17ème Rencontre Auto Moto Lès Essarts 2017

Jean-Baptiste Marc, Martini Mk18, Formula France. Virage Samson, Rouen-Les-Essarts, 11 June 2017

Rouen-les-Essarts was a major French racing circuit made up of public roads from 1950 to 1993.  The circuit held the French GP for cars five times and three times for motorcycles. Eventually it became too dangerous and was closed.  Nowadays, it is difficult to tell that these roads were once a famous racing circuit as almost all evidence has disappeared.  However, almost every year there is an event held on a part of the old circuit to keep the memory alive.  This was the seventeenth holding of this meeting but my first attendance.  I felt my attendance was obligatory at some point given the name of my blog.

What surprised me was the huge number of people attending this event.  Maybe it is because of the history, maybe it is because of the good publicity, maybe it is because it is free, maybe it is because it attracts both car and bike fans, probably a combination of all four, but spectators were numerous at the 2017 event.  The event consists of demo runs up the old course from the Nouveau Monde hairpin to just before the Chemin de l’Etoile.    This was not a timed event and to make it safe about a half dozen temporary chicanes were inserted along the Montée Historique.   Nevertheless, some cars and bikes were going impressively fast.  Well done to the organisers and marshalls for keeping us all under control and safe – never easy at these events.

It was a lovely day and I enjoyed trying to take some photographs that evoked the old Rouen-les-Essarts circuit.  Luckily there were numerous participants with their single seaters, GT cars, touring cars, motor bikes and sidecars to provide interest. Below are some of my favourite shots from the day.

Arnaud Périer, BMW 2002.

Yves Mascotto, MG TA, Virage Samson, Rouen-les-Essarts.

Loads of motorbikes including on the far left Ludovic Lesueur on his Peugeot 176 TC4.

The motor cycle sidecar combinations were impressive.  Here is Pierre Sacchettini's Douniaux BMW 750.

Hervé Delaunay in a Dulon Formula Ford leading a group of single seaters down the hill.   Hervé raced at Rouen when it was still a motor racing circuit.

Stéphane Brice and his immaculate Peugeot 205 GTi FN1

Grac MT10 near the top of the course.

Opel Manta B GT/E

Charles Dugardin riding his Champion Super up the hill.

Formula Ford Royale RP26

Sirius Sidecar.

Formula Renault

Martini Mk11

Axel Desjardin, Fiat Coupé.

Frédéric Gabet, Alpine Renault A310 1600 VF

Peugeot.

Philippe Levard, Renault 8 R1132        

Henri Blanchard, BMW 323i on the lower section of the course.

Francois Duval, Renault Dauphine Proto.

Gautier Garand, Chevrolet Corvette

Jean-Yves Le Gall,  Alpine A110 1600S

Patrice Gueroult, KTM X-Bow at the start by the old Nouveau Monde Hairpin.

Bernard Petitjean, Renault R8 Gordini.

Alpine Renault A310.

The same car accelerating away from the start.

Gérard Weibel on a Honda 900 Bol d'Or leads a group of Motos down the course.

Arnaud Senente, Ford Cortina GT.

Marc Guillemin, Formula Ford

Peugeot.106 16S, Jérémie Cheval

Guy Delabarre, Simca 1000 Rallye 2 Proto.

Hervé Delaunay, one of the drivers who used to race here.

Hervé drives past the old steps that used to lead up to the spectator areas at the exit to Nouveau Monde.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.

Some of the famous Nouveau Monde cobblestones can still be seen where the tarmac has worn away.

PIcnic in front of the curve that used to lead down to Nouveau Monde.