THE STORY OF 2007
This year, Mâcon is the starting point. Again, along the Route-du-Soleil and slightly further south, right in the heart of the Burgundy region. The cocktail party on Sunday afternoon is hosted by the collective winemakers of Mâcon, attended by 189 teams, indicating that the international concept of the Tulpenrallye is gaining traction and becoming increasingly popular among participants. Chairman Kees Stoel is knighted as a Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau in the week leading up to the Tulpenrallye.
The organization introduces the Expert class this year. As the classic rally sport continues to evolve, some navigators are improving significantly. This makes it increasingly challenging for route planners to create a route that is sufficiently challenging for all navigators aiming to drive at the sport class level. The organization addresses this by introducing a new class alongside the Sport class: Expert. Here, navigation challenges are greater, and the available time for sections is shorter than in the Sport class. The overall winner of the Tulpenrallye (Coupe Rallye des Tulipes) is henceforth the winner of the Expert class.
Furthermore, closed terrain tests are added to the event. Route planners Adrie Brugmans and Jaap Daamen suggest this based on the success seen in other historic rallies. It adds an extra element to the challenges for the teams and the standings, giving drivers the opportunity to showcase their skills. This year, 5 of these tests are included in the program.
Following the successful introduction of the partnership concept, the Tulpenrallye has 4 Partners this year. Van Lanschot Bankiers returns as a partner, and IT service provider LogicaCMG replaces Atos Origin. Vredestein tires and DTZ Zadelhoff are the new Partners. Vredestein thereby renews its historical relationship with the Tulpenrallye and will remain active as a partner for many years.
The route on the first day heads directly into the mountains and offers immediate challenges. Several high mountains are included in the route; the finish on this day is in Aix-les-Bains. Day 2 heads to Yverdon-les-Bains in Switzerland on Lake Neuchâtel and takes participants over the Grand Colombier (with a time control in dense fog) at the highest point of this edition of the Tulpenrallye. On Wednesday, the rally starts at the beautiful Neuchâtel Castle for a route through the mountains of the Jura and the Vosges, lunch at the Peugeot Museum in Sochaux, and the finish in the renowned Riquewihr. On Thursday, participants continue north with a test at the Geoparc Circuit, arriving at the Alvisse Parc Hotel in Luxembourg by the end of the day. Friday sees bad weather and strong winds. Several trees fall across the roads of the route, but these are promptly cleared by the route planners and lead cars preceding the rally caravan. From Kasteel Vaeshartelt, where participants spend the night on Friday, they head towards Noordwijk on Saturday. In Brabant, several challenging sections are set, including a demanding test at the DAF test track in Udenhout.
Key participants include Bert Dolk / Erwin Berkhof (winners of the previous three editions), Jos Lommerse / Marleen Hendrikse, Harm Lamberigts / Arthur Denzler, Karel Westerman / Martin Roosenboom, Lisa Lankes / Robert Rorife, Albert Boekel / Joep Wanders, Jan Ebus / Jan Berkhof, and Ruud Strooper / Ingeborg Guliker.
Jos Lommerse and Marleen Hendrikse lay the foundation for victory on the first day by missing only 1 checkpoint as the sole team. Dolk / Berkhof surprise by missing 5 checkpoints. They are unsure why, but the fact that they haven’t had much time to drive together before this Tulpenrallye may not have helped.
The team of Jos Lommerse and Marleen Hendrikse convincingly win the 54th edition of the International Historic Tulpenrallye with their 1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia 1300. After finishing third in 2005 and second in 2006, this team drives into the Pickézaal of Grand Hotel ‘Huis ter Duin’ on Saturday evening, May 12, to receive the Coupe Rallye des Tulipes with their car. The second place in this Tulpenrallye is secured by the team of Ruud Strooper / Ingeborg Guliker with a 1968 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV (872 points), while Karel Westerman and Marten Roosenboom arrive in Noordwijk in third place with a 1963 Porsche 356B (1162 points).
The Sport class is won by Peter Dutman and André v.d. Geijn with a 1968 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV, followed closely by Michel Perridon and Maurits Verhoeff with a 1965 Volvo 121, trailing by only 84 points. The Tour class is convincingly won by the debutant and young team of Jochem Kentgens / Kasper Pruysen with a 1971 Morgan 4/4 competition, after a thrilling battle with Pim and Stéphanie Brunet de Rochebrune and their 1966 Jaguar E-Type DHC, finishing just 194 points behind. Kentgens / Pruysen are welcomed outside Noordwijk by 25 classic Morgans escorting them to the finish.
