An Inside Look At The Tour de France Automobile

Photography by Rémi Dargegen

Most of the world’s more affluent nations have hosted epic road races, with often the most grueling contests formed in countries who housed pioneers of the auto industry. Examples? Italy’s Mille Miglia, the Nürburgring Nordschleife Circuit in Germany, and the world’s first 24-hour race, held in 1907 at Brooklands in the UK. The Tour de France Automobile, first held in 1899, was reborn in 1992 as a long-distance classic car competition, similar to the Mille Miglia. Petrolicious photographer Rémi Dargegen was on-hand to capture the sights of this year’s event, officially named Le Tour Auto Optic 2000.