After the Ferrari 250 "Tour de France" in 2007, the OSCA in 2008, the Jaguar MkII and Ford GT40 in 2009, the Tour Auto Optic 2ooo celebrates in 2010 the 50th anniversary of the first victory of the Ferrari 250 SWB in the Tour de France Automobile. For this chrome and aluminium star adulated by the public, the organiser Peter Auto has big ambitions and hopes for a unique gathering of SWB for the Tour Auto Optic 2ooo start on April 19, 2010 in the Jardins des Tuileries in Paris.

Already ten entered, but the inscriptions remain open with special conditions –including an automatic outclassing– reserved for 250GT SWB drivers. Among the ten cars already entered, is the one driven to victory by Willy Mairesse in the 1960 Tour de France. Flashback to the period when the Cavallino ruled over the French race…

September 1960, an armada of nine Ferrari 250 GT SWBs line up for the start of the ninth after-war Tour de France. Enough to dishearten the competition, as the new Berlinetta is of the lineage of the Ferrari 250s which have already ruled over the French race for four years. Boasting a brilliant V12 3 litre engine, this new version has a chassis shortened by 20 cm and beautifully designed aluminium bodywork. At the finish, after a 5000 kilometre expedition via the Ventoux, Spa and Nürburgring: is the awaited victory, with a bonus triple win!

Only two of the nine starting Ferraris fail to finish. The V12 3 litre engine is indeed as reliable as efficient, deciding qualities on long races such as the Tour Auto. In addition, the shortened chassis gives the car further agility. In short… they are unbeatable and will remain so in 1961 and 1962, expertly driven by Lords of the race such as Willy Mairesse, Jo Schlesser, Olivier Gendebien, Lucien Bianchi, André Simon and Maurice Trintignant.

The famous Berlinetta enters the legend of the French race at the same time as lining up trophies in all the biggest international races: total victory in the 1000 kms of Paris, the Tourist Trophy and victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 1000 kilometres of Nürburgring, the Targo Florio… Rare are cars who have eclipsed the competition with such supremacy during their whole sporting career.

LE TOUR AUTO OPTIC 2ooo IN A NUTSHELL Verifications ........................Paris – Jardins des Tuileries ...........19 April Start.. ....................................Paris .............................................20 April 1st Stage ...............................Vichy.............................................20 April 2nd Stage...............................Lyon..............................................21 April 3rd Stage................................Megève........................................ 22 April 4th Stage ...............................Aix-en-Provence..........................23 April Finish.................................Beaulieu-sur-Mer............................24 April Cars accepted: 220 of which the model participated in the Tour de France Auto between 1951 and 1973

For 2010 The five stages and four circuits of the 2010 edition are now confirmed and the final destination revealed: the Tour’s trail will lead to Beaulieu-sur-Mer.

Once again the Tour Auto Optic 2ooo meeting point will be in the Jardins des Tuileries on Monday April 19, for the checks and scrutineering. The next day, a first circuit heat will be held at Magny Cours, before continuing on towards Vichy, one of the Tour’s traditional halts. Wednesday, Auvergne and its Charade circuit will be on the menu before a first ever stopover in Lyon. The layout of the recent Bresse circuit, very much appreciated in 2009 will be revisited in 2010 before heading towards the Alps and the most elegant of French ski resorts, Megève. The Tour Auto Optic 2ooo will then start its descent towards the French Riviera, via Aix-en-Provence on Friday and the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit discovered by the Tour Auto Optic 2ooo competitors two years ago. The Mediterranean littoral will be handed to them on a silver plate all the way to the mythical Corniche and Beaulieu-sur-Mer, final destination of the 2010 edition of the Tour Auto Optic2ooo.

Early December 2009, the Tour Auto Optic 2ooo will reveal a first list of entered competitors with, we remind you, a noticeable presence of Ferrari 250GT Chassis Courts which will come to celebrate the fiftieth
anniversary of their first victory – and treble win – in the Tour de France Automobile.

With the help of its main partner, Optic 2ooo, the 2010 Tour will be even more oriented towards the public to whom all details of the meetings with these 200 some dream cars, and the welcome conditions will be given shortly.