Under starter’s orders for Rally Round’s Paris:Biarritz Rally 2019

With only a few days to go, entrants are eagerly anticipating the start of Rally Round’s 2019 Paris-Biarritz Rally.

Promising an unforgettable rally, the Paris:Biarritz Rally takes place from 16-22 September and will see around 30 cars and their crews cover 1230 miles as they take in beautiful countryside and historic locations while competing for the winner’s trophy.

Route Designer Fred Bent has deemed the starting flag to drop at the Trianon Palace Hotel in Versailles. With the first overnight halt is 215 miles away in the picturesque city of Blois on the River Loire, the crews will have their first taste of tests and regularity sections. The Rally then heads to Clermont-Ferrand, and then through beautiful French valleys to the historic city of Montauban.

Competitors then head to the amazing pilgrimage site of Lourdes, after which the spectacular scenery and roads of the Pyrenees beckons. The destination is Pamplona, famous for its annual bull run. And then all too soon it’s the final day, the Rally heading north into Biarritz and a 100-mile run to the finish line at the stunning Hôtel du Palais.

The event is suitable for experts and novices alike, with no tough roads that might damage the cars or night driving. But there will still be plenty of competitive spirit on show as drivers tackle a challenging variety of speed tests, regularity sections, and timed special stages. For those in the vintage classes it’s the chance to scoop the coveted Charles Jarrott trophy, with classic cars competing for their own special awards. 

Participants will experience some great venues from the history of motorsport during these tests. The first day sees a stop at the Circuit de La Châtre, a track that first saw racing action back in the 1920s and has played host to many famous names, from Sir Jackie Stewart to Alain Prost. There is also a visit to the Charade circuit located west of Clermont-Ferrand, its first event in 1958 won by Innes Ireland driving a Lotus.  

Such an exciting programme means the Rally has already attracted a superb list of entries, almost thirty crews coming from across the UK and Europe, with one making the journey all the way from Australia. 

The event is open to pre-1972 veteran, vintage and classic cars and the oldest vehicle taking part is the 1921 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost of David and Natasha Royds, closely followed by regular Rally entrants Stephen and John Ward with their fine 1924 Bentley 3-litre Speed. They will be joined by a wide spread of other British cars from the likes of MG, Jaguar, Bristol and Triumph while America is represented by a pair of Ford Mustang convertibles. The newest car is a 1971 Maserati Indy driven by the German crew of Ralph Hummel and Sabine Schübel.

The penultimate event of the Rally Round 2019 calendar, the scene is set for another great trip and you can follow all of the progress here