Historic Tour - Val de Vienne - ASAVE Racing 65 & 75 - 2021

The classic Val de Vienne shot - the start of the ASAVE 65 & 75 race.

Part of the Historic Tour, as the French Historic Car Circuit Racing Championship is called, ASAVE racing has two groups of cars.  One is for GT and Touring Cars (the old Groups 1, 2 ,3 and 4) that were homologated prior to 1966.  The second group is for GT and Touring Cars from 1966 to 1975 and Sports prototypes until 1970. At each meeting they either have one 60 minute race or two 45 minute races.  Each race has a pit stop and thus two pilots can take part in each car.  The groups are further divided into classes.   

This type of racing seems to attract small but interesting fields and it was the case at Val de Vienne where there were only 13 cars but lots of interest for fans of historic sports and GT racing.  The Saturday ASAVE race that I saw was my first ever race at Val de Vienne and it lasted 45 minutes which gave me plenty of time to move around various vantage points.  Many thanks to the official who helped me find some particularly good shots.

The racing was not particularly close or exciting but just seeing Lolas, 910s, 240Zs, Corvettes and Mk1 Escorts driven fast makes my day.

The early leader was the 5.8 litre 1966 Lola T70 Mk2 Spyder.  Unfortunately it retired after 8 laps. It was driven by the team of David & De Murard and took fastest lap with a time 3 seconds faster than anyone else.

The winner was José Beltramelli in this 4.7 litre 1965 TVR Griffith 400.  He was running in ASAVE 65.

This fast TVR Griffith was always the likely winner after the Lola dropped out.

In second place was this 2.4 litre 1967 Porsche 910 driven by Sylvain Regnier.  It was the top ASAVE 75 runner.

Porsche 910 at Virage Le Ferme.

In third place was this 2.8 litre 1975 Datson 240Z driven by Valinho & Mathon.  it led one lap during the pitstops and was quite close to the Porsche 910 by the end of the race.

Fourth was this 2.0 litre 1975 Ford Escort RS1600 of Olivie Dusailly. 

The Ford Escort RS1600 looked quite spectacular at times.

Pierre-Yves Dauxerre was fifth in this 3.0 litre 1975 Porsche 911 SC

Porsche 911 SC speeding past two female marshals at Virage Trop Vite.

Porsche 911 SC.

Sixth was Antoine Benne in a 1.6 litre 1965 Lotus Elan. It led one lap during the pit stops.

This 3.8 litre 1963 Jaguar E-Type came seventh driven by Bernard Wilhelm.

The Jaguar E-Type.

Gaso & Bernard came eighth in this 1.6 litre 1964 Lotus Elan, just beating the Corvette.

This wonderfully growly 6.5 litre 1969 Chevrolet Corvette came ninth driven by the Excoffiers.

1969 Chevrolet Corvette.  It was running third at the start but then fell back to fourth and later to ninth.

Tenth was Alain Lagache in this 2..0 litre 1970 Porsche 914-6 GT.

Porsche 914-6.

This 1.9 litre 1963 MG B came eleventh driven by Romain Guerardelle and finished not far behind the Porsche 914-6.

1963 MG B.

Final finisher was Benjamin Dupuy in this 2 litre 1968 Ford Escort who ran at the back all race.

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.

Lola T70 about to lap an MG B.

2020 - Historic Tour - Charade - ASAVE '65 et '75

A very fast 4.7 litre 1965 TVR Griffith 400 was second in qualifying driven by José Beltramelli.

In the 45 minute race on Saturday it was to take the win.

ASAVE racing has two groups of cars.  One is for GT and Touring Cars (the old Groups 1, 2 ,3 and 4) that were homologated prior to 1966.  The second group is for GT and Touring Cars from 1966 to 1975 and Sports prototypes until 1970. At each meeting they either have one 60 minute race or two 45 minute races.  Each race has a pit stop and thus two pilots can take part in each car.  The groups are further divided into classes.

The field at Charade was relatively small with just fourteen cars but this was made up by the quality.  I was only at Charade for their qualifying session but thoroughly enjoyed seeing them all.   Highlight was the lovely Porsche 910 but also the variety.

My favourite was this original 2.4 litre 1967 Porsche 910.  Driven by Sylvain Regnier, seen here in qualifying.

A lovely view of the last part of the Esse de Thèdes with Porsche 911 2,8 RSR leading, TVR Griffith and Alpine 110.

A 2.8 litre 1975 Datson 240 Z shared by Valinho and Mathon.

Alfa leads Porsche and TVR up the hill towards the Epingle Marlboro.

A 1965 Lotus Cortina 1.6L driven by Philippe Raffin leads a 1957 2.2 litre Triumph TR3 driven by Christian Tetot.

Jean-Pierre Fazi in a 1963 Triumph TR4.

The Besson's 1.8 litre Alpine A110 from 1973

A 1964 Lotus Elan 1.6 litre driven by Jean-Pierre Vacher.

The fastest car was this 1973 Porsche 2,8 RSR driven by the Gauberts.

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.

Datson 240Z chasing the Porsche 910 down the hill back to the start line.

HISTORIC TOUR 2016 - CHARADE

Alain-Jean's Porsche 964-3600 makes its way around the Charade circuit with Puy de Dôme un the background.

The Charade Circuit is very near Clermont Ferrand in the Auvergne and has a beautiful mountain setting with the Puy-de-Dôme volcano looming above it in the distance. The circuit was built in the late fifties as an 8 km circuit and held the French GP in 1965,  1969, 1970 and 1972.  The last race on the old track was held in the late eighties and then in the nineties the track was revised down to 3.86 kms and racing has continued to be held their since.

This was my first visit to to Charade and the occasion was the third round of the 2016 Historic Tour - Championnat de France Historique des Circuits.  I went along on Sunday 12th June for the last day of this three day meeting.  As it was a fair jog away, I just stayed for six races and walked the paddock and as much of the circuit as possible.  It was nice to still to be able to recognise parts of the original circuit. Below is my photographic report of the meeting.

Trophée Formule Ford Kent.
This category caters mainly for the old 1,600cc Ford Kent engined cars that raced from 1967 to the early nineties, but they also allow GHI and Zetec engined cars.

The start of Sunday's Formula Ford Kent race with ultimate winner Nicolas Beloou getting away from pole in his Van Diemen RF90.

The third placed Mygale SJ03 1800 Zetec of Eric Heudicourt who won the Zetec class.

The second placed Van Diemen RF92 1600 of Swiss driver Gislain Genecand.

Formula Ford cars on the start finish straight dominated by the old grandstand.

Two RF92 Van Diemens lead an earlier RF80 Van Diemen.

The first of the three Formula Ford podiums for the class winners.

Trophée Lotus

This category is for Lotus Sevens and the later Caterham Sevens.

The start of Sunday's Trophée Lotus with Pascal Metayer getting away well from pole.

The ultimate winner was Xavier Jacquet in his Lotus Seven.

A car locks up at the end of the long down hill section.

Pascal led Xavier until the last lap.  

Sports Protos Cup

The Sports Protos cup is for under 2 litre sports cars of various types and classes.

The rolling start of the Sports Protos Cup race.

At the first corner.

Winner was this pretty CESCA 740 Cosworth of Franck Metzger.

Second place went to this Lucchini SP390 driven by Jean Laffargue.

The first prototype and third overall was this March 81S-Ford piloted by "Nelson".

Fifth overall and second in class was this Chevron B8 of Eric Perou.

Last of the classified finshers was this Urban M2-Alfa Romeo.

Another Alfa Romeo engined car was this Arc MF16.

The Chevron B8 challenging a Grac MT14S JRD.  He eventually got past and both cars fnished on the same lap as the leader.

A Merlin MP88-Alfa Romeo that won the Alfa Romeo class.

A Grac MT14S-Renault.

GT Classic
A small field of GT cars entertained us just before lunch as I headed for a different part of the circuit. The field included an unusual Belgian sports car, the Gillet Vertigo.

Eventual winner, Franck Morel in a Porsche 993 GT2, chases the first lap leader, Laurent Sabatier in a Porsche 964 3800.

Another early battle with Patrice Faurie in a Porsche 964 RS leading Eric Gillet in his Gillet Vertigo and Sébastien Mathieu in a Porsche 964 RSR.

Alain-Jean's Bouchet's Porsche 964 3600 that was the last of the finishers, seen here seen at one the hairpins at the back of the circuit.

The winner, Franck Morel makes the last climb out of the hairpin in his Porsche.

The only retirement was this TVR Tuscan Challenge

The unusual Gillet Vertigo

Challenge ASAVE GT, Tourisme et Saloon Cars

This proved a good race with lots of battles going on down the field.

This 3 litre BMW 323i driven by Alain Derognat led the winning Porsche on the first lap. 

The Porsche RSR of Christophe Terriou makes its move on lap 2.

Lots of variety.  Here a Porsche Carrera 6 leads a Renault 21 and a VW Golf.

This Audi Quattro driven by Fabrice Lefebvre came second whilst this Porsche 911 driven by Franck Morel finished fourth.

The third placed BMW E36C of Patrick Fuet leads two Porsches

More variety as an Alpine Renault A110 heads a Ford Capri 2900

The winning Porsche takes the chequered flag.

Trophée Formule 3 Classic and Formule Renault Classic
The Formula 3 and Fomula Renault race was the last i was able to see and provided good single seater action.

The start of the classic F3 and FR race.

The first corner with a F3 Ralt leading.

The winning Ralt RT3-Alfa Romeo of Hugo Carini passes the pits.

Nöel Depllanque signals a problem in his March 793 as he is narrowly avoided by an Alpa 90 FR car.

Lionel Robert in his Formula Renault Turbo that finished second overall.

The battle for fourth and fifth place between the two Ralt RT3s of Ian Jacobs (9) and Bernard Honnorat (25).  The fourth posaition eventually went to No.25.

Two Formula Renault Turbos.  The Martini Mk38 of Mathieu Chateaux which eventually finish sixth and the Martini Mk48 of Antoine Robert that finished third.

This Van Diemen FR93 of Viny Beltramelli was the best of the Formula Renault Atmo cars.

Other Races

One of the Legends cars.

A Mini Marcos that competed in the 1,000cc race.

This Grac MT6 appeared in the Formula Ford Historic race.

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.