Pau Classic Grand Prix 2023 - Formula Ford

 

Saturday's race for the later FF1600 cars. Belgian driver John Svensson in his Ray GR17 leads Hugo Carini in Van Diemen RF90.   At the time it was the battle for second place but Hugo got through and won the race once Christophe Vernet retired.   This was taken from the grandstand at Virage de la Gare.

There were four Formula Ford races at the Pau Classic Grand Prix.  Two were for the earlier Kent engined cars from 1967 to 1989, and two were for the later cars, either Kent or Zetec engined, from 1990 to 1999.  They provided the bulk of the single seater action at Pau this year and were mainly entrants from the various French based championships for Kent and Zetec engined cars.   As usual there was good racing amongst these cars.

First corner on the first lap of Saturday's FF1600 race and Christophe Vernet has taken the lead from pole position in his Van Diemen RF99.  The first four already have quite a lead.

One of the few French marques who made Formula Ford cars.  This is a Mygale SJ03 which was driven into fourth place in Saturdays race for newer FF1600 cars by Eric Heudicourt.

A couple of Van Diemen RF91s battle it out in Saturdays race for the newer FF1600 cars.  Patrick D'Aubreby leads Alain Simon. 

A gaggle of newer FF1600 cars exit the Hoch chicane during practice.  A Van Dieman RF92 leads a Ray GR19 and a Van Diemen RF99.

Arnaud Dousse in his Van Diemen RF91 lifts a wheel as he bounce over the low kerbs of the Hoch chicane.

The Swift SC92 of Francois Mazingant heads downhill by the chicane.

The first corner of the first lap for Saturday's race for the earlier FF1600 cars.

The Van Diemen RF89 of Matthieu Boissière that won both races for the older FF1600 cars.  Here he leads Sunday's race.

The Royale RP23 of Stéphane Malaisé in Sunday's race just starting to turn into Virage Pont Oscar.

The Van Diemen RF73 of Frédéric Boudat.

The Royale RP84 of Francois Bugat.

The Van Diemen RF77 of Christophe Contre.

The Lola T540 of Swiss driver Jean Dionisotti.

Van Diemen RF99 being challenged by a Mygale SJ03

Swift SC92 leads out of Poeymirau.

Christophe Vernet in the chicane in his Van Diemen RF99.

Van Diemen RF73 rear end as it follows an RF80 out of the chicane.

Van Diemen RF80 during its descent out of Poeymirau.

Claude Tetiot in his Reynard FF85. He finished fourth on Saturday.

Loïc Bouquet in his Swift SC88.  He finished fourth on Sunday.

Van Diemen RF81 leads a Lotus 59F.

Merlyn Mk20 leads a Swift.

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A view from up the hill to the first corner as the eighties FF cars go by.  This is the lead group.