to enjoy all the comforts of the superb Alleti Palace hotel. All of this will have been preceded by the challenge of a 70 km regularity sector, marked by 5 different arrivals. And on the afternoon’s program : the Gorges du Désert, the forest of Assise and the Col de la Plantade, with a final liaison at the Parc des Sources of Vichy and a wonderful evening in the Alletti Palace Hotel.

3rd stage (Wednesday 4 June 2003):
VICHY/DIEULEFIT (26) : 380 km - 6 regularity sectors

This stage promises to be the most difficult of this fourth annual event, with 380 km covering the most sinuous roads to be found in the Auvergne—and that is not lightly said. The hills of Forez, then the superb routes of the Ardèche, the traditional décor of the Rallye de Monte Carlo, will bring us to our destination in the Drôme. A gourmet stop at lunchtime at the delicious inn of "Les Cèdres Bleus", at Aurec-sur-Loire, where we would love to linger. But the remaining route is a long one : descent into the Valley of Lignon, all the way to Saint-Agrève, then the Cols des Quatre Vios, the Col de la Fayolle, the Col de l'Escrimet and that of Benas. From then on, the winding road will bring us gently down to the Rhone valley, where the “Princesses” will enjoy a well-earned stopover at the Club Méditerranée of Dieulefit. This renowned balneotherapy resort will surely gain some new enthusiasts among the contestants, exhausted by the innumerable twists and turns of the road and looking forward to a session of restoration of fitness and form!

4th stage (Thursday 5 June 2003) :
DIEULEFIT/SERRE-CHEVALIER (05) :
285 km – 6 regularity sectors

A new change of scenery with this stage, which will take place entirely in mountainous terrain. Drôme provençale lies before us in all its grandiose décor, with the breathtaking Col de la Sausse and Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert, rendered mythical by the Monte Carlo, and, finally, the Col de Penne. The Col de la Menée will take us from Provence to Isère. A pleasant stop at the Château de Passières for lunch in the village of Chichiliane and we’ll be on the road again, headed for the Col des Acarias and the Massif des Ecrins. This route is noticeably less taxing than the arduous path of yesterday, to give everyone the chance to catch their breath again. And so, driving up the Col du Lautaret should present no particular problems before we reach the last regularity sector, conducted on the go-cart track of Serre-Chevalier. Once again, a relaxing evening in a «Club Med » setting, this time at the « 4 Tridents » of Serre-Chevalier, offering us its exceptional hospitality, exceptionally, before the regular season’s opening. .

5th stage (Friday, 6 June 2003) :
SERRE-CHEVALIER/MANDELIEU-LA NAPOULE (06) :
285 km - 7 regularity sectors

We’ll leave the Briançonnais by the Durance valley and rapidly begin to traverse the southern alpine massifs. It’s an extremely picturesque itinerary, traced among breathtaking sites, each one more beautiful than the last. The first regularity sectors of this fifth and last stage will begin at Barcelonnette. By lunchtime at the La Vallière Restaurant in St Martin d'Entraumes, we should have climbed the Col d’Allos and the Col des Champs. Our last afternoon, much like that of last year’s rally, will find us crossing the magnificent Gorges du Daluis. Then, at the foot of the majestic citadel of Entrevaux, we’ll begin the most difficult regularity sector of the entire race. Marked by four different arrival points, the winding roads of the mountain passes will undoubtedly provide us with some unexpected twists, which can only add to the suspense as to who will finally prevail in the general class placement. And after that, the contestants have only to slide gently down to their “Promised Land » on the banks of the Baie de Mandelieu-Napoule, where the final podium and victory champagne await them all. As is fitting, the apotheosis of this fourth Rallye des Princesses will be the traditional and always lively soirée of awards and adieux, in the splendid setting of the Sofitel Royal Casino, on the seashore.