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1931 Paris-Saint-Raphaël Rallye
(Text and et photographs : L'Illustration 7th March 1931)

The third Rallye Automobile Féminin organised by the Saint-Raphael section of the Automobile-Club du Var took place between the 18th and 22nd of February, 1931. The route from Paris to Saint-Raphael consisted of five separate stages.

At 7 on the first morning, 35 competitors set out from Orly, and 34 duly signed on at the Vichy control from which the second leg to Grenoble started. Despite heavy snow on the col du Sauvage and the entire distance between Vienne and Grenoble, all the entrants made it.

The organisers allowed two possible routes to Nice, the destination of the third stage: a scenic but challenging option via the Alps, or an easier lowland alternative via Montélimar.

A Voisin next to Lus-La-Croix-Haute

19 competitors opted for the Alps, driving on increasingly snowbound roads from Monestier-de-Clermont to the col de Lus-La-Croix-Haute, which they negotiated with the help of snow chains, the municipal authorities of the Drome and the Isere having worked for three days to clear the final 20 kilometers. Thus the competitors on both routes reached the control at Nimes within the alloted time.

The two final stages from Nimes to Hyeres and from Hyeres to Saint Raphael saw the competitors post rapid times, and 31 cars (including 21 with no penalties at all) arrived to an enthusiastic welcome at Saint-Raphael.

Refuelling stop (a Voisin in the background)
 
 
The arrival of the competitors at Saint-Rapahël (the last car on the right is a Voisin)
 
(Text and photographs : L'Illustration 7th March 1931)
 

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