2019 Porsche Carrera Cup France, Magny-Cours

Baptiste Moulin bumping over the kerbs at the chicane.  He finished ninth.

The Porsche Carrera Cup France series was supporting the FFSA Championnat de France GT4 in September.  The Carrera Cup cars, although a support race were actually considerably quicker than the GT4 cars.   However, there were much fewer of them, only 18, and they all were of course the same car.  Thus lovely Porsches but I really don't care for single model series as a spectator and photographer.  Unfortunately most championships these days are like this.  Probably good for the drivers as a reasonable even playing field for them but a little monotonous for the rest of us.

The winner of race 1 on Saturday was Florian Latorre.

Ayhancan Güven was runner up on Saturday but the winner on Sunday.

The top Pro-Am driver was Christophe Lapierre in eighth place.

Highest placed Am driver was Jerôme Boullery in tenth place.

Sébastien Baud leads Baptiste Moulin through the chicane.  Sebastien finished thirteenth.

Gianmarco Quaresmini finshed seventh.

Emil Caumes who came second in the Am category.

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.

Sébastien Baud.

Renault Clio Cup - Magny-Cours 2019

Kerb hopping from the Renault Clio cars at Magny-Cours.  Leading this group is Mickael Carrée.

The Renault Clio Cup France series visited Magny-Cours in September for the penultimate round of their 2019 Championship.  I took most of these pictures during their qualifying session on Saturday.  The Renault Clio Cup has been going since 1991 and followed on from varoius other one make series that Renault has organised since the sixties.  The particular cars racing in 2019 are in their last year having being raced since 2013.

The Renault Clios come out for their race after the GT4s.

The winner on Saturday was Anthony Jurado.  It was first win in the series since Easter at Nogaro

The runner up in Saturday's race was Nicolas Milan, but he took victory on Sunday.

Joining Jurado and Milan on the podium on Saturday was Thibaut Boissy.

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 Tierce Racing cars in formation through the chicane..

308 Racing Cup - Magny Cours 2019

David Duponchel leads Sébastien Loeuillet into Chateau d'Eau.

One of the supporting races for the French GT4 Championship at Magny-Cours in September was the 308 Racing Cup.   it was the fifth meeting of the year for this Championship that has seen a battle between Julien Briché and Jimmy Clairet.  In their turbocharged 1.6 litre 308bhp Peugeots the battle was resumed at Nevers for the Pro title.  There was also the fight for the Junior drivers under 25 with Teddy Clairet fighting Florian Briché.  In the Amateur category there was also a struggle between Stéphane Ventaja and Sylvain Pussier.  Look at the pictures and captions below to see who did well at Magny-Cours.  A nice fun championship and good to see them bumping over the chicane!

The battle for the lead with Jimmy Clairet leading Julien Briche.

The battle for third place between Johann Boris Scheier and Teddy Clairet.

Overall winner of race 1 was Jimmy Clairet who also took fastest lap.

Second overall was Julien Briche.  Howver, he took the win on Sunday.

Third overall and top junior driver was Teddy Clairet.  He also won the class on Sunday.

In fourth place and third in the pro class was Johann Boris Scheier.

Runner-up in the Junior class was Florian Briche, seen here at the Adelaide hairpin.

The third placed junior driver, Aurélien Renet sends sparks flying as he bumps over the chicane in practice. 

First in the amateur class was Stephane Ventaja, seen here fighting off one of the Pro drivers into Chateau d'Eau.

Second placed amateur driver was Xavier Guyonnet.

Third in the amateur category was Sylvain Pussier.

Xavier Fouinneau leading a group through the chicane in practice.

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 leading group go through the Adelaide hairpin.

Funyo SportProto Sprint Cup 2019 - Magny Cours

Nicolas Canard leads the field at the end of Race 1 at Magny-Cours.

The Funyo SportProto Sprint Cup is supporting the French GT4 Championship at five meetings this year including in September at Magny-Cours.  They are rather nice looking open sports prototypes, manufactured in France, and powered by Peugeot 308 GTI engines.  The Funyo SP05  has a top speed of 250 kph and can do 0-100kph in 3.6 seconds.  As well as the new SP05 some older Funyos also take part.  At Magny-Cours there was a nice big field of 33 cars.  I was there to see the two races on Saturday.  The grid for race one is determined by qualifying whilst the grid for race two is determined by the finishing order of race one.  Each race lasts twenty minutes.

A spin during the Funyo race.

Nicolas Cannard leading in Race two under braking for Chateau d'Eau.

Nicolas Cannard winning Race One.

An incident in race two as Jean-Claude Rolland and Eric Mary come together at Chateau d'eau.

Frédéric Fauchere was the winner of race two.

Aurélien Robineau on the limit as he heads for fourth place in race one.

The podium for race one.  Nicolas Cannard, Jonathan Dessens and Frédéric Fauchere.

Nicolas Sturm on hisway to tenth place in race one.

Nicolas Siebenschuh who came ninth in race one.

Last minute preparation for David Chiche on the grid.

Michel Vassal in race two.

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.

Christian Camboulive was tenth in race two.

The Funyos in the Adelaide Hairpin.

More action at the hairpin.

2019 - Championnat de France GT4 - Magny-Cours

The Alpine A110 of Stéhane Lemeret and Pierre-Alexandre Jean on the limit in qualifying.

The most important French national motor sport series is the FFSA GT4 championship.  Based mainly on road going GT cars, GT4 cars are all designed to be equal in performance and thus this provides for close racing but because of the different marques of car involved more interest than the myriad of one-make series that exist today.  Magny-Cours was the penultimate destination for the series this year and hosted two one hour races for the GT4s over the weekend.  Having not been to either Magny-Cours or the FFSA GT championship for a while, I felt it time for some re-aquaintance, particularly as the Alpine A110 GT4 cars are in abundance in this series.

The winning BMW M4 bumping over the kerbs at the chicane in qualifying.

Thus on Saturday September 14th, I caught both the qualifying session and the first one hour race for these cars.  There was a very large field of 42 cars entered for the race which really shows the health of French GT4 racing.  Makes of car represented included Alpine, Audi, BMW, Ginetta, Mercedes and Porsche.  Each car has to be driven by two drivers and there are two classes, one for Pro-Am and one for Amateurs only.   There were a few relatively well known drivers present including Alain Ferté who was a well-known F3, F2, F3000 pilot in the early eighties and a Le Mans driver there afterwards .  Nicolas Prost, Vincent and Anthony Beltoise and Fabien Barthez were also driving.

A general view of Magny-Cours wth the leaders in Chateau d'Eau.

I spend the morning qualifying session not far from the finish line to see the exit from the chicane and returned there later in the day for a few final shots and for the podium.  The afternoon’s race, I spent more at the virage Chateau d’Eau (water tower corner in English) and the Adelaide hairpin. Although a rather featureless circuit in many respects, Magny Cours does have the benefit of many very good seated viewing positions where you see the track without having to look through wire fencing. I have to say that I rather enjoyed my day, especially as this was my first visit of the year to a race on a permanent circuit!   The days entertainment including five other categories of national championship racing was rather good value at 15 euros.

The battle for the lead was close at the end of the race!

All the cars that took part can be seen below in the order that they were classified in Saturday’s race.  The French / Dutch winning team of drivers did well to take BMW’s first win this year.  It was close right up to the end but a good start from a well earned pole position and then ensuring no mistakes was their recipe for success.

1^st.   17 – BMW M4 – Christopher Cambell / Ricardo Van Der Ende – Pro-Am

The winning BMW M4 entering Chateau d'Eau.

The podium with Ricardo and Christopher on the top step and team manager on the right.

2^nd.  42 – Audi R8 LMS – Fabien Michal / Gregory Guilvert – Pro-Am

The fast Audi R8 LMS in qualifying.

Fabien and Gregory with their second place trophies on the left of the podium.

After the two rounds at Magny-Cours the pairing of Fabien Michal and Gregory Guilvert lead the Pro-Am drivers’ championship on 124 points from Stéphane Lemeret and Alexandre Jean-Pierre on 108.

3^rd.  88 – Mercedes AMG – Benjamin Ricci / Thomas Drouet – Pro-Am

The Mercedes AMG exiting the chicane late in the race.

The Pro Am drivers enjoy the champagne with Benjamin and Thomas to the right.

4^th.  87 -  Mercedes AMG – Jean-Luc Beaubelique / Jim Pla – Pro-Am

The Mercedes AMG entering Chateau d'Eau.

5^th.  187 – Mercedes AMG – Edouard Cauhappé / Arthur Rougier – Pro-Am

Three Mercedes AMG battle it out in the chicane.

6^th.  35 – Alpine A110 – Alain Ferté / Grégoire Demoustier – Pro-Am

The Alpoine A110 in the chicane.

7^th.  111 – Alpine 110 – Servol / Tribaudini – Pro-Am

Two Alpines in Chateau d'Eau.

8^th.  16 – Mercedes AMG – Fabien Barthez / Parisy – Pro-Am

The Mercedes AMG in qualifying.

9^th.  48 – Audi R8 LMS – Pernaut / Nouet – Pro-Am

The Audi R8 LMS at the chicane.

10^th.  36 – Alpine A110 – Lemeret / Jean – Pro-Am

The Alpine A110 entering Chateau d'Eau.

11^th.  7 – Alpine A110 – Wallgren / Courroye – Pro-Am

Side by side through Chateau d'Eau.

12^th.  76 – Alpine A110 – Jean=Charles Rédélé / Nicolas Prost – Pro-Am

The Alpine A110 exits the Adelaide hairpin.

13^th.  22 – Ginetta G55 – Pascal Huteau / Valentin Simonet – Am 1^st in class

The Am claas winning Ginetta G55 leads a crowded group out of the chicane late in the race.

Pascal and Valentin on top of the Am podium with their trophies.

14^th.  21 – Audi R8 LMS – Esteves / Anthony Beltoise – Pro Am

The Audi R8 LMS entering Chateau d'Eau.

15^th.  14 – Audi R8 LMS – Debard / Gachet – Pro-Am

The Audi R8 LMS on the start / finish straight.

16^th.  72 – Ginetta G55 – Sylvain Caroff / Erwan Bastard – Am 2^nd in class

The Ginetta G55 entering Chateau d'Eau.

The Am drivers spray champagne (Sylvain and Erwan on the left)..

17^th.  10 – Porsche 718 Cayman CS MR – Nicolas Gomar / Julien Lambert – Am 3^rd in class

The Porsche Cayman just before it lost its second place in class.

The French national anthem is played with Nicolas and Julien to the right.

With their third place on Saturday the team of Nicolas Gomar and Julien Lambert still lead the drivers championship for Amateur drivers from Pascal Huteau and Valentin Simon.

18^th.  5 – Audi R8 LMS – Delomier / Hamon – Am

The Audi R8 LMS bumping over the chicane.

19^th.  37 – BMW M4 – Brandela / Moulin-Traffort – Pro-Am

The BMW M4 exiting the chicane.

20^th.  53 – Mercedes AMG – Bourret / Gibon – Am

The Mercedes AMG crosses the finishing line in practice.

21^st.  616 – Alpine A110 – Sourd / Castagne – Pro-Am

The Alpine A110 leads a group out of the chicane late in the race.

22^nd.  79 – Porsche Cayman CS MR – Nauroy / Dayraut – Am

The Porsche exiting the chicane late in the race.

23^rd . 161 -  Porsche Cayman CS MR – Dumaine / Carrière – Am

The #161 Porsche exits the chicane.

24^th.  99 – Ginetta G55 – Maio / Chalal – Am

The Ginetta G55 entering Chateau d'Eau.

25^th.  777 – Ginetta G55 – Aboujaoude / Sarkissian – Am

The Ginetta G55 in qualifying crossing the finishing line.

26^th.  84 – Ginetta G55 – Lallement / Cazalbon – Am

The Ginetta G55 just keeps off the dirt during a qualifying lap.

27^th.  33 – Ginetta G55 – Guerin / Figuiére – Am

The Ginetta G55 follows a group into the Adelaide hairpin.

28^th.  94 – Ginetta G55 – Condani / Hodier - Am

The Ginetta G55 entering Chateau d'Eau.

29^th.  38 – BMW M4 – Debs / Buffin – Am

The BMW M4 entering Chateau d'Eau.

30^th.  61 – Alpine A110 – Miot / Cochet – Am

The Alpine A310 entering Chateau d'Eau.

31^st.  90 – Porsche Cayman CS MR – Herr / Vannelet - Am

The Porsche Cayman crosses the finish line in qualifying.

32^nd. 1 – Ginetta G55 – Cabanne / Cappello – Pro-Am

The Ginetta G55 on the start / finish straight.

33^rd.  23 – Ginetta G55 – Nicolas / Pires – Am

The Ginetta G55 entering Chateau d'Eau.

NC.  919 – Alpine A110 – Lison / Vincent Beltoise – Pro-Am

The Porsche entering the start / finish straight.

NC.  2 – Alpine A110 – Gvazava / Ivanov – Am

The Alpine A110 entering Chateau d'Eau.

NC.  3 – BMW M4 – Hurgon / Piguet - Pro-Am

The BMW M4 entering Chateau d'Eau.

NC.  27 – Audi R8 LMS – Blanchemain / Palette – Pro-Am

The Audi R8 LMS on the start finish straight.

NC.  71 – Ginetta G55 – Jouvent / Nicolas Schatz – Pro-Am

The Nicolas Schatz Ginetta in qualifying.

NC.  67 – Audi R8 LMS – Leherpeur / Martins – Pro-Am

The Audi R8 LMS exiting the chicane 

NC.  141 – Porsche 718 Cayman CS MR – Saleilles / Besson – Pro-Am

The Porsche Cayman entering the start / finish straight.

NC.  9 – Alpine A110 – Hernandez / Ayari – Pro-Am

The Alpine A110 in qualifying.

DNS.  8 – Alpine A110 – Consani / Lariche – Pro-Am

The Alpine A110 in qualifying at the chicane.

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 finish of the race with the winner about to take the chequered flag and one of the Mercedes cutting the Chicane and thus about to be penalised.   Very close finish for the first five cars.