2nd LEG (Dijon-Mulhouse)

The second leg of the Tour Auto Optic 2ooo linked Dijon to Mulhouse (402 km) with two special stages and a circuit event on the day’s programme. The sun shone from start to finish, and a large crowd turned out to cheer on the drivers who discovered the medieval Château of Hollandsbourg overlooking the Alsace plain where they stopped for lunch.

In the early morning the drivers tackled the first timed stage: Le Pailly. Once again Ludovic Caron in his AC Cobra set the quickest time in the VHC category from Jean-Pierre Lajournade in his E-Type Jaguar and Chris Wilson in a Ford GT40. Another GT40 in the hands of Philippe Vandromme won in Group G followed by Romain Rocher’s Porsche 906 and Guy Burnichon’s BMW 2800 CS. In Group H, which had lost two of the favourites the previous evening after Erik Comas and Armin Schwarz retired their Lancia Stratos due to engine failure, Didier Sirgue emerged quickest in his De Tomaso Pantera from Jürgen Barth’s Porsche 911 RSR 2.8 l. In Group I victory went to Christophe Grenier in his Gr IV Ferrari 308 GTB.

Caron was also quickest in the fast twisty stage in the Herval Forest followed by Lajournade’s and Hugo Payen’s Jaguars. Group G was dominated by the Porsche 906s of Rocher and Mr John of B, while Barth won the stage in Group H and Jacques Entremont triumphed in Group I.

Next up was the race on the Anneau du Rhin circuit used by the Tour for the first time. In VHC victory went to Brit Chris Wilson’s Ford GT40 from a pack of four AC Cobras led by Caron who consolidated his lead in the event as the second day drew to a close.

Philippe Vandromme scored his second win of the day in Group G on the Anneau du Rhin circuit emulated by Didier Sirgue in Group H. Olivier Panis continued where he had left off the previous day by coming out on top in his Gr IV Ferrari 308 Michelotto.

Further reports to follow