François Allain in Dauphine Gordini at the 2026 Tour Auto

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Dauphine, journalist François Allain is piloting an exceptional 1968 model at the Tour Auto.

One of the major attractions of this Tour Auto 2026 is undoubtedly the Dauphine Gordini entered by Renault. This 1968 model (type R1095) represents the pinnacle of the model’s evolution, particularly thanks to its four disc brakes.

This unit, coming from the Creil factories, displays an extraordinary state of preservation:

• Only 7,800 original kilometers.
• Matching numbers (engine and period gearbox).
• Strictly preserved original configuration.

This vehicle embodies the legacy of “popular sportiness” initiated by the collaboration between Renault and engine builder Amédée Gordini.

François Allain: Expertise at the Wheel

To drive this icon from Paris to Biarritz, Renault has chosen François Allain. A renowned automotive journalist and classic car expert, he embodies the passion and technical knowledge of the brand’s heritage.

The crew focuses on camaraderie and passing down knowledge:

• Driver François Allain, ambassador of *The Originals Renault Garage*.
• Co-driver: Oscar Allain, his son, for a family adventure.
• Category: Regularity, prioritizing precision and mechanical reliability.

An Historic Record in Sight

By entering the Dauphine on the roads of the Tour Auto, Renault reminds us that this model was a formidable rally machine. Victorious at the Tour de Cors (1956, 1959) and the Monte-Carlo Rally (1958), the Dauphine proved that an agile mechanism could prevail against much more powerful competitors.

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