Championnat de France FFSA GT - Coupes de Pâques - Nogaro - 2024

The second corner and Jim Pla in a BMW M4 leads the field.

Nogaro is a circuit that is growing on me and the Easter meeting (Coupes de Pâques) is the big meeting of the year at the circuit and one of the best attended meetings in the French GT Championship calendar.  Despite ten years of living in France, this is only my third attendance of a round of this series.  The other times were 2015 at the Bugatti circuit and 2019 at Magny Cours.   Perhaps, I won't leave it so long in between next time!    The Championnat de France FFSA GT is the biggest circuit championship in the country.   This blog post is about round 1 of the Championnat de France FFSA GT 2024 on the 31st March 2024 (Easter Sunday).

The Circuit

Officially called the Circuit Paul Armagnac, the circuit is in Nogaro in the Gers department of south-west France.   A circuit since 1960 it has raised spectator banking around the whole western part of the circuit.  From many positions you can see over the security fencing and view a number of corners.  The circuit is 3.6 kilometres long and relatively flat.  Two longish straights are linked by a series of relatively slow corners.   Maybe not a real classic circuit like Spa-Francorchamps but good for viewing a race. For photographers it is fairly good as you can take photos above the fencing and they are also some points where can get down to the same level as the cars and shoot through the fencing (skill and camera allowing!). My favourite places are Virage de la Ferme for general shots of the first and second corner and the race and Courve Claude Storez for the low down shots through the fence, but plenty of other spots for photographers as well.

The paddock is always accessible but the GT cars were occupying the pits so no photos of them.

The Cars

The Championnat de France FFSA GT is run for GT4 cars, since 2017.  GT4 is an entry level class and thus closer to real road cars than say GT3.  Not surprisingly, 6 of the cars competing at Nogaro were Alpines.  There were 4 cars each for Porsche, BMW and Aston Martin and 2 cars each for Audi and Ginetta.  Finally, there was a singleton Mercedes.  Not a bad representation of GT4 cars, though shame there was no McLarens, Toyotas or Nissans.  There is of course a BoP (controlled by SRO) to ensure all cars have equal performance levels.  Whilst one can complain about BoP at World Endurance Championship level, in a series like this it makes sense as it is a series for privateers including a lot of amateur and young drivers. 

The Drivers

Probably, unless your are a big fan of French GT4 racing, most of the drivers in the series are relatively unknown to you.  So here is a bit of information about a few of them.

Eric Trémoulet and Olivier Jouffret - 2023 FFSA GT4 Pro-Am Champions.

Laurent Hurgon - 2023 FFSA GT4 Amateur Champion (with Alain Ferté)

Jim Pla - Age 31, he is no relation to Olivier Pla, he was European GT4 Champion in 2022.

Gregory Guilvert - Age 41 - Twice FFSA GT4 Champion

Nelson Panciatici - Age 35, he was European Le Mans Series champion (LMP2) in 2013 and 2014.

Thomas Laurent - Age 25, twice on the podium in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2017 in a LMP2 and 2018 with Rebellion Racing).  He also won the 2018 Silverstone 6 Hours for Rebellion after Toyota were disqualified.

Simon Gachet - Age 30,  winner in 2020 of GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup - Silver

Laurens Lecertua - Age 17, Belgian, youngest winner of Alpine Elf Europa Cup.

Gael Castelli - Age 34, 2019 winner of Alpine Elf Europa Cup.

Simon Gaspard - Age 17 - 2023 Caterham Academy Champion in first year after karting

Format

Perhaps, to the detriment of the racing and spectators there are in effect three separate battles going on during the race.  One is for Pro-Am, one is for Silver and one is for Am.  Points in the championship are only given for your race position in your category.  Thus no bonus points for an overall win.   This means that drivers sometimes let other categories pass them so as to take no risk with their points position.  

There are two one hour races at each meeting and the championship also visits Ledenon, Spa-Francorchamps, Magny-Cours, Dijon-Prenois and Paul Ricard this year.

Qualifying

Pole position went to Eric Trémoulet in the Vic'Team Mercedes AMG GT4.  They are a Pro-Am team.  This photo was taken during qualifying and shows the car being driven rather hard.

The Race

This was a race decided by tyre and pit stop strategy with changeable conditions and two safety car periods.  In the end the car that started last on the grid ended up the winner.  The fact that it was an amateur team, that won, was even more amazing.  Here are some photos I took during this race.

As they are in the first corner the BMW M4 GT4 of Jim Pla has taken the lead.

Jim Pla in the BMW leads Eric Trémoulet Mercedes at the 5th corner on lap 1.

At the start of the second lap, with Jim Pla on his own in the lead, the Mercedes has dropped back and the Alpine A110 GT4 Evo of Lorens Lecertua has a brief second place.  Meanwhile an Audi exits the pitlane after changing tyres after the warm up lap.

The Ginetta G56 GT4 Evo of Hugo Mogica is up to second place during the second lap.  By the end of the third lap he is up to first place as other cars have already made a pit stop.

By the end of lap 4 the Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 of Weyrich and Vilagomez is in the lead and held this during the first safety car period.

At this point with lots of pit stops and a safety car I decided to move around the circuit.

Unfortunately, the safety car led the wrong group of cars for quite a while (originally it had picked up the right group but they then all pitted), this group led by an Audi, that was way down the field.   This Audi eventually ended up in the gravel and was one of the two cars who caused the second safety car period.

The leaders.

Mid race before the mid-race pit stops and these three looked the most likely winners.

The Audi briefly took the lead.  On the last lap it dropped from second to fourth but it didn't alter the fact that it still won the Pro-Am category, so it didn't appear to resist.

The last part of the race was dominated by this Porsche.

This Alpine took second place overall at the beginning of the last lap. 

This Porsche grabbed third position on the last lap.

The Podiums

The Amateur podium which included the overall winners Mateo Salomone and Rudy Servol.

The Pro-Am podium with the category winners, Gael Castelli and Rodolphe Walgren in the centre. 

The Silver podium with the young overall second place drivers, Laurens Lecertua and Mateo Herrero, on the top step.  They were real happy with the result.

All the cars in the order that they finished (photos from either qualifying or the race)

The AV Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS of Mateo Salomone and Rudy Servol.  They started from the back of the grid, made all the right strategic calls and won the race overall.  This was the first overall win for the team and the first French GT4 victory for an Amateur team.

Second overall and winner of the Silver category was the Chazel Technologie Course Alpine A110 GT4 EVO of Laurens Lecertua and Mateo Herrero.

Third overall and second in the Silver category was this JSB Compétition Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS of Briché / Beltramelli

Winner of the Pro-Am category and fourth overall was this CSA RACING Audi R8 LMS GT4 of Gael Castelli and Rodolphe Walgren

Fifth overall and third in the Silver category was this CMR Ginetta G56 GT4 EVO of Mogica / Bac.

Sixth overall was this CMR Ginetta G56 GT4 EVO of Roupnel / Cabirou.

Seventh overall and second in the pro-Am category was this SCHUMACHER CLRT Alpine A110 GT4 EVO of Guilvert / Hurgon.

Eighth overall and third in the Pro-Am category was this SCHUMACHER CLRT Alpine A110 GT4 EVO of Simon / Huteau.

Ninth overall was this Debard Automobiles By Racetivity BMW M4 GT4 (G82) of Gachet / Debard.

Tenth overall was this Mirage Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 EVO of Safronov / Vaintrub.

Eleventh overall and second in the Amateur category was this CMR Alpine A110 GT4 EVO of Lemeret / Auriacombe.

Twelfth overall and third in the Amateur category was this Racing Spirit Of Léman Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 EVO of Dub / Basso.

Thirteenth overall was this VSF Sports - Amplitude automobiles BMW M4 GT4 (G82) of Curson Faessel / Teillais.

Fouteenth overall was this VSF Sports - Amplitude automobiles BMW M4 GT4 (G82) of Bihel / Lanchere.

Fifteenth overall after leading the race for 12 laps was this Racing Spirit Of Léman Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 EVO of Weyrich / Villagomez.

Sixteenth overall was the Vic'Team Mercedes AMG GT4 of Trémoulet / Jouffret.

Seventeenth overall was the L'Espace Bienvenue BMW M4 GT4 (G82) of Pla / Beaubelique.

Eighteenth overall was this Code Racing Development Alpine A110 GT4 EVO of Panciatici / Lemaitre.

Final classified finisher was this AV Racing Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS of Laurent / Abramczyk.

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.

Only completing 16 laps was this JSB Compétition Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS of  Jean-Laurent Navarro.  

Only completing 11 laps after getting beached in the gravel was this Sainteloc Racing Audi R8 LMS GT4 of Rostan / Rambaud.

Only completing 8 laps was this Code Racing Development Alpine A110 GT4 EVO of Paranthoen / Robineau.

Only completing 1 lap was this Mirage Racing Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 of Del Sarte / Miller.

Coming soon the F4, TC, Mitjet, Alpine and Clio support races.

Coupe de France des Circuits - Nogaro - 2023

One of the battles for the GT honours at Nogaro between a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup and a Mini Challenge R53 JCW.

Whilst the rest of the motor racing world was focussed on the Bahrain Grand Prix, I was at the circuit Paul Armagnac in South West France for the opening of the French tarmac circuit racing season at Nogaro.  The meeting was the first round of the Coupe de France des Circuits which is for amateur racing drivers and designed to be relatively low cost.  There are categories for Group A and Group N Touring Cars, GT Cars, single seaters and sports prototypes.  In addition there were races for Renault Twingos and Historic Touring Cars.  I was surprised by the variety and quality of the cars present.  It reinforced my love for amateur motor sport that I have had for 55 years.

The Circuit of Nogaro is also called the Circuit Paul Armagnac in honour of a local racing driver who won the Index of Performance in a DB Panhard HBR at the 1955 Tourist Trophy but was killed in the 1962 Paris 1,000kms.   The circuit is known in France as their first purpose built road race circuit ( Montlhery and Miramas were banked autodromes and other circuits ran on public roads) and had its first race in 1960 when the main race was for Formula Junior cars.  Since then it has held F1, F2, F3000, F3, F4, Sports, GT and Touring car events.  The F1 event was in 1979 and was a round Aurora British F1 Championship.

I found the Nogaro circuit to be spectator friendly, relatively good for taking photos and this meeting had some close racing.  There was a good commentary throughout the day and plenty of positions to watch the racing from.   As it was a free event they were plenty of families present.  The circuit is relatively close to both the town and autoroute.   I have published photos and written a short report on each of the races held at this meeting:

Monoplaces A - The slower single seaters

The Monoplace races are for open wheel single seaters up to 1,605 cc plus Formula Ford, Formula Three, Formula Master, Formula Renault, Formula Premium and Formula BMW.  As there are so many single seaters entered in the Coupe de France des Circuits this year they have been split between the faster Formula Renault cars and the rest.  The rest were mainly Formula Ford cars, some old Formula Renault cars, and joy of joys, a 1963 Brabham Formula Junior car.  Click here to Read More.

A 1963 Formula Junior Repco Brabham BT6 leads a number of later spec Formula Renault and Formula Ford cars.

HTCC - Historique Tourisme Champion Car

The HTCC cars are classic saloon cars such as Group 1 cars homologated up to 1981, Group N cars homlogated up to 1992, Peugeot 505s of the Coupe Antho, and Group 2 and A up to 1992,   The cars are really well turned out and are often in nostalgic liveries.  Click here to Read More.

The start of the first HTCC race of the weekend at Nogaro as the cars negotiate turns 1 and 2.

Monoplaces B - The faster single seaters.

The Monoplaces B were all similar looking 2 litre Tatuus Formula Renault and Formula Master cars and they had had a very good race. Click here to read more.

21st century Tatuus cars made up the grid for the Monoposto B races.

Groupe A - Touring Cars and Mitjets

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.   Click here to Read More.

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

Twin' Cup - a race for Renault Twingos who are celebrating their 30th birthday.

The crowd really got perked up for the Twingo race and everyone got out their phones to take videos.  Click here to Read More.

Groupe N and GT - Touring and GT cars

The Group N cars and GT cars run together as there are not enough of them to justify two races   However they did provide good entertainment and I got some different pictures as I was at the opposite end of the circuit for this race.  Click here to Read More.

Groupe N BMWs battle it out with the GT cars.

Sports Prototype / Groupe C

The Sports Prototype race was a real cracker with a good battle between the Wolf Thunder single seaters with enclosed wheels and a CM motor cycle engined sports car.  They were very rapid for 1 litre cars.   Other slower cars of up to 1.6 litres gave some variety to the field.  Click here to Read More.

A 1 litre motor cycle engined CM sports car leads a 1 litre Wolf Thunder Proto.

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 3.6 km / 2.3 mile Nogaro circuit seen from above.  Spectators watch from the gradins / bleachers / raised banks each side of the pits.  Photo courtesy of the Circuit de Nogaro website.

It is said that Nogaro was inspired by the Sebring Circuit and it is next door to a small airport and has a mixture of relatively fast straights and slow corners but doesn't have the bumps!

Sports Proto / Groupe C - Nogaro - Coupe de France des Circuits - 2023

 

A  litre motor cycle engined CM sports car leads a 1 litre Wolf Thunder Proto.

The Sports Prototype race was a real cracker with a good battle between the Wolf Thunder single seaters with enclosed wheels and a CM motor cycle engined sports car.  They were very rapid for 1 litre cars.   Other slower cars of up to 1.6 litres gave some variety to the field.  

The start of the Sports Proto race and as you can see there are eight Wolf Thunders towards the head of the field with one of the Group CM cars providing a challenge.

Bringing up the rear of the field were a variety of cars of varying vintages.  Leading this group is a Jema 630 GTR.

This was the battle for the lead with Lionel Jacob in his JAD LW01 providing a strong challenge to the Wolf Thunders.

Later Mike Parisy has taken the lead in his Wolf Thunder.  At the back of this group is Nicco Ferrarin who eventually finished second.

Meanwhile there was also a close battle going on for ninth place. Here Hubert Dubois leads the group in his 1.6 litre RCB.

Xavier Barboncon in his nice looking 1 litre motor cycle engined EMA-Susuki that runs in Groupe CM.

Olivier Tabone in his 1.5 litre Alfa Romeo engined Le Gallen LL G82 who finished in eighth place behind the Wolf Thunders.  This is an ex-Coupe de l'Avenir car that runs in Groupe CA.

Xavier Duvignau bumping over the kerbs in his 1.6 litre Serem V858 that runs in Groupe CP.

Continuing battle between the JAD and the Wolf Thunder of Tony Roches who eventually finished third.

A sad end for the JAD that expired in an unsafe position near the end of the race and brought out a red flag.  Thus after count back to the previous lap Lionel was classified fourth and won the CM Groupe.

The winning Wolf Thunder of Mike Parisy.

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.

Thomas Ferrando sitting in his Wolf Thunder on the pre-grid.