Since its retro reincarnation, the top step on the podium at the Tour Auto has been reached by two 24 Hours of Le Mans winners: Jürgen Barth and Henri Pescarolo, in 1995 with a Porsche 356 and in 1997 with an AC Cobra, respectively. The Tour Auto has also seen many cars boasting impressive showings at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

BMW 3.0 CSL and M1, pioneers - During the 1970s, the 3.0 CSL marked the Bavarian marque's return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, resulting in a class win in 1973 for Dutch driver Toine Hezemans and Austrian driver Dieter Quester, 11th overall. Then, on the initiative of the gentleman-driver and auctioneer Hervé Poulain, it became the first BMW Art Car, decorated by Alexander Calder (1975) and Frank Stella (1976). Released in 1978, the M1 is the first BMW carrying the "M" for BMW Motorsport, subsequently adopted by the M3, M5 and M8. The following year, it clinched the best result for an Art Car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with sixth place overall for Marcel Mignot, Hervé Poulain and Manfred Winkelhock at the wheel of an M1 decorated by Andy Warhol.

Ligier JS2, a win and podium finish - Created in 1971, the Ligier JS2 was first powered by a Ford Capri engine before switching to a Maserati V6. In 1974, the latter competed in the 24 Hours and the Tour de France Automobile. Jacques Laffite and Alain Serpaggi finished eighth overall at Le Mans. Winning the 24 Hours that year with Henri Pescarolo at the wheel of a Matra, Gérard Larrousse won the Tour de France Automobile with a JS2 along with Jean-Pierre Nicolas and Johnny Rives, and Bernard Darniche and Jacques Jaubert finished second, ensuring a Ligier one-two. In 1975, the JS2 once again changed engines, moving to a Formula 1 Ford-Cosworth 3-liter V8. Despite a retirement for Henri Pescarolo and François Migault, Jean-Louis Lafosse and Guy Chasseuil finished second behind the Gulf GR8 prototype (with the same engine) shared by Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell.

PHOTO (Copyright - Mathieu Bonnevie/Peter Auto)