Rouen-les-AFX

Thursday, 21 July 2016

Le Mans Classic 2016 - Plateau 6 - 1972 to 1981

The rolling start of the second race for Plateau 6 which features mainly cars from the seventies. This is the famous Le Mans start-finish straight with the pits and grandstands.

This plateau represents Le Mans after the Porsche 917 era and before the Group C era. This was the era when French cars did very well with three victories falling to Matra-Simca and a victory each to Renault Alpine and Rondeau. Victories also fell to Porsche and Gulf-Mirage. All of these marques were represented. A number of famous drivers were also taking part including Henri Pescarolo, Alain Serpaggi, Jean Ragnotti, Eric Helary, Emmanuel Collard, Jochen Mass, Emanuele Pirro, John Fitzpatrick and Gijs van Lennep.

This is a little earlier with the three fastest cars coming from the pre-grid onto the main circuit. A 1982 Porsche 936 leads a 1977 Lola T286 and a 1973 Gulf Mirage.

1974 Gulf Mirage and 1978 Osella-BMW PA6 run together through the Ford Chicane.

A variety of cars led by a 1975 Chevron B31 BDG on the first lap.

A 1976 Sauber-BMW C5 executes a quick spin.

The twelfth place 1979 Porsche 935 K3 spits flames out of the exhaust on the over-run.

It was great to see Henri Pescarolo race again in the 1976 Inaltera-DFV. He shared the car with Julien Beltoise the son of Jean-Pierre Beltoise. In 1976 Henri and Jean-Pierre drove this car into eighth place and won their class in the 24 hours.

To find out more about the Inaltera, click here.

A 1975 Chevron B31 BDG pulls off an overtaking manoeuvre into the chicane.

The 1978 Renault Alpine A443 which was driven by Jean Ragnotti and Alain Serpaggi.

1969 Aston Martin DBS V8 that reminded us of Robin Hamilton's brave efforts at Le Mans.

1973 Ligier-Maserati JS2

1974 7 litre Dodge Charge. A reminder of when NASCAR type cars came to Le Mans.

1975 Moynet LM75

To find out more about the Moynet LM75, click here.

1973 Gulf Mirage driven by Chris MacAllister. This combination won the race in 2014 but was not so lucky this year.

1978 Rondeau M378 DFV

To find our more about the Rondeau M378, click here.

1979 Lola T298 BMW

The 1982 Porsche 936 won the race in the hands of Schumacher and Werner.

1976 Cheetah G601 overtakes a 1975 Datsun 240Z.

1974 Porsche 911 RSR 2.1 bumping over the kerbs.

Another flame-throwing 1979 Porsche 935.

1979 Lancia Beta GrpV.

The end of the second race for this plateau.

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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.

Wednesday, 20 July 2016

Le Mans Classic 2016 - Plateau 5 - 1966 to 1971

It is dusk at Le Mans and there is a field of lola T70s, Porsche 917s, Ligiers and Alfa Romeos. Magic!

For this plateau I saw the first two races, one just as dust was falling and the other at dawn. This is the time when Le Mans is at its best. This plateau represents the transition from Ford GT domination to Porsche 917 domination. Lola T70s took part in this era but never actually lasted the 24 hours. Ferrari tried but never actually won overall after 1965.

Dusk, nighttime and dawn at Le Mans

The 1969 ex-David Piper Lola T70 driven by Shaun Lynn at dusk leading a 1970 Chevron B19 through the Esses. Shaun finished fifth on scratch.

The leading group go through the Esses. The winning 1968 Lola T70 MkIII of Bernard Thuner leading Mr John of B in his 1971 Ligier JS3 DFV and the 1969 Porsche 917 of Carlos Monteverde and Gary Pearson.

The 1969 Ferrari 312P of David Franklin leads a US entered 1970 Chevron B19 FVC and the 1969 Porsche 917 of Peter Vogele.

1966 Porsche 906 driven by Romain Rocher racing through the late evening twilight.

Its getting really dark now and a Lola T70 MkIIIB leads a Porsche 917 out of the Esses.

A 1969 Porsche 908/2 enters Tertre Rouge.

The 1970 Le Mans winning Porsche 917 enters Tertre Rouge at night.

1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Fr IV "Daytona" at night.

Ferrari 312P at the Ford Chcane at night.

Fifth placed 1969 Lola T70 MkIIIB also at the Ford Chicane as the sun begins to rise.

Just after dawn this 1968 Chevrolet Corvette C3 gets backlit by the rising sun.

1968 Chevron B8 BMW also get caught in the early morning light.

Ulf Norinder's old Lola T70 MkIII. This car finish third driven by T.Seiler.

Early Morning onwards

I found myself a nice seat in the stannds for the rest of their second race and took some more photos there.

1970 Chevrolet Corvette C3 attacking the kerbs.

It was relatively rare to have touring cars in the Le Mans 24 hours but here is a 1969 BMW 2002 Ti Group 2 car. Following is a 1966 Alpine A210.

1971 Lola T212 FVC

1972 Porsche 911 2.5 ST

1968 Chevron B8 BMW

1970 Porsche 914/6 leads a 1966 Alpine A210

The tenth placed 1967 Lola T70 MkIII

Le Mans Classic 2016 - Plateau 4 - 1962 to 1965

Three Ford GT40a lead the field out of the Esses on lap 1 of the first race.

For the Le Mans Classic this year, a bar was erected just after the Esses on the descent to Tertre Rouge. I spent a pleasant time in the bar supping a couple of beers and taking photographs of these beautiful cars. Although, Ford GT40s were in abundance in this plateau they never actually won until 1966. 1962 to 1965 was the era of Ferrari domination. One of the beautiful 250LMs was competing.