Tuesday saw the 2008 Tour Auto Lissac get underway, as the array of competing cars left the Grand Palais in Paris to gather at the Castle of Fontainebleau for the official start of the historic event.

The five-day route through France combines road driving with stop-offs at the country’s finest race circuits, before arriving at the Parc Borely in Marseille on 19 April.

Eligible cars are those of the type which entered the original Tour de France Automobile between 1951 and 1973, and there is always huge competition for places in both the Regularity and Competition classes, with many famous French drivers taking part (Ragnotti, Serpaggi, Comas, and so on). Our own Sir Stirling Moss could well be competing, too – in an MGB.

Among the four-wheeled stars of the event are the many little OSCAs, not to mention the 17 Alpine A110s, a fitting tribute to Jean Rédélé (founder of the Alpine marque), who passed away last year. Classic Driver’s Olivier Penat will himself be co-driving an Alpine Renault A110 1800 Gr.IV, in Plateau V, as part of event sponsor Audemars Piguet’s team.

You can see the full entry list for each category:

Regularity

Competition

Full results and photos next week on Classic Driver.

Text: Classic Driver
Photos: Patrick Payany