Group C Racing - Dix Mille Tours du Castellet - 2017

The battle for the lead in race 2 between Kriton Lendoudis in his 1989 Mercedes Benz C11 and the 1990 Porsche 962C shared by Michel Lecourt and Raymond Narac.

By the time the second Group C race was ready to start on Sunday afternoon the Mistral wind was really blowing up a storm.  At times it was really difficult to hold the camera remotely still!   I was glad I had my monopod with me and that I had already taken pictures of the cars during Saturday's qualifying.  Paul Ricard is a nice track with good spectator access but the Mistral can be rather unpleasant and turns a pleasantly warm autumn day into a miserably cold one.   However, it was nice to see a brace of Mercedes Benz C11s in this race and a field of sixteen cars.  Below are the photos I took of the Group C cars over the whole weekend.

The Group C cars come round in formation for the rolling start of Race 2.

The winning 1989 Mercedes C11 being chased by the 1992 Spice that eventually retired.

The second placed 1990 Porsche 962C showing off the distinctive stripes of the Paul Ricard run-off areaqs.

The third placed 1990 Porsche 962C of Ivan Vercoutere and Ralf Kelleners.

The No.21 Porsche led for much of the race.  here it is chased by the next three cars, so very close racing.

There are trees and mountains near Paul Ricard.  It is not just striped run off areas.

In fourth place was this 1990 Mercedes Benz C11 driven by Roald Goethe and Stuart Halldd

Winner of class C2A and fifth overall was Laurent Fort in this 1988 Tiga GC288. 

The sixth placed 1989 Porsche 962 of Max Von Braunmuehl.

The second of the C2A class was this 1988 Spice SE88C of Frédéric Da Rocha.

Xavier Galant was third in the C2A class with this 1988 Tiga GC288

Group C cars entering the start finish straight.

Winner of class C1b was Christian Perrier in this 1985 March 85G

The battle for ninth place.

Rounding out the top ten was this 1990 Porsche 962C of Hans-Jörg Hübner and Wolfgang Destree.

Final Classified finisher was this 1988 Spice SE88C of Thomas Dozin.

Running at the back of the field was this distinctive 1982 Rondeau M382 driven by Hugo Mezaed.

Very fast and an early contender was this 1992 Spice SE92 Michiel Campagne and Allard Kalff.

It only completed 9 laps but it was nice to see this 1989 Tiga GC289 of Philippe Colançon.

Loved seeing this 1989 Cheetah G606 of Eric Richenbacher.

Really sad to this 1990 Porsche 962C expire at the end of the Mistral straight before even a lap was completed.

For the Classic Endurance I cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Classic Endurance 2 cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Group C cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Heritage Touring Cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Euro F2 cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Trofeo Nastro Rosso cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

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.

Group C cars at the end of the Mistral straight.

Euro F2 - Dix Mille Tours du Castellet - 2017

The battle for the lead in the first Formula Two race with Martin Stretton's March 742 leading Matthew Watts in a March 772 towards the end of the race at the last corner.

A rather small field of just eight  historic Formula Two cars turned out at Paul Ricard for the  Dix Mille Tours meeting in October 2017.  However, they was a close battle at the front of the field.  Here are a few photos from Sunday's first race.  Martin Stretton won from pole position and took fastest lap.

Martin Stretton in the March 742 acknowledges the crowds applause after his win. 

Philippe Scemama  in a March 752 came fourth.

Bernard Thuner in a March 742 came fifth.

The eighth placed 1970 Brabham BT30 of Lincoln Small.

Charles Veillard in this 1977 Ralt RT1 came seventh.

Third placed David Tomlin in his Rondel Motul M1.

Jean-Marc Bussolini in a 1971 Lotus 69 came sixth.

For the Classic Endurance I cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Classic Endurance 2 cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Group C cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Heritage Touring Cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Euro F2 cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Trofeo Nastro Rosso cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

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.

With the Mistral blowing and with just six starters and four finishers, Matthew Watts won the second race in his March 772.

Heritage Touring Cup - Dix Mille Tours du Castellet - 2017

The huge field of classic touring cars comes round for the rolling start at Paul Ricard on Sunday afternoon.

The Dix Mille Tours du Castellet or 10,000 laps of Paul Ricard has become the traditional end to the European historic racing season.   The Heirtage Touring Cup is for classic Touring Cars from the era 1966 to 1884.  Thus a fantastic array of Fords, BMWs and other marques that recapture the history of the European Touring Car Championship in its golden years.  I was there for the qualifying on Saturday morning and the 60 minute 24 lap race on Sunday afternoon and captured the pictures below of these beautiful cars.  Hope you enjoy!

The winner was Christian Traber in his 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL.

Early leader was this 1974 Ford Capri 3100 RS shared by Gerard Lopez and Dickie Meaden.

A group of cars exit the last corner onto the start finish straight. 

The 1983 BMW 635 CSi that came third in Group A.

Capri vs Escort.

1974 Volkswagen Scirocco leads a 1965 pink Ford Mustang that was in the invitation class.

Typical Paul Ricard shot with an 1971 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTAm

1978 Ford Escort 1800 RS chased by a much older 1972 Escort.

1972 BMW 3.0 CSL leads another BMW and a VW Scirocco through the last corner.

1972 Ford Escort 1600 RS.

For the Classic Endurance I cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Classic Endurance 2 cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Group C cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Heritage Touring Cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Euro F2 cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Trofeo Nastro Rosso cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

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.

A view down the start finish straight as a 1971 BMW 2002 Ti exits the last corner.

Supercars - Dreux Rallycross 2017

Winner at Dreux was Philippe Maloigne.

The premier category of Rallycross in France is Supercars.   They are 500hp plus four wheel drive cars similar to those that take part in the World Rally Championship and can reach 1000kph innless tan 2.5 seconds.  A variety of cars such as Citroen DS3, Peugeot 208, Renault Clio and Ford Fiesta take part.  Definitely spectacular, competitive and fun to watch.  These photos are from the last round of the Chamionnat de France de Rallycross ar the Circuit Philippe-Chanoine in Dreux whicvh is about an hour south west of Paris. 

Work going on in the paddock during the lunch break on the Ford Focus of Jos Jansen.

Guy Moreton negotiating the joker section in his VW Scirocco.

Cutting the apexes in the Esses at Dreux.

Laurent Bouliou lifts a heel in the joker section in his Peugeot 208 RX.

The Peugeot 208 RX of  Rodolphe Audran.

The Ford Fiesta of  Laurent Jacquinet almost lost in the dust.

The Citroen  of Jean Juin.

The third car hits one o the barriers in the Esses.

Firmin Caddedu lifts a wheel in his Citroen C4 RX.

Jos Jansen finds it difficult to drive his Ford Focus due the damage.

Florent Bedeneau in his Peugeot 208 RX.   He was to be crowned Supercars Champion after Dreux.

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.

Work in the paddock for the mechanics of Guerlain Chicherit's Renault Clio 3 RX.