Rallye Coeur de France
Loire Valley
September 3

So we're driving into Amboise on a Friday evening and see a car with a big number on the side. Aha. Lets see what's going on. Next we see a big placard by the road. Next we see a service area. Then an organizer's office in a nearby storefront. Time to stop and say, with our best French accent: "Spectator information?" That got us a 8-page tabloid newspaper with bios, and entry list of the 88 cars, and really sketchy route maps of the 6 stages and times of the first car starting.

The rally was on Saturday and Sunday. A big deal really. Part of the Coupe de France des Rallyes 1re division. Sponsored by Renault and a regional gas station and food chain, E.LeClere. For groups A, N, and F2000. If you don't know what those mean, don't worry. Sort of like what you see on WRC on Speed(vision) but a lot more at the amateur level. Group A is turbocharged and 4WD.

Three all-paved stages, 15.1km, 6km, and 15,1km, were run 3 times each on Saturday and 6 more, 10.3km and 7.7km, on Sunday. We took Saturday afternoon off to watch the action even though it was 86° in the shade.
 

Corner workers are equipped with flags, a chair, fire extinguisher, umbrella,
a tub of something that looks like sand, and a broom.

Lead car.

First car on the road.

A helicopter following the first car. This rally is a big deal evidently.

The second car went deep.

But every car has a different line.

Some just avoid the ruts by going high.

About this time I remembered I have a motor drive on the camera.

Just in time to catch someone taking an alternative line through the corner.

Another location.

This was an alternate line for sure.

Note the corner worker protecting the car. . .

with a clipboard.

Another location in a small town crowded with people. This was the third time they had been through that stage. Looks like we missed some action on one of the first two times.

Lead car.

The cars entered this town from the left, down a hill, then took a right around the church, a quick left, a short straight, a dead (90°) left, then straight out of town.

The fifth car through backed the crowd away from the hay bails (except for your faithful photographer).

Another alternate line.

Oops.

Here they come around the turn at the church. Right into the sunshine.

The last competitor. Not everybody can have a competitive car.