Who says women don't care about cars? Not Patrick Peter, the "serial organizer" of vintage car events (Tour Auto, Le Mans Classic, etc.), who last year took over the Richard Mille Princess Rally reserved for 100% female crews, a concept developed since 1999 by Viviane Zaniroli. In fact, the then totally innovative idea of a rally reserved for women dates from 1929, and the creation of Paris-Saint-Raphaël by Count Edme de Rohan-Chabot. It was already a marathon run over 4 to 5 days, over distances ranging, depending on the edition, from 1,000 to 2,500 km. Very complete, it included timed special stages as well as driving tests or pure navigation sections. The latest editions of this original event run until the 1970s have revealed women drivers who have pursued brilliant careers in mixed motorsport, such as the French Michèle Mouton or the Belgian Christine Beckers.
In order to optimize safety while favoring conviviality, the format chosen by the organizers of the Richard Mille Princesses Rally now focuses on the principle of regularity tests which requires crews to respect as precisely as possible an average speed fixed at the 'advance. Thus, the emphasis can be placed on the tourist character of the route and the beauty of the places crossed. For the 2023 edition, contested from June 3 to 8, the caravan of racing cars dating from 1946 to 1985 will leave, as usual, from Place Vendôme in Paris. After checks on Saturday June 3, the crews will start on the 4th in the early morning towards Beaune, then they will head towards Megève, Alpe d'Huez, Les Baux-de-Provence, to end their journey in Nice.
