Programme 2009

Thursday 20 th August 2009:

The spectacular prelude

It begins with a start that you only experience at the RAID. To the applause of thousands of onlookers, you start the great rally by driving onto the podium in the centre court of the Swiss Trade Fair in Basel. And right after Basle you come across something you'd never even dream of – wonderful, practically traffic-free roads through deserted, but all the more impressive, Jura region. Our destination is Besançon with its citadel which has been designated a World Heritage site.

A special programme with a very difficult and exciting night stage for driver and navigator awaits the drivers in the "Sports" category. A unique experience – the exciting atmosphere, motors throbbing, headlights guide you hesitantly through the summer's night…

Basel		Besançon

Friday, 21 st August 2009:

The big RAID day!

Starting in the area surrounding Besançon, you criss-cross the back-roads of France. The roads are lined with roadside crosses and old walls, lush green meadows, lakes, a distant horizon and villages almost forgotten by time.

The famous Friday buffet awaits you at midday at an especially memorable, historical site. Then you discover the wonderful city of Troyes, drive on into the Champagne region to Reims with a joint evening meals au champagne and comfortable buses to take you to the city hotels.

On the way you experience – as on all three days – everything an exciting rally has to offer – navigation, time trials, hose tests, demonstrating your driving skills – with a genuine rally atmosphere guaranteed.

The "Sports" category sees a première: fast laps and exciting trials on the Circuit des Ecuyers. A challenging sports programme full of racing atmosphere – the RAID drivers meet English pilots with their racing and sports cars on the Circuit.

Saturday, 22 nd August 2009:

Paris is getting closer…

Nationale Suisse Day

Heading north from Reims to Laon, the city with the mediaeval cathedral.

A new challenge awaits you here – the Montée de Laon, drive on winding streets from the lower town to the upper town (in cooperation with the Association de La Montée Historique de Laon). Then you're off to Picardie, which is like a trip through a flower garden. Navigating, calculating and keeping times, getting the hang of the hose tests – it's the entire RAID programme all over again!

And then the finish – Château de Versigny, a large, private property in the style of the castle at Versailles, rarely visited by the public. This is where the 19 th RAID ends, with a cool aperitif awaits the participants and where you can sap experiences. You can revel in having experienced achieved something extraordinary. Then there's the transfer to the hotel Le Méridien Etoile near the Champs Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe, followed by the gala dinner and

the prize-giving ceremony.

Sunday, 23 rd August 2009:

Les Adieux…

Comprehensive breakfast, individual return journey.

On request: Accompanied return journey or TCS vehicle return transport.

Here are the cultural Highlights of the
19th RAID SUISSE-PARIS…

(A special service of the RAID SUISSE-PARIS: each driver will receive a booklet with the most important cultural tips)

	Besançon Julius Caesar mentions this fort as early as 58 BC. Extended in 1668 by Vauban to its present form as a fortress at the behest of Louis XIV, the citadel has been a UNESCO World Cultural site since 2008.
	Langres One of France's 50 most beautiful cities. Surrounded by a 3.5 km long city wall with nine towers and six gates, it is a picture book city.
	Troyes You discover this mediaeval city with its typical Rieghäuser (half-timbered houses) and the cathedral in which Jeanne d’Arc rested on 10 July 1429 on her journey to the coronation of Charles VII in Reims.
	Laon The Old Town with its windy alleys and its Early Gothic cathedral sits majestic on high on a row of hills. Its construction started in 1155 – and was completed eighty years later. Other cathedrals remained at the building-site stage for centuries.
	Château de Versigny The official finish of the 19 th RAID SUISSE-PARIS. The castle has been the private property of the de Kersaint family since 1401.

Itinerary: