2015 EDITION OF THE TOUR AUTO OPTIC 2ooo: ZENITH AT THE FINISH LINE AS OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER!
2015 EDITION OF THE TOUR AUTO OPTIC 2ooo: ZENITH AT THE FINISH LINE AS OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER!
On 25th April, Zenith was at the finish line in Biarritz... chronograph in hand, in order to officially list the times of the competitors and definitively confirm the victory of the Jean-Pierre Lajournade/Christophe Bouchet crew at the wheel of their Jaguar Type E 3.8L. It was the second time that they had triumphed, with Ludovic Caron and Charles de Villaucourt's Shelby Cobra 289 finishing closely behind. However, it was Philippe Vandromme and Frédéric Vivier, the winners of Group G with their Ford GT40, who won the El Primero Chronomaster 1969 watches offered by Zenith.
After leaving Paris on 21st April, the 233 historic race cars arrived in sunny Biarritz following five days of races, trials and superb experiences shared with the crowds.
Now it's all over and it's back to reality for everyone involved in this magical interlude. By combining a sporting competition with the French art of living, fostering friendships between enthusiasts - be they drivers, team members or crowds - the Tour Auto has proven, more than ever, to be a rare and precious racing event. Undisputedly unique!
IT'S THE TAKING PART THAT COUNTS!
When it comes to the Tour Auto, this sentence is particularly appropriate... Zenith, its drivers and the support team all took away intense experiences from the event. Being there and taking part was both essential and extraordinary!
As for the competition, Zenith was extremely proud of and delighted by its role as official timekeeper. It kept a very close watch on each stage, whether timed trials or special stages on roads and renowned closed tracks such as Magny-Cours, Pau-Arnos, Albi and the Charade Circuit.
Zenith is proud of its three drivers: Felix Baumgartner at the wheel of a 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL, Daniel Spadini in a 1964 Jaguar type E 3.8L and Dominique Vananty at the wheel of a 1965 Porsche 911.
For these three champions as well as Aldo Magada, President and CEO of Zenith and Daniel Spadini's co-driver, these five days were nothing but pure pleasure. The joy of driving collector cars, the adrenaline rush while competing, and the experiences shared during the stages. Shaken up, exhausted and aching, their ears still full of the thrumming of the engines, they only yearned for one thing, it was all they asked for: to get back behind the wheel!
AND WHAT A JOY TAKING PART IS!
Joy, because the Tour Auto is also an opportunity to discover France's heritage and its renowned art of living. From narrow, winding roads through woods to mountain slopes, from the heart of the countryside to the tops of mountain passes, the Tour Auto is a way of becoming acquainted with the regions and departments of France. The 2015 edition focused on the south-west, crossing the Allier, Cantal and Aveyron regions and the Pyrenees to reach the Basque coast. It offered a succession of breathtaking scenery and sites, with every stage offering visitors a prestigious backdrop: historical locations, tastings of local products and regional wines in the shade of majestic castles and medieval abbeys, cheerfulness and conviviality shared together, standing against the finest models of vintage cars... A Tour Auto stage is something to be savoured!
To get a feel for the atmosphere of this edition and relive the greatest moments of the competition, you can find superb photos of these five days of breathtaking excitement on our hub
The detailed results recorded by Zenith timekeeping are available here
The 2015 Tour Auto has come to an end, but new adventures now await Zenith…