Rouen-les-AFX: Classic Grand Prix

Showing posts with label Classic Grand Prix. Show all posts

Thursday, 6 July 2023

Pau Classic Grand Prix 2023, ADOUR OCEAN and Friends Classic Cup

A trio of Renaults exit Parc Beaumont.

The Coupe Adour-Océan was an event that first appeared at Pau in 1967 and lasted until 1977 and I believe was for touring cars driven by local Béarnais drivers and other invitees. This year the last race each day was for Pre-1980 (mainly) Touring cars driven by local drivers and their friends. Some of them also were racing in the HTCC race. Both races were won by Franck Quagliozzi in a Honda Civic. The pictures are from their free practice session.

This Ford Escort RS Mk1 finished second in Saturday's race driven by Olivier Biotteau,

Always lovely to see a Simca Rallye 3.

This BMW 325i finished second in Sundays race driven by Sébastien Berducq.

A Renault Clio 165 bumps over the kerb.

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.

BMW 323i.

This Porsche 944 competed in the Adour Ocean and Friends race and finished in the top ten on both days.

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.

Ford Escort RS Mk2 leads a Renault Clio.

Honda S 800.

Pau Classic Grand Prix 2023, Endurance Pre-1977

This Volkswagen Polo caught my eye. Here it is at the Hoch chicane.

The second group of Endurance racers was for the Pre-1977 cars. I saw these in practice of Friday but somehow missed both of their 45 minute races. Both races were won by the Porsche 911 2.8 RSR of Meireles and Nina. Here are some pictures I took in practice.

This Porsche 2.5 ST driven by Vincent Jiminez finished second in Saturday's race and third in Sun day's race.

This Triumph Spitfire 6 brought some relief from the many Porsches and Touring cars

This BMW 2800 CS was fast but didn't finish either race.

A number of Ford Escorts were participating including this 1300 Mk1.

BMW 2002 Tii negotiating the chicane.

Another BMW 2002 chases the Triumph Spitfire.

The Triumph Spitfire of Clot and Bernard.

Wednesday, 5 July 2023

Pau Classic Grand Prix 2023, Endurance Pre-1966

A Lotus 23B negotiates Pont Oscar in Sunday's race.

The Pre-66 Endurance racers provided a nice amount of variety and spectacle and also some close racing at the 2023 Pau Classic Grand Prix. This post will give you some idea of the variety of cars racing around the famous Pau street circuit where an error often means a visit into the barriers. There was a 45 minute race on both Saturday and Sunday with quite different podiums.

The first corner on the first lap in Saturday's race. AC Cobra leads Lotus 7, Lotus Elan and a Crossle 7S.

Sunday's race and two Alfas lead a varied group.

This Lotus Seven driven by Florent Cazalot won Saturday's race and here overtakes the Cobra for the lead.

Damien Kohler was fast in the AC Cobra but his best result of the weekend was second on Saturday.

This Lotus Elan 26R was the most consistent car of the weekend and finished third on Saturday and won Sunday's race. He he is fighting off the Lotus Seven. The driver of the Lotus Elan was none other than well known Japanese Historic driver Katsu Kubota.