The first cars left the Limoges parc fermé in the early morning to tackle the 3rd leg of the Tour Auto and set out for Bordeaux. There was no circuit event on today’s menu. Three special stages on closed roads split up the 442-km route that crossed the Black Périgord and its troglodyte sites, the Monbazillac hillsides and the prestigious Bordeaux and Saint Emilion vineyards that produce the famous “red gold!” After a stop in the magnificent Château de la Bourlie for lunch and another special stage, the competitors continued on their way through the vineyards and domains of the region and reached Bordeaux in the evening.
A driver to be followed: Thierry Boutsen seems to have really got the hang of his #218 Shelby Cobra 189 as he set the fastest time in the VHC (historic racing car) category ahead of Joachim and Christina von Finckenstein in their Lotus Elan. The Belgian driver already uncatchable on the circuits since the start of the Tour Auto looks like he has more surprises in store for us! Rendezvous tomorrow on the Nogaro circuit.
The first special stage of the day in the Limousin region was neutralised following the off-course excursion of the 1955 Austin-Healey 100-4.
The last special stage of the day on the edge of the vineyards posed a real challenge for the drivers in grids 4 and 5 and led to several spectacular shunts! The #295 Jidé 1600 in the hands of Johan Allagnon and Joanna Bouquillon headed straight on towards the grape vines after an intersection.
But nothing stopped them and they were able to rejoin with the help of the locals and completed the timed stage. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case for the father-and-son crew of Roderick Jack and Rory Jack in their #245 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA followed by a father-and-daughter team Timm Meinrenken and Lara Meinrenken-Schwiering in #246 who had to retire from this stage. We hope to see them restarting tomorrow morning from Bordeaux to complete the journey to Pau.
