History 1970s

1978 Tour de France Automobile (France)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1978 Tour de France Automobile

Date: September 16–21, 1978

Host Country: France

Surface: Mixed (Asphalt Rally Stages & Circuit Racing)

FIA Cup Status: Round of the 1978 FIA Cup for Drivers

Total Distance: ~4,800 km

Total Starters: Approx. 60 crews

Total Finishers: N/A

The 1978 Tour de France Automobile was a truly unique event, combining open-road rally stages with competitive circuit racing at venues across France. The competition demanded rally pace, track precision, and mechanical resilience across a grueling six-day itinerary. Michèle Mouton and co-driver Françoise Conconi delivered a landmark win in their Fiat 131 Abarth—proving their capability across disciplines and securing a vital result in the FIA Cup for Drivers.

Route

Paul Ricard & Le Mans Circuits: High-speed tests of driver bravery and car reliability under full-throttle conditions.
Alpine Road Sections: Tight, twisty rally stages demanded pacenote accuracy and braking precision.
Southern France Loops: Long liaison stages through changing weather and road conditions made endurance a key factor.

The route circled France, with time trials on famous circuits like Paul Ricard, Charade, and Le Mans, along with closed-road rally stages in mountainous and rural regions.

Weather varied dramatically—sun in the south and rain in the north added an extra challenge as drivers switched between rally and race trim.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Michèle Mouton & Françoise Conconi · Fiat 131 Abarth
2nd Place
Jean Ragnotti & Jean-Marc Andrié · Renault Alpine A310 V6
3rd Place
Claude Ballot-Léna & Guy Chasseuil · Porsche 911 SC

Mouton’s blend of smooth rallying and confident circuit driving—combined with Conconi’s steady timing—led to a well-deserved and groundbreaking victory in one of France’s most prestigious motorsport events.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Discipline Switching: Crews had to reset their approach quickly between rally stages and race circuits.
  • Fatigue and Logistics: Continuous travel, long days, and equipment changes tested team organization.
  • Weather Variability: Tire choice and car setup needed to adjust rapidly across France’s diverse climate zones.

The 1978 Tour de France Automobile was a true test of versatility and endurance—Mouton and Conconi’s win remains one of the most complete performances in the FIA Cup’s history.

← Previous Event 1978 Critérium du Québec (Canada)
Back to Events Index
1978 Rallye Sanremo (Italy) Next Event →

Watch rallies anywhere — bypass region blocks with NordVPN.

Fast servers for HD streams Servers in 60+ countries 30-day money-back

Unblock coverage — Save up to 77% + 3 months free

Sponsored link. Using our partner links helps support Compromised Internals at no extra cost to you.