Course de Côte du Mont-Dore / Chambon-sur-Lac, 2021, HTCC

Almost as though it were a circuit race, a Honda Civic chases a Peugeot 505 up the hill.

There were three things that made this year's Course de Côte du Mont-Dore different to last year's edition.  The first was the weather which on Saturday was very changeable and very challenging unlike the fine weather that had greeted me last year,  However, looking on the bright side, it did make for some interesting photographs.  Secondly, this year all the competitors and spectators needed a 'Pass Sanitaire' to show they had been vaccinated or negatively tested against Covid 19.  For me this was a good thing in these difficult times.  Lastly, this year a class was run for HTCC cars, which for me was a great addition to the event.

The French HTCC or Historique Tourisme Champion Car, as it is known in full, is an affordable Circuit Championship that has been integrated into La Coupe de France des Circuits since 2019.   It was really great to see them on the mountain.  The cars are Touring Cars from 1960 to 1992 and contain Groups 1, 2, N and A amongst others.  Recently, famous 80 year old Rally Champion Jean-Claude Andruet drove a BMW in the HTCC race at Charade and was down in the program to return to Mont Dore, but alas it was not to be. 

All the photos in this post were in the practice runs on Saturday when conditions were rather adverse. i have included photos of all the eleven runners.   I really enjoyed some of the cars being driven quite aggressively considering the weather.

It was really quite dark when the HTCC made there first runs before 9.00am on Saturday but there was worse to come!     This is the fastest runner, Steve Compain in his BMW M3.

Second fastest was, Steve's son, Thomas Compain in this Honda Civic VTEC.  He is seen here driving through the early afternoon rain shower.

The President of the ASA Mont Dore, Patrick Bourguignon, was third in this 
BMW 530 WS.

Fourth was this BMW 2002 Ti of Bernard Frugier.  The marshalls shelter under their umbrellas from the rain.

The Alfa Romeo 75T of Philippe Tournardre came fifth.

Sixth was the Peugeot 505 Production of Jean-Louis D'Esparbes. 

Jean-Louis Seveau was seventh in this BMW 323i.

The Peugeot 505 V6 of 'Levla'.

Jacques Cisotto and his BMW 635M.

The BMW E30 of Dominique Guillaume 

Stéphane Ruiz and his Peugeot 505.

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.

HTCC Peugeot 505 at Mont Dore.

The BMW 2002 Ti returning down the mountain with the mist rising in the background.