Travel diary – Richard Mille Princesses Rally: enjoy and perform

After the minor scare at the Col de la Colombière where we had a breakdown yesterday, the first thing to check this morning was the car. The technical team had worked on it during the evening, and the good news was: no more starting problems. Lucie Baud, the driver, and I therefore left Aix-les-Bains (Savoie) relieved, with the journey to Nîmes (Gard) in our sights and only one wish—that it goes well.

The first coffee break was at Léoncel Abbey. These stops, apart from the lunch break, are truly appreciated. Getting out of the car, breathing in the fresh air, and seeing a place we would never have thought to look for on our own—it allows for a real break in the journey before getting back in and setting off again. The morning was relaxed, with only one regularity zone, which we managed without any problems. We then went to the Château des Oliviers in Salette for lunch before hitting the road again for two more regularity zones in the early afternoon.

Our record

The end of the day was the best since the start of the race last Sunday. First of all, the people along the roads—you see them everywhere, but you never get tired of it. The waves, the smiles, the people stopping to cheer us on from the roadside. It's something that warms the heart, even in 35-degree heat.

@autohebdo.mag 🚗A look back at day 4 of our crew's adventure at Rally Princesses! #princessrally #richardmille #porsche ♬ original sound – AUTOhebdo

And then there was that fourteenth regularity zone. Thirteen penalty points. On paper, it might seem like a lot—the best crews in the rally average 0,5 points per stage. But for us, it's a record. And we're really proud of it. We felt something click, a way of working together that we're starting to really master. We wanted to keep the momentum going with the next zone—and then, during the liaison, we learned that it was cancelled due to the high temperatures.

At the time, we were a little frustrated. We wanted to repeat what we'd just done, to confirm that it wasn't a fluke. But when we arrived at the parc fermé, next to the Nîmes arena, we realized we were exhausted. Really. And that missing one regularity zone wasn't such a big deal. We're enjoying this evening with everyone before the grand finale. Tomorrow, we're off to Saint-Tropez—the final stage of the Rallye des Princesses Richard Mille. The goal is simple: to repeat the regularity zones like the last one, and above all, to make the most of every remaining kilometer.

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