The Rallye Paris – Saint-Raphaël Féminin was created in 1929 as a women-only car rally from Paris to the Côte d’Azur, and it ran (with a WWII break) for about 45 years. Its modern legacy, the Rally des Princesses celebrated its 25th running from 23 to 28 May, linking Paris’ fashionable Place Vendôme to equally fashionable St Tropez.

From the roads of Burgundy to the Alpine peaks, from the landscapes of the Vercors to the shores of the Mediterranean, the week offered participants a timeless escape, driven by a spirit of competition, camaraderie, and adventure with an elegant backdrop that has defined the rally for 25 years.

Photos Nicolas Bremaud/Peter Auto

After a particularly close battle right up to the final regularity stage, overall victory went to Véronique Lagache and Anne Sampeur in their Porsche 911 3.2. Second place went to Carole Grimm and Isabelle Godin, at the wheel of a Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF, while Stéphanie Bayard and Marie-Carla Favier, driving their similar Lancia Fulvia rounded out the podium.