Circuit des Remparts 2023 - Plateau Marc Nicolosi / Bugatti

 

The Plateau Marc Nicolosi featured a field of pre-war Bugattis and a sole Delage (No.4).

This plateau was named after the late Marc Nicolosi who founded Le Salon Rétromobile and did much to instil a love of old cars in France.  He was also a Bugatti lover.    This year there were 16 pre-war Bugattis present and racing and a sole Delage of the same epoch.  I particularly loved seeing the Delage.

The track pictures are from practice and the others are from the dummy grid in the paddock just before the race.

The race lasted 15 laps of the 1.28km circuit and 5 cars remained on the lead lap and 15 were classified.  The only UK driver in the field was utterly dominant.  All the other drivers were French, most of whom race less regularly than Bo.

Bo Williams was dominant in his 1926 Bugatti Type 35B.  His fastest lap was nearly 5 seconds faster than anyone else who finished.  Glad to see an open face helmet and goggles.

Bo Williams waiting in the paddock for the start of the race.

Second was Arnaud Graignic in a 1925 Bugatti type 35.

Arnaud Graignic stands beside his car in the paddock.

Third was Philippe Bouleau in this 1929 Bugatti Type 37A.

Philippe Bouleau in his Bugatti on the dummy grid.

Marion Bordes came fourth in this 1931 Bugatti type 51.

Alexandre Moreau Lespinard sits on his 1933 Bugatti Type 51 in the paddock.

Fifth placed Alexandre Lespinard is the second car in line for this hairpin.

Sixth place went to Patrice Cousseau in a 1926 Bugatti Type 51.

In seventh place was Delage 1500 S8 driven by Benjamin Bessade.  The program had it down as 1936 which seems rather late but I suppose that was when Price Chula had Rubery Owen create chassis No.5 from components of No.4 and the engine of No.2.   I know that the Bessades own Chassis No.5. (source - MotorSport magazine January 2023).  These Delages originally dominated the 1927 season.

In eighth place was Paul Emile Bessade in his 1932 Bugatti Type 51.

Arnaud Dupin sitting in his 1926 Bugatti Type 35 in the paddock. He finished tenth.

Karine Blanchard (centre) chatting to the other drivers.  She finished 13th in a Bugatti T37.

Jean-François Dumousseaud standing next to his 1931 Bugatti T51.

Bernard Bonron was the last classified finisher in this 1931 Bugatti T51.

Alain Plasch was the second fastest competitor in his 1931 Bugatti Type 51 but only completed 6 laps.

Eric Alvergnat waiting for the start in this 1926 Bugatti T35B.  He didn't complete a lap.

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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 à condition de créditer le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com, et de fournir un lien vers cette page.

Bugattis during practice at Angoulême.

The Bugatti T51 of J-F Dumousseaud.

The Hairpin in front of the Fangio grandstand.

The same cars entering the previous hairpin.

Side-by-side Bugattis.