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The
amazing 1968 Howmet TX Gas Turbine car at Tertre Rouge on Saturday night.
Incredible to hear it whistling past during the night - an eerie
experience!
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This is probably my
favourite plateau at the Le Mans classic, for two reasons. Firstly I remember
seeing these cars race in the late sixties and early seventies and thus I get a
real nostalgia kick from seeing them. Secondly, they race on Saturday
night and Sunday morning when the light gives you some classic Le Mans
shots.
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It
is dawn on Sunday morning and the sun rises below the iconic Dunlop bridge as
Plateau Five cars race into the sunlight.
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1966 to 1971 represents an
era of change as Ferrari had dominated the early sixties but Ford won four
times on the trot from 1966 to 1969, Then Porsche began their amazing
winning record at Le Mans by taking wins with the 917 in 1970 and 1971.
This latter era was well represented with a number of Porsche 917s including a
recreation of one of the 1969 spec cars driven by a brave Romain Dumas.
Other famous drivers racing in this plateau included Jacques Lafitte.
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The
1966 Lola T70 MkIIIB of Philippe Vandromme and Jacques Lafitte.
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The winning car in the paddock. It is the
1972 Duckhams-Ford which was racing in the 1966 to 1971 plateau as it started
its life as a 1971 Formula One Brabham before being converted by Gordon Murray
into a Le Mans car for Alain de Cadenet and Chris Craft.
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A 1970 Chevron B16-FVC at the Ford Chicane in
the twilight before dawn.
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Unfortunately this 1970 Porsche 917K stayed in
the paddock. It looks resplendent in its David Piper colours.
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A Lola T70 MkIIIB enters the start finish
straight very early on Sunday morning.
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Some Italian flavour in the plateau. A
1971 Alfa Romeo 33 TT3 and a 1972 Ferrari Daytona 365GTB/4 Grp IV.
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The winning Duckhams-Ford driven by Jaques
Nicolet.
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Around dawn a group of cars heads up the hill
towards the Dunlop chicane.
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Some lovely period racing Ferraris. The
1970 Ferrari 512S in the foreground and a 1970 Ferrari 512M behind.
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The 1969 spec Porsche 917 driven by Romain
Dumas.
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An interview in the paddock whilst seated in the
1968 Healey-Climax SR2.
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This 1972 Chevron B21 FVC finished ninth.
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This 1969 Lola T70 MkIIIB finished runner up
driven by P.France.
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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.
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The start of the second Plateau five race on
Sunday morning before dawn.
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