Pau Classic Grand Prix 2023 - Formula Ford

 

Saturday's race for the later FF1600 cars. Belgian driver John Svensson in his Ray GR17 leads Hugo Carini in Van Diemen RF90.   At the time it was the battle for second place but Hugo got through and won the race once Christophe Vernet retired.   This was taken from the grandstand at Virage de la Gare.

There were four Formula Ford races at the Pau Classic Grand Prix.  Two were for the earlier Kent engined cars from 1967 to 1989, and two were for the later cars, either Kent or Zetec engined, from 1990 to 1999.  They provided the bulk of the single seater action at Pau this year and were mainly entrants from the various French based championships for Kent and Zetec engined cars.   As usual there was good racing amongst these cars.

First corner on the first lap of Saturday's FF1600 race and Christophe Vernet has taken the lead from pole position in his Van Diemen RF99.  The first four already have quite a lead.

One of the few French marques who made Formula Ford cars.  This is a Mygale SJ03 which was driven into fourth place in Saturdays race for newer FF1600 cars by Eric Heudicourt.

A couple of Van Diemen RF91s battle it out in Saturdays race for the newer FF1600 cars.  Patrick D'Aubreby leads Alain Simon. 

A gaggle of newer FF1600 cars exit the Hoch chicane during practice.  A Van Dieman RF92 leads a Ray GR19 and a Van Diemen RF99.

Arnaud Dousse in his Van Diemen RF91 lifts a wheel as he bounce over the low kerbs of the Hoch chicane.

The Swift SC92 of Francois Mazingant heads downhill by the chicane.

The first corner of the first lap for Saturday's race for the earlier FF1600 cars.

The Van Diemen RF89 of Matthieu Boissière that won both races for the older FF1600 cars.  Here he leads Sunday's race.

The Royale RP23 of Stéphane Malaisé in Sunday's race just starting to turn into Virage Pont Oscar.

The Van Diemen RF73 of Frédéric Boudat.

The Royale RP84 of Francois Bugat.

The Van Diemen RF77 of Christophe Contre.

The Lola T540 of Swiss driver Jean Dionisotti.

Van Diemen RF99 being challenged by a Mygale SJ03

Swift SC92 leads out of Poeymirau.

Christophe Vernet in the chicane in his Van Diemen RF99.

Van Diemen RF73 rear end as it follows an RF80 out of the chicane.

Van Diemen RF80 during its descent out of Poeymirau.

Claude Tetiot in his Reynard FF85. He finished fourth on Saturday.

Loïc Bouquet in his Swift SC88.  He finished fourth on Sunday.

Van Diemen RF81 leads a Lotus 59F.

Merlyn Mk20 leads a Swift.

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

A view from up the hill to the first corner as the eighties FF cars go by.  This is the lead group.

2020 - Historic Trophy - Charade - Formula Ford

The start of he the first Formula Ford race of the weekend.  On the left Arnaud Dousse spins his tyres in his 2002 Van Diemen.  His was the only Zetec runner.

Always lovely to see a Formula Ford race and to see one at a great historic circuit like Charade is even better.  For the Historic Tour at the end of August I was there for the first race on Saturday with the Trophée Formula Ford Kent-Zetec which had seventeen runners.  It was actually a good race with good battles throughout the field and a good race particularly for the podium. There are a number of classes for cars from1966-1981, 1982 to 1989, and 1990 to 1993.   No surprise that I loved the older cars.

The Formula Ford field streams into the first corner with Geoffroy Horion in the lead in his 1992 Van Diemen.   

I particularly admired this Crosslé 16F of circa 1968/70 driven by Serge Depla.

Action down the field with Claude Thetiot in a 1985 Reynard leading this battle for fifth place at Virage du Petit Pont.

Another old Formula Ford Crosslé battling with a 1968 Dulon.  The 1971Crosslé 20F driven by Jean-François Comte on the outside and on the inside, Belgian,  Michel Dupont in a Dulon LD4B.

The 1988 Swift of Loic Bouquet, that finisherd third in its class, cutting the apex at Petit Pont.

I had to take and publish photos of the podium as they will hopefully look very strange in years to come with everyone wearing their surgical masks.

The first of three FF podiums.  This is the one for the top three overall.  On the left is Antoine Weil who came second, in the middle is Geoffroy Horion who was the winner, and on the right is Gislain Genecand who fought his way up to third.

The second FF podium for the pre-1990 cars.  On the left is Michel Kozyreff who was second, the class winner Claude Letiot is in the centre, and on the right is Loic Bouquet who was third.

The third FF podium for the older GHI cars.  On the left is second placed Vincent Missistrano, in the middle the class winner Augustin Sanjuan, and on the right Michel Dupont who was third.

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.

A family day out, as they watch the leaders, all in Van Diemens, on their last lap.