Le Mans Classic 2018 - Plateau Five 1966 to 1971

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!

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.   

It is dawn on Sunday morning and the sun rises below the iconic Dunlop bridge as Plateau Five cars race into the sunlight.

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.

The 1966 Lola T70 MkIIIB of Philippe Vandromme and Jacques Lafitte.

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.

A 1970 Chevron B16-FVC at the Ford Chicane in the twilight before dawn.

Unfortunately this 1970 Porsche 917K stayed in the paddock.  It looks resplendent in its David Piper colours.

A Lola T70 MkIIIB enters the start finish straight very early on Sunday morning.

Some Italian flavour in the plateau.  A 1971 Alfa Romeo 33 TT3 and a 1972 Ferrari Daytona 365GTB/4 Grp IV. 

The winning Duckhams-Ford driven by Jaques Nicolet.

Around dawn a group of cars heads up the hill towards the Dunlop chicane.

Some lovely period racing Ferraris.  The 1970 Ferrari 512S in the foreground and a 1970 Ferrari 512M behind.

The 1969 spec Porsche 917 driven by Romain Dumas.

An interview in the paddock whilst seated in the 1968 Healey-Climax SR2.

This 1972 Chevron B21 FVC finished ninth.

This 1969 Lola T70 MkIIIB finished runner up driven by P.France.

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.

The start of the second Plateau five race on Sunday morning before dawn.