History 1970s

1970 Tour de France Automobile (France)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1970 Tour de France Automobile

Date: September 19–27, 1970

Host Country: France

Surface: Asphalt

Total Distance: ~1237 km (competitive stages)

Total Starters: 78 crews

Total Finishers: 46 crews

A legendary mix of rally stages and circuit racing, the 1970 Tour de France Automobile spanned over a week and combined hillclimbs, road stages, and closed-course events. The event showcased endurance, versatility, and outright speed as drivers competed on both public roads and famous French circuits.

Route

Alpine Roads: Included steep climbs and descents with hairpin-heavy segments in southeastern France.
Circuit Stops: Races at Paul Ricard, Le Mans, Albi, and Montlhéry demanded pure pace and mechanical reliability.
Coastal Sections: Fast tarmac blasts near the Mediterranean and Atlantic added speed diversity.

The route circled much of France, stopping at renowned racetracks and tackling twisty alpine and rural tarmac stages.

Crews needed to adapt between rally-style stage navigation and wheel-to-wheel racing on circuits, making it one of the most diverse challenges in motorsport.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Jean-Pierre Beltoise & Jean Todt · Matra Simca MS650
2nd Place
Gérard Larrousse & Maurice Gélin · Porsche 911 ST
3rd Place
Jean-Claude Andruet & “Biche” · Alpine-Renault A110 1600

Beltoise’s unmatched circuit prowess and Todt’s impeccable organization delivered a dominant performance, with the prototype Matra demonstrating sheer speed and stamina across every format.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Multi-Discipline Format: Drivers switched between rally stages, hill climbs, and circuit races—demanding complete versatility.
  • Mechanical Wear: Long durations and varying track conditions pushed cars to their mechanical limits.
  • Team Coordination: Success required seamless planning across logistics, service intervals, and surface transitions.

The 1970 Tour de France Automobile remains one of the most grueling and iconic motorsport events of its time, where Beltoise and Todt’s combined skillsets delivered a tour-de-force performance.

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