Groupe A Touring Cars - Nogaro - Coupe de France des Circuits - 2023

A 2 litre Mitjet  dressed up as "Herbie, the love bug" leading two Renault Clio Cup cars who made up most of the field.

 Groupe A Touring cars  are allowed more modifications than the Groupe N cars and run with a couple of 2 litre Mitjets.   They put on a good show.  Initially, I was disappointed to see so many Renault Clio Cup cars but at the end of the race I had a smile on my face.  26 cars started this race.

The leaders go through the first corner and already one of the Renaults is quite sideways.

By the second corner another Renault Clio had been turned around.  

A good battle between a Renault Clio, a Mitjet and a Peugeot RCZ.  

The eventual winner was Francois Samy in a Renault Clio 3 Cup.

Thomas Laisne in the brightly coloured Disney looking Mitjet finished second.

Thomas Drouhin in this Peugeot RCZ Cup finished third.

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

The battle for sixth place.

Maxime Guedou riding the kerbs in his Clio.

From the Archives - 2002 Le Mans Classic

In Plateau No.2 the white 1956 Maserati 250SI of Jeremy Agace races with the 1954 Aston Martin DB3S of Roos, and Hugi whilst exiting Tertre Rouge..

The first edition of the Le Mans Classic was held on the 21st and 22nd September 2002 with five grids of historic sports cars racing around the clock from 4pm on Saturday to 4pm on Sunday.  There were no support races and compared to more recent editions, quite a small crowd of enthusiasts.  I was one of those enthusiasts at the event and took a few photos on my Nikon E855 Compact camera which I share with you in this post.

It was just a three day meeting with scrutineering on the Friday and practice from 9am to 1 am on Saturday and the races commencing at 4pm.    The night time practice actually happened during Saturday evening after the first 4 races.  The tradition of having a dummy Le Mans start and then a real rolling start was in place for this first edition and gave many of us a chance to see our first Le Mans start.

The four plateau or grids back in 2002 were as follows:

Plateau 1 - Cars from 1923 to 1939. (Sponsored by Alfa Romeo)

Plateau 2 - Cars from 1945 to 1956. (Sponsored by Jaguar)

Plateau 3  - Cars from 1957 to 1961. (Sponsored by Aston Martin)

Plateau 4 - Cars from 1962 to 1965. (Sponsored by Ferrari)

Plateau 5 - Cars from 1966 to 1975. (Sponsored by Porsche)

All cars taking part had to be of a model that competed in the 24 Hours of Le Man between 1923 and 1975.

Each Plateau had four races that each lasted around 35 minutes.

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Saturday started with a walk around the classic cars from various car clubs parked the length of the Bugatti circuit and the various paddocks<

A number of beautiful Bugattis.   Types 31, 40 and 43 were down to race.

A well known Jaguar powered HW - Alta.

Another beautiful classic car.

Plateau 1

Plateau 1 contained many desirable pre-war cars from Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Aston Martin, Riley, Bugatti and many other marques.   At the end of the race, an Alfa Romeo 8C won from a Talbot 105 and an Aston Martin 2 Litre.

The pre-war cars kicked off the first 30 minute race of the day.

The prewar cars around the Dunlop Chicane.

Plateau 2

Plateau 2 included lots of lovely Jaguars, Maseratis, Aston Martins and Ferraris. First and second places in this plateau were taken by Jaguar D Types with a Lotus Eleven taking third.

The Plateau 2 cars including a C-Type Jaguar, a Ferrari and an Allard exit Tertre Rouge.

Plateau 2 cars including clockwise from top left - Michael Kahn's 1951 Allard J2X, GiuseppeTomasetti's 1956 Maserati 150 Sport, Peter Johns's 1956 Jaguar XK140 and Michel Biscaras's 1951 Jaguar C Type.

More Plateau 2 action.  Clockwise from top left - an Aston Martin DB3S in the Esses, A Maserati 450S at Turn 1, Jaguar XK120 leading a DB and a Porsche through the Esses, A lotus IX leaving the Esses, an Aston Martin DB3S and a Maserati 250 SI.

Plateau 2 early on Sunday morning.

Plateau 3

Plateau 3 was full of more lovely Aston Martins, Maseratis, Ferraris and Lotuses.  However, at the end of the race it was a Jaguar E Type who was the winner.  Runner up was a Maserati Birdcage, followed by another E Type.  Mark Knofpler was driving in this plateau in a Maserati 300S.

The Plateau 3 cars on Sunday Morning.    In the top picture you can make out a Ferrari 250 GT SWB and an Aston Martin DBR1.  In the lower picture is a Maserati 300S and a Lister-Jaguar Knobbly.

Plateau 4

Plateau 4 contained Ferraris, Porsches, Shelby Mustangs and more.  In the end a Ford GT40 won from a AC Cobra and Nick Mason's Ferrari 250 GTO. 

The drivers of plateau 4 get ready for a Le mans start.

A Mini Marcos GT, an E Tpe Jaguar and two Alfa Romeo TZs wait for the sart.

The drivers run to their cars.  From left to right - An Austin Healey Sprite, a Shelby Mustang, A CD Panhard, and a Sunbeam Tiger.

Plateau 5

Plateau 5 was my favourite plateau as it contained a host of Lola T70s and Alfa Romeo 33s, not to mention a Porsche 917.. The winner was an Alfa Romeo 33 from a Chevron B16 and a Porsche RSR.  

Some of the fastest cars in Plateau 5.  Top - the 1970 Alfa Romeo 33 of Won Shipman that finished second in the Targa Florio.  It leads a Chevron and two Lolas.   below - Two Lola T70s lead a Porsche RSR.

The 1967 Lola T70 Mk3 of André Bailly exiting the Esses and descending towards Tertre Rouge.   The Jackie Epstein car that finished fourth in the Spa 1,000kms of 1967.

The 1967 Porsche 910 of Franck Leonesio.   This is a car that won its class at the Targa Florio.  

A Lola T70 in Jo Bonnier colours and  the 1973 Alfa Romeo TT33 of Joe Nastasi.

Francois Bourdin's 1966 Lotus Elan and a Porsche 910.

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.

Le Mans late in the evening.

Le Mans at night.

Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI - Eifel Trophy

A 1969 Porsche 911S driven by Randall Smalley.

Although, I am not a fan of one make racing at all and frankly find a field full of Porsche 911s rather boring, this race still had something of interest to me, especially as I am a fan of the Porsche 914-6.

The Porsche Rennsport Reunion is a unique event, that is held once every three or four years, dedicated just to classic and more modern racing Porsches, their drivers and the men and women who made it all possible.    Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI held over four days in September 2018 was again located at Laguna Seca like the last one in 2015.  No surprise as Laguna Seca is in California, which also happens to be the biggest market for Porsche.   This year the event was subtitled The Marque of Champions - a name that speaks for itself.  The event was also part of Porsche's 70th birthday celebrations.

The first lap and a 914 is in the lead.

On the wonderful 2.238 mile Laguna Seca road course, seven groups of Porsche cars raced over the weekend.  The Eifel Trophy event was for cars such as Porsche 911 up to 2.5 litre, 911TR, 911ST and 914 and 914-6. . 

Behind the leaders a host of old 911s battle it out.

The Drivers
A number of Porsche 911 and 914 drivers from the sixties and seventies were present as guests of Porsche.

John Fitzpatrick, Dennis Aase, Willy Kauhsen, Vic Elford and Hurley Haywood.

As it was a long time ago a reminder about some of these drivers achievements in Porsche 911s and 914s.

John Fitzpatrick was 1972 European GT Champion in a Kremer Racing Porsche 911.
Dennis Aase raced a Porsche 911S throughout the seventies.
Willy Kauhsen won the 1968 24 hours of Spa-Franchorchamps in a Porsche 911L.  He also drove a Porsche 914/6 in the 1971 Targa Florio.
Vic Elford came third overall and had a class win at the 1967 Circuit del Mugello in a Porsche 911R 9shared with Gijs Van Lennep).  Vic also drove a 911L in the 167 and 1968 British Saloon Car Championship with some success and won the 1968 Monte Carlo Rally in a 911T.
Hurley Haywood dove a Porsche 914 in 1971 with Peter Gregg.  They won in Virginia, at Bridgehampton and at Summit Point.  In 1972 they drove a 911S winning at Virginia and Watkins Glen.

The Race

The winner of the Eifel Trophy, Thomas Gruber, in his 1971 porsche 914-6.

David Donohue was second in this 1968 Porsche 911T/R

This 1967 Porsche 911S driven by Nelson Calle came third.

Fourth placed Alan Terpins in his 1967 Porsche 911T/R really attacks the Corskscrew kerbs.

Fifth place Fritz Seidel at the Rainey Curve in his 1967 Porsche 911S.

The sixth placed 1971 Porsche 911S of John Coey leading a 914 and two more 911s at the Corkscrew.

A 1965 Porsche 911 driven by Matthew Goetzinger came seventh.

The eighth place 1967 Porsche 911 of Gilbert Hakim.

In ninth place was Kelvin Tse in this 1966 Porsche 911(one assumes the spoiler was added later).

This good looking 1970 Porsche 914/6 of Dener Pires came tenth.

Jeff Zwart was eleventh in this 1970 Porsche 914-6 GT.

Jeff Zwart leads another 914-6 GT down the Corkscrew.

Twelfth was another 1970 Porsche 914-6 GT driven by Edie Arrowsmith.

A rather different 914, the 1971 914-4 of Trevor Frank.  He finished fourteenth.

This pretty 1967 Porsche 911S driven by George Calfo came in seventeenth.

For my recent Motor Sport blogposts click here.

Exhibition Cars

I took a shine to this 1972 Porsche 911 ST.  It is of course the 1972 European GT Championship car of John Fitzpatrick who won the championship that year.

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.