Circuit des Remparts 2023 - Volant d'Or Parade

 

It was great to see Jean-Pierre Jarier drive Laurent Schneider's Talbot.

There were a number of famous French and Belgian drivers on hand at the 2023 Circuit des Remparts at Angoulême to take part in the Volant d'Or parade and sign autographs.   Amongst them were Jean-Pierre Jarier, Jean Ragnotti, Bernard Darniche, Marc Duez, Francois Delecour and Eric Helary.  For those who don't remember them, a brief resume below.

Jean-Pierre Jarier - F1 Grand Prix Driver of the seventies and early eighties who scored three podiums and three pole positions.  He had previously won the European F2 championship and later also had success in Sports and GT cars.

Jean Ragnotti - Rally driver who took 3 WRC victories in  the Renault 5 Turbo including the 1981 Monte Carlo Rally.  As a race driver he took two class wins at the 24 hours of Le Mans.

Bernard Darniche - Rally driver who took 7 WRC victories including the 1979 Monte Carlo Rally,  As a race driver he took two class wins at the 24 hours of Le Mans.

Marc Duez - Belgian race and rally driver who has won the 24 hour races at both Spa and the Nuirburgring.

Francois Delecour - Rally driver who won 4 WRC victories including the 1994 Monte Carlo Rally.

Eric Hélary - Racing driver who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1993 and was French F3 Champion in 1990.

Eric Helary waves to the crowd.

Francois Delecour in the blue race overalls.

Jean Ragnotti (blue polo shirt) and Marc Duez (rear of car) wave at the crowd.

Bernard Darniche waves at the crowd.

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.

"Suzie" also entertained us in the Volant d'Or Parade.  She is a 1922 Austin Seven.

Circuit des Remparts 2023 - Plateau Demonstration - Lancia Stratos / Bernard Darniche

Two of the three Lancia Stratos at Angoulême 17 September 2023.

This demonstration plateau at the 2023 Circuit des Remparts at Angoulême celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the first Lancia Stratos in 1973.   The Lancia Stratos was the most successful rally car in the 1974, 75 and 76 WRC seasons and won 18 WRC victories between 1974 and 1981.

Bernard Darniche was the most successful French rally driver of the Lancia Stratos, winning the 1979 Rally Monte Carlo plus the Tour de Corse three times.  Bernard was present at Angoulême and I believe was driving one of the three Stratos being demonstrated.

A 1976 Lancia Stratos at the hairpin by the Fangio grandstand.

1974 Lancia Stratos.

1977 Lancia Stratos.

Lancia Stratos.

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.

Bernard Darniche in the passenger seat of a vintage car at Angoulême.