We will once again stay at the Plantagenet Hotel, take part in the Saturday tour of the area and then take in the Chinon Classic demonstrations on the Sunday.
It is a great and relaxed event, with a fantastic atmosphere and in the most beautiful surroundings of the town of Chinon. A must do event for any classic car fan.
The tour begins at Portsmouth ferry dock at the Brittany Ferries check-in desk. We are booked onto the 22:45hrs overnight sailing from Portsmouth bound for the port of Caen. Your comfortable on- board accommodation is reserved for you.
On arrival into France, we head off from Caen onto quiet French back roads to a breakfast stop in a delightful hotel by the river in Putanges. The scenic D-roads continue from here, or you can hop on to the motorway, as we carry on down to just south of Le Mans. We then pick up the D304 down to La Chartre-sur-le-Loir, the road used by several of the Le Mans racing teams back in the day and is still a must-do drive for motoring enthusiasts visiting the area.
We will have lunch at the famous Hotel de France, where the GT40 and Aston Martin teams were based over the 24-hour race weekend in the 60’s and which continues to welcome celebrities, such as Derek Bell and Jackie Ickx, from the motor racing world throughout the year. From here we have a beautiful, gentle two-hour drive through the vineyards and orchards to the town of Chinon, where we will be based for the next three nights.
The hotel we have chosen is full of gallic charm but all about the location as it overlooks the main square, where all the action takes place on the Saturday and Sunday, and where your cars will be safely parked for the weekend. This evening’s dinner will be in a local restaurant in the town.
Today we join the official Chinon Classic ‘rally’ (run by the same organisers as the Angouleme GP) which takes in the some of the most picturesque roads around the Loire valley with a ‘coffee’ stop along the way; this being France there will be wine and gourmet snacks on offer…and soft drinks too. Though the final details are yet to be announced for next year, there is bound to be, as previous years, a stunning lunch location before we meander back to Chinon.
It takes the form of a tulip rally but there are no timings or prizes for first home and you should follow the instructions in good humour as you enjoy the scenery and many roads not usually driven by tourists. This evening there is a gala dinner in the underground cellars of the magnificent Royal Fortress, a really different and special location for an evening’s entertainment with live music.
Today the roads around the town are closed off for the demonstration circuits. You are in prime position to spectate and take your car out to show the crowds. Again, it’s definitely not a race and you are encouraged to simply enjoy the attention from the spectators lining the circuit – and don’t forget to wave!
There is plenty to see and do in the town during the day with a large car paddock directly opposite the hotel, exhibitors and stands under the trees alongside the river, not to mention the cobbled streets of the town to stroll around or discover a local restaurant for lunch. This evening we have a very informal dinner at the hotel.
After breakfast, you make your way back up to Caen (170 miles mainly along motorways allowing you plenty of time and opportunity for comfort breaks) for the 16:30 hrs. sailing back to Portsmouth.
This year, your Tour Managers will escort you to the ferry port at Caen but will not return on the ferry with you as the Le Mans Classic is on later this week. If you wish to stay on in France and attend the Le Mans Classic, joining the fabulous CGT event there, we would be pleased to arrange this for you.
To secure your place – £1,000 deposit per person.
Unfortunately this tour is fully booked. Have a look through all of our tours to see if there is an upcoming tour. If there is no upcoming tour of this type you can still register your interest by filling in the below form.
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