Circuit des Remparts 2023 - Plateau Jean-Pierre Beltoise - GT & GTS Avant 1966

A Mini gets it all wrong in practice under braking but the others get by.

 Jean-Pierre Beltoise was often a guest at the Circuit des Remparts before his death in 2015 and now has a plateau named after him.  This plateau is for GT and Touring cars of types that existed before 1966.  

There were 20 cars present of which 4 were entered by British drivers.

Damien Kohler won and took fastest lap in this unusual 1965 Diva F10.  These cars/kit cars were built in South London.  I think this one has a 1.6L Ford Cortina engine.  It has been a regular at Angoulême over the years.

Second was a 1965 Lotus Elan driven by "Maverick".

Richard Wilson took third place in a 1974 MG MGB.  Here he is followed by a 1965 MGB Roadster in practice.

Fourth was this 1966 Marcos Mini driven by Ludovic Desnoux.   Following him is the sixth placed 1976 Mini of Frédéric Bancaud.

This 1965 Alfa Romeo Sprint GT was fifth driven by Philippe Baert.

Seventh was this 1962 Austin Healey 3000 driven by François Thibaud.

Another Marcos Mini, this one from 1968, finished eighth driven by Jean-François Bardet.

Ninth was Bruno Rigou in a 1960 Volvo PV544.

Tenth was a 1969 Lotus Elan +2 driven by Fabien Lasaires.  Unusual to see the +2 on track.  Following ia a 1950 Jaguar XK120 driven by Nigel Weeb and a 1959 MGA driven by Nicolas Lyford.

Nick Leston (son of Les) in a 1959 Riley 1.5.

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.

This Abarth 1000TC proved unreliable.

Louis Dumoussaud works on his 1959 Austin Healey Sprite Sebring in the paddock.

The Sebring Sprite during the race.

The Abarth.

Kohler on his way to victory in the Diva.

Circuit des Remparts 2023 - Plateau Henri Greder - GT & GTS Avant 1976

Henri Greder was a long time Chevrolet Corvette driver so appropriate to have one in this race.  The AC Cobra was just seen during practice.

One of my favourite plateau (grids) was for the most modern cars present and included a mix of GT and Touring cars.  Many of them were driven very spectacularly on this tight short street circuit where there are three hairpin bends in short succession.  A couple of famous drivers took part and there was a great variety of cars.  What was there not to like?

All photos are from the practice sessions.

François Delecour's rally style driving impressed the spectators, got him pole position and won him the race in this 1976 Ford Escort MkII.   He threw it into the hairpins and was on opposite lock the whole way through!

A popular second place went to local diver Jean-François Besson in his 1968 Alpine Renault A110.

Third place went to Marc Duez in this 1976 Ford Escort Mk1.  Another opposite locker!

Eric Empois took fourth place in this 1976 BMW E21.  Here he speeds past the cathedral.

Damien Kohler took fifth place in this 1972 Porsche 3L RS.

Jean-Jacques Renault took sixth place and fastest lap in this 1975 Porsche RS 3.0

This MGB finished eighth in the hands of Richard Wilson.

In 13th place was François Belle in this 1971 Porsche 914-6.

It was good to see two Opel Kadett GTEs from the seventies in the field.

A 1973 Hillman Hunter Holbay GLS and a 1974 Triumph Dolomite Sprint.

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.

MGB, BMW and a Triumph at the previous hairpin.

My view for the practice session of the Plateau Henri Greder.

6ème Rallye du Médoc VHC/VHRS 2021

 

The highlight on my morning at the Rallye du Médoc 2021 was seeing this Lancia Stratos.

I have been to the Rallye du Médoc on a number of occasions and as it is now a relatively local rally for me, I just had to go in 2021, especially as I have been to so few events this year due to the Covid restrictions.  I always love to see the VHC cars, so I got up relatively early to see them on the stage 4 between Vendays and Montalivet.  For once, I found a relatively good place to take photos on a rally, with the cars coming towards where I was standing at Pey du Haut.  Unfortunately, I arrived just too late to see Bernard Darniche, a famous French rally driver from the past, open the rally with Vanina Ickx.  But I was there to see the VHC cars who always seem to lead the way.  It was rather dark and grey with some lingering fog but seeing all the lovely Lancias more than made up for the bad weather.  I hope you enjoy the photos I took.

The winner of the 2021 Rallye du Médoc VHC was this Lancia Delta driven by Paille/Gaudin.  Here it is in Parc Fermé on Saturday afternoon.

The second placed VHC car was this Lancia Delta Intégrale with the team of Hayet/Boisson.

The third placed VHC, a Porsche 911 SC driven by Vicaire/François.

In fourth place was the Opel Ascona of the Porchers.

Fifth placed Peugeot 205 rallye of Charron/Huesca.

This Porsche 911SC of Chauvin/Leblanc finished sixth.

Seventh placed BMW 323i of the Longes.

Final finisher was another Lancia Delta Intégrale teamed by Suire/Ducourneau.

Unfortunately the Stratos retired on the final stage.   It was driven by Leroy-Fleuriot/Audibert.

VHRS

There was also a regularity rally for classic cars going on at the same time.   Here are a few seen in the Parc Fermé on Saturday afternoon.

VHRS Alpine Renault A110.

VHRS MGB.

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.

Etretat-Bénouville Hillclimb 2018 - Period 1962 to 1979

Fastest of the 1962 to 1979 cars was this 1973 Alpine A110 of Bob Gibson.

Although the stars of the show, in my view, at Etretat are the pre-war cars, there was an interesting group of sixties and seventies cars climbing the hill up the D11 towards Bénouville.  Everything from a variety of Alpine A110s through Ford Escorts and Renault R8s to a Marcadier Can Ams and a single seater.  As well as the usual English competitors it was good to see some French drivers as well.  I was there on the Saturday when the weather was quite sunny and tried to take a few different shots than normal, which is a  challenge at Etretat.  All the cars competing are shown in this post with the fastest cars first.

Second fastest was Tony Gomis in his 1976 Marcadier Can-Am. 

Third was this 1968 MG C GT Sebring of Darren Brock.

Fourth was Mark Hobbs in this 1976 Ford Escort Mk2

Another Ford Escort, a 1973 Mk1, came fifth in the hands of Mark Linforth.

Sixth was Johnny Hulme in his 1973 Alpine Renault A110.

Dave Wheeler came seventh in this 1969 Renault R8 Gordini.

Tim Greenhill's 1965 MG B in the paddock.  It finished eighth.

Ninth was this 1972 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT driven by Duncan Richardson.

Completing the top 10 was the 1971 CG Simca 1300 of Francois Prieur.

Next up was this 1967 Hillman Imp of Jim Scott.

A French entry, Alain Marie in this Alpine Renault A110 1300S came twelfth.

Nigel Patten was competing in this 1965 Renault Gordini R8.

On one of the Saturday runs, Sheridan Bell oversteered and glanced into the barrier in his A110.

The 1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Super of Michael Deldon.

A 1963 MG B driven by Jonathan Ostle.

The unusual MEP X2 of Hubert Godefroy.

Andy Owler in his Mexican built 1971 Dinalpin A110

A 1973 Porsche 911 driven by Bill Drysdale.

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. 

Andy Owler just after crossing the finish line in his Dinalpin.