Course de Côte d'Irancy 2019

A Renault 8 Gordini waits for its turn whilst an A110 burns rubber.

Oh to be in Irancy in cherry blossom time! The Course de Cote d'Irancy is held during early spring in beautiful Burgundian vineyards and cherry orchards of Irancy, making it a must visit location on the French regional hillclimb circuit.  I was just able to make the Saturday practice session but thoroughly enjoyed my few hours there and was pleased with the great spectator access that this hill has.   I had visited the village before to taste their lovely light Pinot Noir red wines, but had not seen the hillclimb there.  I hope to return soon!

The photos below show many of the runners during the Saturday afternoon "essais".  The order of the photographs is from fastest to slowest based on their official Sunday runs.   Winner was Thomas Chavot who has graduated to the top class this year.  He smashed the hill record and was one of a number recording an under 45 second run for the 1.65km hill.

1st.  No.10.  Thomas Chavot,  Norma M20 FC

The winner was Thomas Chavot in this Norma.

2nd.  No.7.  Jordan Lamonica,  Norma M20FC

Second was Jordan Lamonica in another Norma.

3rd.  No.5.  Sébastien Godot,  Dallara F305

Sébastien Godot was first of the F3 cars.  Here he passes the famous Irancy cherry trees

4th.  No.8.  Frédéric Chatelain, Norma M20F

Frédéric Chatelain speeds his Norma past the blossom laiden cherry trees.

5th.  No.1.  Gaël Boisson,  Dallara F307

Gaël Boisson was in the second fastest F3 car.

6th.  No.14.  Eddy Perez,  Ligier PHC 4

Fastest non-Norma sportscar was the Ligier of Eddy perez.

Eddy Perez burns rubber at the start.

7th.  No.2.  Thierry Brenot,  Dallara F302

Thierry Brenot's Dallara F3 car heads up the course.

8th.  No.17.  Arthur Saint-Germain, Norma M20F

Arthur heads up the lower part of the course with the cherry trees and vines above him.

The Norma M20F waiting for the start of practice below the vineyards of irancy.

9th.  No.15.  Gianni Sonzogni,  Ligier JS49

Gianni shoots up the course in his Ligier.

Gianni waiting for his practice run.

10th.  No.11.  Jean-Pierre Bouchard,  Norma M20FC

Jean-Pierre has a run up the hill...

...whilst earlier the Norma is being prepared in the streets of Irancy.

11th.  No.4.  Alexandre Bole,  Tatuus FR2000

The Formula Renault car speeds up the road between the vines.

12th.  No.20.  Florian Serralta,  Speedcar GTR Evo 19

Florian attacks one of the early corners in his Speedcar.

Florian and his Speedcar in the paddock.

13th.  No.22.  Emilien Thomas, Tracking RC01

The Tracking just after the start.

The backstreets of irancy formed the paddock for the event.

14th.  No.9.  David Chatelain,  Norma M20F

The car David shared with his brother Frédéric.

15th.  No.18.  Marion Alexandre,  Ligier JS51

Marion speeds past the cherry trees.

Marion drives her Ligier through the streets after scrutineering.

16th.  No.12.  Stéphanie Tordeux,  Norma M20FC

Stéphanie's Norma heads down the roads of Irancy.

17th.  No.19.  Bernard Delorme,  Radical Pro Sport

The Radical being prepared in the village centre of irancy.

Bernard in his Radical speeds past the Pinot Noir vines,

18th.  No.21.  Alvin Durand,  Speedcar GTR

The Speedcar at the start.

19th.  No.66.  Rodolphe Simonnet,  Alpine A110

Rodolphe Simonnet's A110 climbs the course between the trees and vines.

22nd.  No.25.  David Derémond,  Renault Clio RS Cup

First of the Group A cars was this Renault.

23rd.  No.27.  Adrien Penot,  Renault Clio RS Cup

Second in Group A was another Renault.

24th.  No.67.  Pascal Simonot,  CG Simca

The beautiful CG of Pascal Simonot.

27th.  No.40.  Damien Kosk,  Renault Clio Williams

First F2000 car was this Renault Clio Williams.

31st.  No.69.  Bernard Deulniau,  Simca Rallye II

A lovely old Simca.

34th.  No.71.  Gilles Eynard, Honda Civic

A Honda Civic to add variety.

37th.  No.34.  Yohan Bardin,  Peugeot 206 Rc

A Peugeot makes its ascent.

38th.  No.55.  Jordan Gawel,  Volkswagen Golf GTi

A Volkswagen speeds past the Irancy cherry trees

39th.  No.68.  Alain Français, Alpine A110

Another wonderful Alpine A110.

47th.  No.6.  Mickaël Jarillot,  Dallara 389

A beautiful old F3 car.

48th.  No.24.  Léonard Lusardi,  Lotus Elise

A Lotus was winner in the GT class.

49th.  No.70.  Philippe Guerault,  Renault 8 Gordini

The Renault 8 Gordini and the cherry trees.

NC.  No.65.  David Thorin,  Scora Maxi

The Scora heads up the hill into a series of turns.

Later on the car begins to smoke a little.

NC.  No.3.  Reynald Aimé,  Dallara F302/4

This Dallara was oner of the first cars up the hill during practice.

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.

With the village of Irancy in the background, the Maxi Scora starts an ascent of the hill.