2022 Le Mans Classic - Off-Track Highlights

 

Fiat-Abarth 1000SP - one like this took part in the 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans entered by Ecurie Fiat-Abarth France but retired after 9 Laps.  The car did win its class at Monza in 1969 and the following year in the Targa Florio. This was one of many cars on display in the Village.

One could have spent three days at the 2022 Le Mans Classic without ever getting trackside to see the races as there was so much to see in the club car parks, in the village and in the paddocks.  This post gives you a flavour of it all.

Another car on display that I loved was this recreation of one of the 1954 Bristol 450 cars that finished 1-2-3 in the 2 litre class and 7th, 8th and 9th overall.  A great achievement for the Bristol Aeroplane Company and its engineering and aerodynamics. 

The Bristol also did a demo lap.  The car was lovingly and skilfully recreated by a French amateur.  The original bodies were destroyed to make the 1955 open topped cars so fantastic to see one of these cars recreated for us all to see at Le Mans.

The Model-T Ford of cartoonist Thierry Dubois at the N7 exhibition.

A 1930 Ford A Speedster driving around.

The 1989 Group C Alfa Romeo SE 048 SP that never raced.  This is normally kept in the Alfa Romeo museum and has a V12 engine even if the original design was for a V10.

Another car on the Alfa Romeo display was this 1968 Alfa Romeo T33/2 Daytona.  Here it is on a demo lap.

The main display in the Village was of French Panhard engined sports cars.  The 48 car is a 1961 DB HBR4 that had a 848cc Panhard engine and finished that year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.

These French Panhard engined cars also took to the track for a Demo lap.  The 57 car is a 1953 DB that won the 750cc class at the 24 hours of Le Mans that year.

This fifties Renault 4CV formed part of the Police Cars exhibition.

The band at the Firemen's ball

The Radio Cadillac ban.

Rolland Pilain cars on display.   The company produced cars in the French town of Tours in the nineteen twenties.

One of the many classic aircraft flying around during the weekend.

More classic aircraft.

On display in Paddock 5 and also giving demo laps were these modern De Tomaso P72 GT cars.

Lola T70 in the paddock.

Audi in the paddock.

Group C Peugeot in the paddock.

Bentley Speed 8 engine.

Saleen in the paddock.

Checking the tyres on a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4

Interview in the paddock for the entrant of a 1953 Peugeot 203 Constantin.

Bentley 4.5 litre.

1934 Talbot AV105.

1972 Mirage M6.

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.

1979 Lola T298

But if you do go to the Le Mans Classic don't miss some racing on late Saturday evening or early Sunday morning!.

2022 Le Mans Classic - Plateau 6 - 1972 to 1981

 

Some of the leading cars at the Esses in their first race on Saturday evening.  Lola leads TOJ and Porsche. Paul Lafargue was very fast in this 1979 Lola T298 but lost 3 laps in the final race having won the first two.

Plateau 6 at the Le mans Classic covers the period 1972 to 1981 and thus is the latest period covered by the six main grids.  An interesting selection of cars but not really representative of those who did well during this period. Nevertheless, some close racing.  Caron didn't win any of the three races but consistency was what put him at the top of the podium at the end.

Just after the start of the final race on Sunday and Lola and Mirage battle it out into the Dunlop Chicane.

Further down the field they try three abreast into the chicane!   Osella vs Chevron vs Lola.

Eventual winner was Ludovic Caron in this 1975 Chevron B31.

Second was this 1976 Cheetah G601 driven by Beat Eggimann.

Third was the 1976 Chevron B36 of Philipp Bruehwiler.

Fourth was the 1979 BMW M1 Procar of Sebastian Glaser.

Fifth was the Duby/Vannelet/de Sibenthal 1977 Porsche 935.

Sixth was this 1982 Ferrari 512 BBLM driven by Alexander Wittweger and Sam Hancock.

Seventh was this 1972 Mirage M6 driven by Chris Mac Allister.  He won the final race.

Jean-Marc Merlin was eighth in this 1980 Porsche 935 K3.

Ninth was this 1979 BMW M1 Grp 5 driven by Albert Weinzierl.

Tenth was Frédéric Da Rocha in this 1979 Lola T298.

A 1972 Lola T290 leads the Mirage through the Esses.

The 1977 Aston Martin RHAM/1

René Arnoux was one of the drivers of this 1979 BMW M1 Procar.

1976 Sauber C5

1976 TOJ SC304

1976 Inaltera LM

1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Grp IV

1973 Lola T292 battles with a 1976 Cheetah G601

1975 March 75S.

1976 Dodge Charger.

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.

 

1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0.