Circuit des Remparts 2023 - Plateau Henri Greder - GT & GTS Avant 1976

Henri Greder was a long time Chevrolet Corvette driver so appropriate to have one in this race.  The AC Cobra was just seen during practice.

One of my favourite plateau (grids) was for the most modern cars present and included a mix of GT and Touring cars.  Many of them were driven very spectacularly on this tight short street circuit where there are three hairpin bends in short succession.  A couple of famous drivers took part and there was a great variety of cars.  What was there not to like?

All photos are from the practice sessions.

François Delecour's rally style driving impressed the spectators, got him pole position and won him the race in this 1976 Ford Escort MkII.   He threw it into the hairpins and was on opposite lock the whole way through!

A popular second place went to local diver Jean-François Besson in his 1968 Alpine Renault A110.

Third place went to Marc Duez in this 1976 Ford Escort Mk1.  Another opposite locker!

Eric Empois took fourth place in this 1976 BMW E21.  Here he speeds past the cathedral.

Damien Kohler took fifth place in this 1972 Porsche 3L RS.

Jean-Jacques Renault took sixth place and fastest lap in this 1975 Porsche RS 3.0

This MGB finished eighth in the hands of Richard Wilson.

In 13th place was François Belle in this 1971 Porsche 914-6.

It was good to see two Opel Kadett GTEs from the seventies in the field.

A 1973 Hillman Hunter Holbay GLS and a 1974 Triumph Dolomite Sprint.

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.

MGB, BMW and a Triumph at the previous hairpin.

My view for the practice session of the Plateau Henri Greder.

8ème Rallye Bordeaux Aquitaine Classic - VHC, 2022.

 

This Opel Manta driven by Jean-Phillippe Le Cam and Sébastien Sullam was one of my favourire VHC cars on the BAC 2022.   It eventually finished sixth overall having been twelfth fastest on the first stage seen here.  It won Groupe 2.

The Bordeaux Aquitaine Classic had an exciting field of historic competition cars this year, including a number of Lancias, Porsches, Fords, Opels and the essential Alpine Renault A110.  Touring and GT Cars from 1947 to 1989 that comply to the regulations are allowed and there are a number of classes for various types of car.   25 cars started the rally and 16 were classified after 2 days of rallying over 12 special stages.  Everyone was glad that the rally was back this year after cancellation due to Covid in 2021 and I really enjoyed seeing the VHC cars on my first visit to this rally.

A variety of cars that competed are shown below:

The lead car and winner of the VHC rally was this Porsche 911 930 Turbo 3.3l  crewed by Frédéric Chambon and Stéphane Boucardeau.  They were fastest on 11 out of the 12 stages.  Thus a lot better than in 2020 when they retired with mechanical issues.

Second overall and winner of the Groupe AJ was this Ford Sierra driven by Dominique Castera and Daniel Mirambeau.  They managed to win one stage from the Porsche 930.

Ninth place overall, and second in Groupe 2 went to this Opel Ascona B of  Michel and Sébastien Porcher.

The Alpine-Renault A110 of Olivier Breittmayer and André Leyh.  They didn't finish the rally.

A rather wonderful selection of Lancias graced the VHC section of the rally including two 037s and three Delta Integrales.   The Lancia-Abarth 037 was a Group B 2 litre super charged mid-engined rear wheel driver rally car that won Lancia the WRC manufactures championship in 1983.   The Lancia Delta Integrale came into its own after the Group B cars were banned and won Lancia five WRC championships in the late eighties and early nineties.  It was a Group A front engined turbocharged 2 litre 4WD car.

The Lancia-Abarth 037 of Nicolas Leroy-Fleuriot and Adrien Audibert.   Unfortunately, it went by us relatively slowly and finished last on ES1.  It recovered a little after that but didn't finish the rally. I have seen Nicolas describe this car as a monster, and he had two off-road excursions in this rally, but it certainly looks resplendent in its Martini works livery.

This Lancia-Abarth 037 crewed by Patrick Canavese and Pascal Serre, did finish the rally and was classified eighth amongst the VHC cars.

The only other Lancia to finish the rally (in fifteenth place) was the Delta Integrale of Jacques Suire and Céline Ducournau.

The Lancia Delta Integrale of Alain Lemonnier and Eric Ben Tolila that retired on ES3.

The fastest Delta Integrale on ES1 was this example crewed by Paul Paille and Christophe Gaudin.  They also retired on ES3 which was a shame as they were second fastest on ES1.

This Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1 finished twelfth on the rally in the hands of Frédéric Ducourau and Maxime Vilmot.

Lucas Mathieu and Léa Dardenne in the BMW 318 IS that finished tenth.

The eleventh placed BMW M3 of Eric Faure and Eric Canac.

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.

Another view of the Lancia Abarth 037 showing the 5 speed ZF gearbox.

6ème Rallye du Médoc VHC/VHRS 2021

 

The highlight on my morning at the Rallye du Médoc 2021 was seeing this Lancia Stratos.

I have been to the Rallye du Médoc on a number of occasions and as it is now a relatively local rally for me, I just had to go in 2021, especially as I have been to so few events this year due to the Covid restrictions.  I always love to see the VHC cars, so I got up relatively early to see them on the stage 4 between Vendays and Montalivet.  For once, I found a relatively good place to take photos on a rally, with the cars coming towards where I was standing at Pey du Haut.  Unfortunately, I arrived just too late to see Bernard Darniche, a famous French rally driver from the past, open the rally with Vanina Ickx.  But I was there to see the VHC cars who always seem to lead the way.  It was rather dark and grey with some lingering fog but seeing all the lovely Lancias more than made up for the bad weather.  I hope you enjoy the photos I took.

The winner of the 2021 Rallye du Médoc VHC was this Lancia Delta driven by Paille/Gaudin.  Here it is in Parc Fermé on Saturday afternoon.

The second placed VHC car was this Lancia Delta Intégrale with the team of Hayet/Boisson.

The third placed VHC, a Porsche 911 SC driven by Vicaire/François.

In fourth place was the Opel Ascona of the Porchers.

Fifth placed Peugeot 205 rallye of Charron/Huesca.

This Porsche 911SC of Chauvin/Leblanc finished sixth.

Seventh placed BMW 323i of the Longes.

Final finisher was another Lancia Delta Intégrale teamed by Suire/Ducourneau.

Unfortunately the Stratos retired on the final stage.   It was driven by Leroy-Fleuriot/Audibert.

VHRS

There was also a regularity rally for classic cars going on at the same time.   Here are a few seen in the Parc Fermé on Saturday afternoon.

VHRS Alpine Renault A110.

VHRS MGB.

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.

Tour Auto 2020 - Some favourite cars

 

Tour Auto regulars, MR JOHN OF B / SIBEL, in their 1965 Porsche 906
also known as a Porsche Carrera 6,

My final post on the 2020 Tour Auto features some favourite cars that did not appear in my main posts. Particulary, the wonderful Porsche competition cars, such as the 906 and 904, that were honoured in this year's event.  If you missed the other posts then the links are below:

Tour Auto 2020 - Regularity

Tour Auto 2020 - Competition Group G

Tour Auto 2020 - Competition Groups H/I

Tour Auto 2020 - Competition VHC

Tour Auto 2020 - Competition Index of Performance

The 1961 Lotus Elite of Antoine BLANC/Didier VEST.

The 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta of Alexis de BEAUMONT/Maïté de BEAUMONT.

I couldn't resist including a picture of a British Racing Green 1958 MGA Twin Cam. 
The crew was Aurélien LETHEUX/Gerry BLYENBERG

Another 1965 Porsche 906. 
This one crewed by Romain ROCHER/Jean-François PENILLARD

Pierre MACCHI/Isabelle MARTROU in a 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale.

The 1969 Chevrolet Corvette C3 of Eric EXCOFFIER/Clément EXCOFFIER

The 1973 Ford Capri 2600 RS of Eric FAURE/Alain MANDELLI 

Always a joy to see Jean-Marc BUSSOLINI/Patricia BUSSOLINI in their
1963 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS.

The 1972 Alpine Renault  A110 1600 S of Loïc DUVAL/Jean-Baptiste MAYER. 
Nice to see Loïc compete in this A110 again.

Another 1966 Porsche 906.  This the one of Franck TROUILLARD/Frauke FEESS

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.

The 1969 Alfa Romeo  Giulia 1750 GTAm of Lucien GUITTENY/Olivier GUITTENY