Travel Diary — Richard Mille Princesses Rally: The End

That's it, it's over… Well… over. The word sounds strange, because neither Lucie Baud nor I want it to end. After more than 1,800 kilometers covered since our departure on Sunday, May 24th from Place Vendôme in Paris to our arrival point in Saint-Tropez today, we're finishing this last day of the Rally Richard Mille Princesses with a feeling we hadn't really anticipated: that of not wanting to get out of the car.

It has to be said that during those five days of rallying, we discovered everything together. A car that none of us had driven before the start — a Porsche The 1964 356 held its share of surprises, quirks, and moments of pure joy. And roles we'd never played before. Lucie, the professional rally-raid co-driver, swapped the driver's seat for the driver's seat, embarking on a regularity rally, while I tried my hand at being a co-driver. That's what made this experience so special: discovering something new on the same level, as equals, progressing and evolving together.

France as you never see it

1,800 kilometers may seem abstract. But that's what this rally offered us: a way to cross France differently. Taking the time to stop, to look around, to discover remote places, far from the highways where we usually speed from point A to point B. Our journey took us from castle to castle, from the Champagne vineyards to mountain passes, allowing us to stop in many charming towns.

Troyes, Vichy, Nîmes, Saint-Tropez… And let's face it, it felt absolutely wonderful. Especially since, in addition to discovering exceptional places, there was the human element. Breaks over coffee, lunch, afternoon tea, and evenings out provided countless opportunities to chat with other teams and make unforgettable connections. Because while there's certainly the sporting challenge, the Richard Mille Princesses Rally is also a community of women who share a common adventure in a spirit of camaraderie.

@autohebdo.mag 🚗Arrival in Saint-Tropez for our crew at the Rallye des Princesses! #princessrally #richardmille #porsche ♬ original sound – AUTOhebdo

End on a good note

In the competition, our duo finished strong. This Thursday, May 28th, the second regularity zone of the morning represented our absolute record: 3,8 penalty points. We were already proud of our 13 points from the previous day, so imagine our joy at having managed to surpass it. Especially since it happened right at the end. A great result that reflects our progress throughout the week.

So tonight, all that's left for us to do is fully enjoy this last evening. Share our feelings with the other crews and savor what we've just experienced. Without thinking that it all ends tomorrow. Because we won't hide the fact that we would have loved for the adventure to continue forever. It has to be said that this rally has plenty going for it: sporty, demanding, intense—and at the same time, almost like a vacation. A vacation with regularity zones, roadbooks as thick as phone books, and sunshine on the back of our necks. But a vacation nonetheless, with meals in incredible settings, discoveries around every corner, and encounters that will remain etched in our memories.

Testimony of Zoé Ledent-Mouret
« This Richard Mille Princesses Rally was a true first for me—a first adventure in the world of motorsport. Discovering the role of co-driver alongside Lucie was fantastic. Firstly, because the atmosphere of this rally allowed for learning: we had time to talk, to improve, to discover this role without the pressure of a real competition.

And obviously, having a professional co-pilot by your side helps enormously. I made mistakes—I didn't expect to be perfect from day one—but Lucie always had the right words and advice to help me move forward, and for that, I'm truly grateful. Would I do this kind of thing every weekend? Honestly, I don't know. But I imagine that's precisely what makes the difference between a journalist just starting out and a professional co-pilot. »

Testimony of Lucie Baud
« Representing Auto Hebdo and Richard Mille at this rally, driving a legendary car, taking on the role of driver—it was a magnificent adventure and a real opportunity. What I particularly enjoyed was being able to share a bit of what I do—sharing my profession, revisiting my own beginnings in rallying, and appreciating how far I've come since. And then I discovered a discipline I didn't really know from the inside: regularity rallying. And I really like it. A huge thank you to everyone who followed us throughout this week. »