Driving in France...help

[Vibb]

Like many of you, we are due to drive down to Le Mans tomorrow for what I hope will be a very good (and dry) weekend. I am due to be driving down with my father, but unfortunately royal mail have decided to lose his driver's licence in the post.

Has anyone driven in France without it? We have a photo copy if that would work? Unfortunately our French is non existent, so if we do get pulled over, we don't have much chance of arguing.

Help/suggestions welcome.