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.