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| Katsu Kubota in the impressively fast 1990 Nissan R90CK at the Esses on the first lap. He led for three laps. |
A grid of
nearly forty cars meant that we were on for a good Group C race at Le Mans this
year. Jensen Button’s entry in a Jaguar
had unfortunately been scratched but we still had the treat of seeing five
Jaguars present. These Group C cars
represent that classic period of Sports car racing from 1982 to 1993. The top drivers in the race were lapping at
an average speed of over 200kph or over 125mph.
Top speed in the speed trap was over 330 kph or 200 mph for Kubotas
Nissan!
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| A 1985 Porsche 956 battling it out with a 1989 Porsche 962. |
This
Classic Group C Racing is mainly for Group C and IMSA cars but other cars such
as Japanese series cars are permitted and certain other cars by invitation. The
grid was split into 6 classes based on age of car, specification and the
original category it ran in. The faster
cars are those of the 1991 to 1993 era when these sports cars were powered by
3.5 litre Formula One engines.
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| Lots of variety with a Peugeot leading two Jaguars, a Porsche and a Tiga. |
Lots of
variety on the grid with something like fifteen different marques
represented. It was disappointing not to
have a Mercedes-Benz on the grid, but overall a great field with the afore
mentioned Jaguars plus the obligatory Porsches and a French feel with the Rondeau
and the Peugeots.
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| The 1985 Toyota 85C. It didn't finish. |
Especially, great to see one of the early 1985 Toyotas racing
given that they finally scored a Le Mans victory three weeks ago. The race at 43 minutes long was rather too
long for some of these cars as about a third dropped out along the way but this
added to the endurance feel of the event.
A number of changes of lead as cars began to hit reliability issues and
another after the race as cars were penalised for incidents and slow zone
infringements. This was the second time
that the Group C cars had been at the Le Mans Classic, long may it continue. Most of them may only be gentleman drivers
but they do a good job in these beautiful and fast cars.
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| This 1987 Porsche 962 was first on the road but penalised a lap by the stewards. |
Here are my photos of the race on Saturday 7th
July 2018 around noon, taken from the public areas at the outside of the Esses
and from the inside of Tertre Rouge. I
didn’t get to the Group C paddock despite walking 20 kilometres over the weekend;
there is always so much to see at the Le Mans Classic. The conditions were sunny and hot throughout. For those interested I was using a Canon 7D
MkII with a Canon 70-300mm f4-f5.6 is usm lens.
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| The eventual winner was Michael Lyons in the 1991 Gebhardt C91. |
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| Shaun Lynn won the C1A class in this 1987 Jaguar XJR9 and came in second overall. |
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| This 1989 Jaguar XJR12 led from pole position until the Nissan got past. |
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| The Ralf Kelleners/Ivan Vercoutier Jaguar XJR11 was third overall. |
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| The 1985 EMKA C84/1-Aston Martin had trouble on the warm up lap but got going again with the help of the marshals. |
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| Leader at half distance was the 1992 Spice SE92 GTP of Campagne and Kalff. |
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| This 1990 Porsche 962 was very competitive but didn't finish. Here it is chased by a Spice and the eventual winner. |
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| Another to lead the race was this 1990 Porsche 962C of Hubner and Werner. |
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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| Always a pleasure to see and hear the 1993 Peugeot 905 Ev1 bis. This one finished second in class. |
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