14ème Course de Côte du Mont-Dore / Chambon-sur-Lac, 2021, VHC

Fastest of the VHC cars was this Martini Mk36 driven by Frédéric Assenault.

I always look forward to seeing the great field of VHC cars they have at Mont Dore each year.  This year I was, of course, not disappointed and in addition I had the treacherous conditions that made some of the photographs a little different to normal.  VHC stands for Véhicules Historique de Compétition.  In theory cars from 1919 to 1990 can take part and they are arranged in various classes depending on the age, type and cubic capacity of the car.   There were about 18 VHC cars taking part and most can be seen below.    All the pictures were taken in the two wet practice sessions on Saturday.  On Sunday the sun decided to appear and the times came down considerably, but I was rather pleased to have been their on Saturday.

The Martini Mk36 in the wetter conditions later on Saturday.

Second fastest VHC car was this Martini Mk30 of Gilles Cursoux.

Third fastest VHC cars was Jean-Marc Debeaune in this Van Diemen RF82.

Fourth fastest VHC was Jean-Marie Almeras in the Porsche 935 Silhouette seen here about to overtake the slower Porsche 911C of Norbert Rieu in the very wet conditions of early Saturday afternoon.

Another Martini Mk36, this one driven by Jean-Marc Coster.

Bernard Penilla his Martini Mk57.

The Geri RB08 of Daniel Louis.  This is a late seventies two seater sports racing car.

Another Martini, this one a Mk15 driven by Michel Ritzenhaler.

The same car later in the day.

Class winning Viviane Bonnardel in her Volkswagen Scirocco heading a Simca Rallye 2 driven by Philippe Ginel.

Another class winner, the Chrysler Avenger 1500 of Malival Castelli.

A wet Renault 8 Gordini driven by Gérard Toral.

The Lancial Delta HF of Philippe Colin.

The Simca 1100 Ti of Francois Durat.

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 Jidé Type Original of Gabriel Lejeune.

2ème Course de Côte VHRS du Mont-Dore / Chambon-sur-Lac, 2021

 

The winner in VHRS at Mont Dore was Jean-Paul Hugon in this BMW 325i.  Here he is early on Saturday morning.

The VHRS runners were making their second appearance at Mont Dore.  Judged by their closeness to a set time rather than outright speed, they are a welcome addition by providing yet more variety of cars.   I was there on early Saturday to see them, when the conditions were rather wet and they worsened just after lunch with more mist obscuring the view.  

Coming through the mist early on Saturday afternoon is second placed Jean-Luc Baudin in his Porsche 911S.

Coming down the hill earlier in the day we can see the mist rising behind the Renault 8 of Denis Eyriac.

The Peugeot 205 Rallye of Sébastien Ganhito driving through the treacherous conditions.

Alain Delort and his Ford Sierre.

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 final VHRS runner was this Porsche of Francis Verbigue.

Course de Côte du Mont-Dore / Chambon-sur-Lac, 2021, HTCC

Almost as though it were a circuit race, a Honda Civic chases a Peugeot 505 up the hill.

There were three things that made this year's Course de Côte du Mont-Dore different to last year's edition.  The first was the weather which on Saturday was very changeable and very challenging unlike the fine weather that had greeted me last year,  However, looking on the bright side, it did make for some interesting photographs.  Secondly, this year all the competitors and spectators needed a 'Pass Sanitaire' to show they had been vaccinated or negatively tested against Covid 19.  For me this was a good thing in these difficult times.  Lastly, this year a class was run for HTCC cars, which for me was a great addition to the event.

The French HTCC or Historique Tourisme Champion Car, as it is known in full, is an affordable Circuit Championship that has been integrated into La Coupe de France des Circuits since 2019.   It was really great to see them on the mountain.  The cars are Touring Cars from 1960 to 1992 and contain Groups 1, 2, N and A amongst others.  Recently, famous 80 year old Rally Champion Jean-Claude Andruet drove a BMW in the HTCC race at Charade and was down in the program to return to Mont Dore, but alas it was not to be. 

All the photos in this post were in the practice runs on Saturday when conditions were rather adverse. i have included photos of all the eleven runners.   I really enjoyed some of the cars being driven quite aggressively considering the weather.

It was really quite dark when the HTCC made there first runs before 9.00am on Saturday but there was worse to come!     This is the fastest runner, Steve Compain in his BMW M3.

Second fastest was, Steve's son, Thomas Compain in this Honda Civic VTEC.  He is seen here driving through the early afternoon rain shower.

The President of the ASA Mont Dore, Patrick Bourguignon, was third in this 
BMW 530 WS.

Fourth was this BMW 2002 Ti of Bernard Frugier.  The marshalls shelter under their umbrellas from the rain.

The Alfa Romeo 75T of Philippe Tournardre came fifth.

Sixth was the Peugeot 505 Production of Jean-Louis D'Esparbes. 

Jean-Louis Seveau was seventh in this BMW 323i.

The Peugeot 505 V6 of 'Levla'.

Jacques Cisotto and his BMW 635M.

The BMW E30 of Dominique Guillaume 

Stéphane Ruiz and his Peugeot 505.

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.

HTCC Peugeot 505 at Mont Dore.

The BMW 2002 Ti returning down the mountain with the mist rising in the background.

2020 Course de Côte du Mont Dore - Touring Cars- Groupe N/FN

On Saturday the fastest Groupe FN car w3as this BMW M3 E36 of Sébastien Lemaire

The Group N and FN Touring cars provided some variety at Mont Dore with everything from BMW M3s to Subaru Imprezas and the usual Renault / Citroën / Peugeot / Honda brigade.  Here are pictures of most of the group in this challenging Course de Côte.  

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Second fastest was this Renault Megane RS of Pascal Cat.

Christian Sepchat was third in his BMW M3 E36

Christophe Demare in a Honda Civic Type R.

Fifth was this Renault Clio RS of Eric Sauteur.

The Honda Civic Type R of Charly Brosset.

Stéphane Bossard in another Honda Civic.

The Subaru Impreza WRX of Stéphane Pecate.

Anne-Marie Malguy in her Renault Clio RS.

The Peugeot 106 XSI of Janny Guy.

Alexandre Neulat in a Honda Civic Type R.

The Peugeot 205 Rallye of Joris Boncompain.

Arnaud Boisard in a Citroën Saxo VTS

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 Peugeot 106 S16 of Olivier Goury.