The 2006 Route[en]

Although The Princesses Rally might not sound like it, this is, above all, an athletic competition.
The course is as difficult as the most famous and highly acclaimed rallies out there.
However, the glamour of the evening events and the elegance of the closing ceremonies do not contradict the challenging aspects of this adventure.

Rather, they are designed to enable the drivers to recover from the harshness of the day’s trials … so they can, once again, feel like true princesses.

Day 1 : Monday, June 5, 2006:
Paris – La Ferté St-Aubin – La Châtre (36)

The event begins on a national holiday, Pentacost, making the early morning departure from Paris traffic-free. Participants will then head south through the Essonne Valley and the Orléans forest. By lunchtime, everyone will arrive at the Ferté Saint-Aubin. This first day consists of a gradual getting into the rhythm with relatively easy regularity tests, mainly focused on navigational prowess.
The afternoon will be dedicated to crossing the Sologne region, followed by the Loir et Cher forests, before finally reaching La Châtre, home of Georges Sand, a woman with a lot of personality and a strong character, like you, my friends. At La Châtre’s race course circuit you will be able to fully express yourselves in a splendid round-up to this first exciting day. That night, we rest up and re-charge at the 4* Hôtel Les Dryades.

Day 2 : Tuesday, June 6, 2006:
La Châtre – Saint-Alban-les-Eaux – Vichy (03)

A lovely countryside morning initiates a more challenging driving test along more complex winding roads. The landscape will gradually reveal its full glory as you near the Monts de l’Allier for the now-famous Saint-Alban-les-Eaux luncheon. The entire population of this charming little village, including the local mayor and our friend Jacques Heymans, will join together to roll out the red carpet and offer you an unforgettably warm welcome.
The afternoon events will be shorter but more intense. We’ll start with the Saint-Alban Grand Prix: only one regularity test and a 45 km loop with a single starting point and several possible finishes - launching the initial phase of the real athletic challenges. Then the day’s final leg will bring you to Vichy, where you can savour the delightful Aletti Palace (4** hotel) and all its amenities.

Day 3 :Wednesday, June 7, 2006:
Vichy – Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid – Voreppe (38)

An itinerary that takes you across the Monts du Forez followed by the Velay ridges and the northern Ardèche offers a breath-taking first in this traditional East-West journey, 100% hair-pin turns!
During the afternoon, we’ll venture across the Isère region, over the Massif du Vercors foothills and on through to the Laquais circuit where the day’s final regularity test (SR) will take place. In closing, we’ll drive to the lovely suburbs of Grenoble – Voreppe, to be precise – where we’ll spend the night at the (3*)Novotel Voreppe. Participants of our Snow & Ice Rally have enjoyed a wonderfully warm welcome here two years in a row – guaranteed smiles all around!

Day 4 : Thursday, June 8, 2006:
Voreppe – Lagrand (near Sisteron) – Fayence (83)

100% new and different, this innovative leg will take you along the most spectacular routes of the Snow & Ice and Monte-Carlo rallies.
You’ll travel across the Massif du Vercors, the Drôme’s luminous landscapes, and the fragrant hillsides of Haute-Provence. The secrets of the renowned Col de l’Echarasson and the Fontbelle mountain pass will at last be unveiled for you as you discover the high level of technical skills needed to succeed in this challenging sporting event. That evening you’ll relax and enjoy the beautiful, 4** holiday resort built to resemble a typical southern France village known as Domaine de Fayence in the Var region – very Provençal

Day 5 : Friday, June 9, 2006:
Fayence – Taradeau – Monaco

This leg will pay homage to the Ladies’ Paris-Saint-Raphael Rally, forerunner to the Princesses Rally. Following a very athletic morning navigating along the precipitous and rather sinuous roads of the Var’s back-country, our athletic challenge will finish off in Taradeau with a country-style luncheon at the Domaine de Saint-Martin, owned by the Count de Rohan-Chabot’s family. The count, founder of the Paris-Saint-Raphael rally, launched the glorious rally on this very site back in 1929. His daughter, La Comtesse de Gasquet, and his grand-daughter, Adeline de Barry, will be our hosts for this historic event.
That afternoon, we’ll head straight to Monaco, for an early Podium ceremony so everyone can take full advantage of the luxurious (4****)Méridien Beach Plaza Monte Carlo and its lovely beaches before the traditional gala evening and closing ceremonies where a few final surprises await you.