The following day proceeded to take a route back west, passing north of the Swiss border, taking in another closed road stage on the outskirts of Montbeliard. The heat of the day was rising rapidly, pointing towards a demanding circuit test later in the day. An enjoyable route through to the small town of Pontarlier took in some spectacular scenery in the Doubs valley. At Pontarlier, there was an unmistakable buzz in the town, as the convoy proceeded to announce its arrival with the signature raucous sound of performance engines wheezing for air, following the morning’s trials. The town square was remarkably busy with a broad cross section of spectators looking admirably at the impressively turned out sports cars, bonnets laden with dead insects from the tribulations of the morning. As much Rose was consumed, as is de rigeur for France, the cars passed by with great aplomb, relishing at the chance to adhere to the 50 kilometre speed limits in force, allowing the highly tuned engines to take a brief respite from the morning’s endeavours.
A short sprint later, the first cars started to filter through the gates at Circuit de Bresse. Another relatively under used circuit on the French motor racing scene, but one that would certainly prove a strenuous test to the drivers. Air temperatures by this time had reached a comfortable 26 degrees for the spectators, but the combination of warm air and blazing sunshine made for an excruciating prospect for the drivers, about to embark on a gruelling test of their abilities in the heat of the midday sun. Yet again, the French crowds had accumulated in unprecedented numbers for the afternoon, a sure sign that Tour Auto, as an event was not only growing in popularity but, also, that its significance was recognised by automobile fans from France and further afield. A walk through the paddock would testify to that, as a melange of languages could be heard, from spectators and competitors alike. Competitors from 25 countries comprised the field in 2014, showing that the event was not only internationally renowned, but also recognised as one of the most gruelling week long events open to drivers.
As the events of the afternoon commenced, initiated by a ferocious, fire spitting Mercedes 350 Gullwing taking the honours in the first race, the temperatures soared, and drivers and spectators alike were to be found clinging to the few shadows provided by pit buildings and the occasional tree. Comparatively, the circuit provided much more of a test for the traction and handling ability of the cars than the previous two tests. A standout performance by the British crew of Shaun Lynn and Kevin Kivlochan in the AC Cobra made for a spectacular race in the VHC class. The top class saw another victory for Olivier Panis, but he was certainly kept honest by the GT40 of Phillipe Vandromme.
As the cars peeled off track, into Parc Ferme, the scorching heat escalated, and engines, at the very limit of their capacity secreted fumes through any means possible, the paddock seemed nothing less than a sauna, with the scent of boiling hot oil gaining the air. Drivers, soaked in sweat from their exertions, leant in the cool shadows, and refreshed themselves with ice cold Evian from the line of fridges placed to cater for the escalated hydration need of the drivers. Far from the day being done, the conclusion to the day was a lengthy 150km drive to the alpine town of Aix-Les-Bains, situated in the foothills of the Alps where the day came to a close. Certainly seeming to conclude one of the toughest days of Tour Auto 2014.
Despite the following day looking much easier for competitors on paper the twisty mountain roads of the Alps make for slow progress, and the inclusion of three closed road stages adding to the prospective difficulties of the ensuing day. Again, fine weather prevailed, and despite not reaching the heady heights of the previous day, clear skies and bright sunshine shone down on the cars as they made headway into the toils of the day.
The three special closed road stages often prove more of a challenge to the drivers, due to unpredictable road surfaces, the lack of run off areas or safety measures, and the relatively unknown route, very different to a well-documented lap around a circuit. To combine three of these tests in a day proves one of the more difficult challenges to the teams undertaking Tour Auto. Conversely, it is also one of the main factors that make Tour Auto a unique event in European motorsport. The combination of long road distances on country lanes, twinned with full output efforts on both circuits and closed road rally stages make it a unique experience for European drivers.
On perhaps one of the most dramatic days of this years event, the teams took to the demanding mountain roads in the foothills of the French Alps, passing through the spectacular Vercours and Chartreuse National Park, and winding their way through sleepy French villages to the delight of residents and spectators alike. The penultimate day finished in the city of Valence, a slightly earlier end of the day, allowing the drivers a chance to catch their breath before the excitement of the final day, and the grand finale in Marseille.
