Pau Classic Grand Prix 2023, HTCC, Historique Tourisme Champion Car, Le Groupe 1

 

Some battles going on in Saturday's race between a BMW 323i,  a Honda Civic EE9 and two Renaults.

The French HTCC series was won of the mainstay events of this years Pau Classic Grand Prix.  It caters for historic and classic touring cars of many different types such as:

Groups 1 and 2 up to the end of 1981, 

Groups A & N up until the end of 1992, 

Coupe Antho 505 cars.

I saw practice, qualifying and both races at the 2023 Pau Classic Grand Prix and pictures from them are shown below.  

The HTCC field heads up the straight after turn 1 in Sunday's race.  A BMW M3 E36 leads a Ford Sierra Cosworth.  The BMW M3 driven by Benjamin Munsch won both races.

This Ford Sierra Cosworth driven by Jean-Paul Guerdoux finished second in Saturday's race.

Alexandre Lang in his Alfa Romeo 75 turbo finished second on Sunday and third on Saturday.

This BMW 633 CSi driven by Florian Sanchez finished third on Sunday.

A BMW 325i traverse the chicane.

Fiat X1/9 follows a VW Polo through the chicane.

Honda S 800 in the chicane.

Ford Escort RS2000 Mk2 descends after Poeymirau.

Renault Clio 16S in the Hoch chicane.

A BMW 325i E30 leads the Escort through the Hoch chicane.

Renault Super 5 GT Turbo.

Renault R5 Alpine leads a BMW E36 out of Parc Beaumont.

Peugeot 505 V6.

A Honda makes a lunge but gets cut off by the BMW.

BMW 2002 Ti.

Spectating from the Boulevard des Pyrénées.

A battle for the podium positions between Alfa and Sierra Cosworth.

Wide angle view of the HTCC cars.  Peugeot 505 leads the BMWs.

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.

Ford Escort RS Mk2 leads a Renault Clio.

Honda S 800.

HTCC - Historique Tourisme Champion Car - Nogaro 2023

 

The start of the first HTCC race of the weekend as the cars negotiate turns 1 and 2.  A Ford Sierra Cosworth leads.

The HTCC cars are classic saloon cars such as Group 1 cars homologated up to 1981, Group N cars homlogated up to 1992, Peugeot 505s of the Coupe Antho, and Group 2 and A up to 1992,   The cars are really well turned out and are often in nostalgic liveries.   Nice to see a good variety of cars and some good racing even if the winner was never really in doubt.

Bruno Esperon in a BMW 323i leads a Renault and Peugeot.

Pierre Flamant in his Peugeot 505 Turbo leads a group through turn 1.

Kevin Sable-Fourtassou in a Susuki Swift GTi leads another Peugeot 505 Turbo.

Patrice Faurie in a Ford Capri.

Bernard Frugier in a BMW 2002 Ti.

A close battle between a Toyota Celica and a BMW E30.

The winning Ford Sierra Cosworth of Jean-Paul Guerdoux.

Alexander Lang came second in this Alfa Romeo 75 turbo, seen here fending off a BMW M3 E36.

Benjamin Barrere pushed his Renault R5 Alpine very hard.

Third place overall went to Valentin Gillard in this BMW M3 e36.

The Porsche 944 of Benoit Lom.

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.

The Peugeot 505 V6 2.8 of "Levla".

The Volkswagen Polo of Jacques Tillos.