2023 Circuit des Remparts - Angoulême

MGs in the paddock.

2023 was my first time watching practice and racing at the Circuits des Remparts in Angoulême (France).  I hope it won't be my last.  I didn't get a grandstand ticket but I was able to get good pictures of most of the cars during practice and in the paddock.  The afternoon got quite crowded and a grandstand seat would have been useful - next year perhaps.   It is certainly a lovely revival event - events took place on exactly the same circuit in 1939 and from 1947 to 1951 - and the circuit is really unique.  The whole town has a great atmosphere on the Sunday when both practice and racing take place.  Definitely should be on all historic racing fan's bucket list.

The 1.28 Km circuit.  This is just 0.8 miles, so a very short circuit that includes three hairpin bends in quick succession.  The circuit is entirely in the town so a true street circuit.

A view of the second of the three hairpins.  Very tight!

I have done a blogpost on all of the plateau (grids) that were at the 2023 Circuit des Remparts.  Click on any you want to see more of below:

My favourite blogpost from Angoulême was the one on the Bugatti race with lots of pictures of the cars and drivers that took place including this lone Delage,   Click here for the Bugatti pictures.

A favourite memory from my day at the Circuit des Remparts is of rally driver François Delecour throwing a MkII Ford Escort around to win the seventies GT and touring race.  Click here for more pictures of these cars.

Angoulême was celebrating the seventy years of the the first Lancia Stratos.  These cars are always a pleasure to see and Bernard Darniche was on hand as well.  Click here for more pictures of the Lancia Stratos.

Always incredible to see how fast the pre-war Austin Sevens are and they really suit this short tight twisty circuit.  Click here for more of the small capacity pre-war cars.

The grid celebrating Jean-Pierre Beltoise was for pre-1966 GT and Saloon cars.  Another very varied bunch of cars racing on this street circuit. Click here for more.

Great to see Jean-Pierre Jarier driving a Talbot and many more famous drivers were present as well.  Click here for more on the drivers

Frazer Nash and other pre war British cars have been a stalwart of racing at Angoulême for years.  Click here for more.

Lots of interesting cars including the 1938 Lenkin GP car (red).  Click here for more pictures and more about this car.

Angoulême was celbrating the 100th year of MG.  A lovely collection of thirties MGs had a race including this ex-Prince Bira example.

There is more to the Circuit des Remparts than just the races and demostrations with lots of classic cars and exhibitions around the town plus a couple of rallies on Saturday and a Concours d'Elegance on Friday evening.  Here are a few pictures of the atmosphere.

Ballot was a French marque that was also being celebrated at Angoulême.  This is a 1927 Ballot 2LTS Tourer Sport James Young.

A 1921 Ballot 2LS Chateau Toulon.

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.

An Amilcar in the town.

There were Bugattis galore.

Circuit des Remparts 2023 - Plateau Maurice Trintignant - Avant Guerre

 

The winning 1937 Austin Seven of Christian Pedersen.  He dominated practice and the race.

The first race of the weekend at the 2023 Circuit des Remparts at Angoulême was for small capacity pre-war cars.  Thus, this was a field of small cars from Austin, Riley, Salmson, GN and MG.   19 cars took part in this 15 lap race on this short street track of 1.28 kilometres (about 0.8 miles).  This plateau was named after Maurice Trintignant who won the 1949 Circuit des Remparts.   The first ever Circuit des Remparts took place in July 1939 and the circuit still follows the same course.   

The second placed 1937 Austin Seven Pigsty Special of Simon Gallon.

Third place went to French driver Nicolas Komaroff in his 1938 Austin Seven Spéciale.

In fourth place was Simon Frost in his 1934 Austin Seven La Special.

In fifth place was Arnault Lagautriere in his 1929 Austin Seven.

First non-Austin home, in sixth place,  was this lovely 1938 MG TA S driven by Stéphane Goy.

Rear view of the MG.

Other cars in this plateau included:

The 1921 GN Katipo of Louis McNair was very entertaining.

The 1935 Riley TT Sprite of Tammo Voight.

The 1927 Salmson GS8 of Michael Hudson.

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.

James Miles in his 1936 Austin Seven Single Seater.

The cockpit of Simon Frost's Austin Seven single seater.

1931 Austin Seven Ulster driven by Xavier Chapeyroux.

Marshals and drivers acknowledge each other.

From the Archives - 2002 Le Mans Classic

In Plateau No.2 the white 1956 Maserati 250SI of Jeremy Agace races with the 1954 Aston Martin DB3S of Roos, and Hugi whilst exiting Tertre Rouge..

The first edition of the Le Mans Classic was held on the 21st and 22nd September 2002 with five grids of historic sports cars racing around the clock from 4pm on Saturday to 4pm on Sunday.  There were no support races and compared to more recent editions, quite a small crowd of enthusiasts.  I was one of those enthusiasts at the event and took a few photos on my Nikon E855 Compact camera which I share with you in this post.

It was just a three day meeting with scrutineering on the Friday and practice from 9am to 1 am on Saturday and the races commencing at 4pm.    The night time practice actually happened during Saturday evening after the first 4 races.  The tradition of having a dummy Le Mans start and then a real rolling start was in place for this first edition and gave many of us a chance to see our first Le Mans start.

The four plateau or grids back in 2002 were as follows:

Plateau 1 - Cars from 1923 to 1939. (Sponsored by Alfa Romeo)

Plateau 2 - Cars from 1945 to 1956. (Sponsored by Jaguar)

Plateau 3  - Cars from 1957 to 1961. (Sponsored by Aston Martin)

Plateau 4 - Cars from 1962 to 1965. (Sponsored by Ferrari)

Plateau 5 - Cars from 1966 to 1975. (Sponsored by Porsche)

All cars taking part had to be of a model that competed in the 24 Hours of Le Man between 1923 and 1975.

Each Plateau had four races that each lasted around 35 minutes.

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Saturday started with a walk around the classic cars from various car clubs parked the length of the Bugatti circuit and the various paddocks<

A number of beautiful Bugattis.   Types 31, 40 and 43 were down to race.

A well known Jaguar powered HW - Alta.

Another beautiful classic car.

Plateau 1

Plateau 1 contained many desirable pre-war cars from Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Aston Martin, Riley, Bugatti and many other marques.   At the end of the race, an Alfa Romeo 8C won from a Talbot 105 and an Aston Martin 2 Litre.

The pre-war cars kicked off the first 30 minute race of the day.

The prewar cars around the Dunlop Chicane.

Plateau 2

Plateau 2 included lots of lovely Jaguars, Maseratis, Aston Martins and Ferraris. First and second places in this plateau were taken by Jaguar D Types with a Lotus Eleven taking third.

The Plateau 2 cars including a C-Type Jaguar, a Ferrari and an Allard exit Tertre Rouge.

Plateau 2 cars including clockwise from top left - Michael Kahn's 1951 Allard J2X, GiuseppeTomasetti's 1956 Maserati 150 Sport, Peter Johns's 1956 Jaguar XK140 and Michel Biscaras's 1951 Jaguar C Type.

More Plateau 2 action.  Clockwise from top left - an Aston Martin DB3S in the Esses, A Maserati 450S at Turn 1, Jaguar XK120 leading a DB and a Porsche through the Esses, A lotus IX leaving the Esses, an Aston Martin DB3S and a Maserati 250 SI.

Plateau 2 early on Sunday morning.

Plateau 3

Plateau 3 was full of more lovely Aston Martins, Maseratis, Ferraris and Lotuses.  However, at the end of the race it was a Jaguar E Type who was the winner.  Runner up was a Maserati Birdcage, followed by another E Type.  Mark Knofpler was driving in this plateau in a Maserati 300S.

The Plateau 3 cars on Sunday Morning.    In the top picture you can make out a Ferrari 250 GT SWB and an Aston Martin DBR1.  In the lower picture is a Maserati 300S and a Lister-Jaguar Knobbly.

Plateau 4

Plateau 4 contained Ferraris, Porsches, Shelby Mustangs and more.  In the end a Ford GT40 won from a AC Cobra and Nick Mason's Ferrari 250 GTO. 

The drivers of plateau 4 get ready for a Le mans start.

A Mini Marcos GT, an E Tpe Jaguar and two Alfa Romeo TZs wait for the sart.

The drivers run to their cars.  From left to right - An Austin Healey Sprite, a Shelby Mustang, A CD Panhard, and a Sunbeam Tiger.

Plateau 5

Plateau 5 was my favourite plateau as it contained a host of Lola T70s and Alfa Romeo 33s, not to mention a Porsche 917.. The winner was an Alfa Romeo 33 from a Chevron B16 and a Porsche RSR.  

Some of the fastest cars in Plateau 5.  Top - the 1970 Alfa Romeo 33 of Won Shipman that finished second in the Targa Florio.  It leads a Chevron and two Lolas.   below - Two Lola T70s lead a Porsche RSR.

The 1967 Lola T70 Mk3 of André Bailly exiting the Esses and descending towards Tertre Rouge.   The Jackie Epstein car that finished fourth in the Spa 1,000kms of 1967.

The 1967 Porsche 910 of Franck Leonesio.   This is a car that won its class at the Targa Florio.  

A Lola T70 in Jo Bonnier colours and  the 1973 Alfa Romeo TT33 of Joe Nastasi.

Francois Bourdin's 1966 Lotus Elan and a Porsche 910.

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.

Le Mans late in the evening.

Le Mans at night.