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.

Le Mans Classic 2018 - Porsche Classic Race

This 1968 Porsche 908 LH driven by Ewens Stievenart was first on the road but penalties finished only eleventh.

Porsche is celebrating its 70 years in 2018 and with its long Le Mans history which includes 19 outright wins, a special race was added to the 2018 Le Mans Classic programme.   It featured over 60 cars.  Lots of Porsche 911s of course, but I have picked out some of the more interesting cars for your enjoyment!   Most of the photos from the inside of Tertre Rouge and a few from the paddock.

Pick a number, any number!

The 1959 Porsche 550 A Durlite MkIII driven by Albert Otten finished towards the rear of the field.

Gerard Larrouse drove this 1970 Porsche 911 ST 2.5L both in the race and on the Tour de France.

A 1965 Porsche 904 Carreraa GTS.  Shared by Didier Cazeaux and Ralf Kelleners, it finished fourth.

The rear of the Porsche 550 A Durlite MkIII

Eventual winner was this 1967 Porsche 910 driven by Uwe Bruschnik.

A coat of many colours on this 1970 Porsche 911.

A 1970 Porsche 914/6 chases a 1965 Porsche 911 2.0L.

Porsches in the paddock.

In ninth place was this 1966 Porsche 906 Carrera 6 driven by Romain Rocher.

Some light relief!    A 1972 Porsche 911 3.0L RS

Paul Daniels in a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8L.

Porsches in the paddock.

A 1965 Porsche 356 BT5 Karmann Hard-Top Coupé.

More Porsches in the paddock.

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.

1971 Porsche 911 ST driving out of the paddock.

Pirelli World Challenge GT & GTS Racing - Sonoma 2016

Pirelli World Challenge GT cars turning into the hairpin at the end of Sonoma's drag strip.  Car number 45, Porsche 911 GT3, was racing in the GTA class

Supporting the Indy Car GoPro Grand Prix at Sonoma in September were some really excellent GT races that were part of the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge Championships road racing series.  They featured some extremely close and competitive racing, some well known drivers such as Patrick Long and a mouth watering selection of GT cars.   It is not in many series where you see cars from Audi, Cadillac, McLaren, Porsche, Nissan, Maserati, Mercedes, Bentley, Ferrari, Lotus and Aston Martin out on the track!  

Ryan Eversley in the Acura TLS-GT that was racing in the GT class.   Here he is seen exiting turn 3.   Acura is a brand used by Honda.   This car has a 3.5 litre turbocharged engine producing 550hp.

GT Class
The GT class is for FIA GT3 cars, luxury brand sports or GT vehicles.  They can be two door coupé or sedan models with rear wheel drive and have turbocharged or normally aspirated engines with 500hp plus.  The PWC attracts an amazing variety of cars into this class as can be seen below:

John Fogarty in the McLaren 650S GT3 entering turn 2 at Sonoma.

Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3 3.8 litre turbocharged GT car.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 6.2 litre GT Coupé entering the turn 7 hairpin.

Johnny O'Connell, four times driver's champion in this series in his Cadillac ATS-VR GT3. 

Kyle Marcelli in his Audi R8 LMS Ultra.

Adderley Fong in the Bentley Continental GT3

Gunnar Jeanette in a Porsche 991 GT3R

GTA Class
The GTA class is for GT cars driven by Gentlemen drivers rather than the professionals or semi-professionals.   They race with the GT cars.

The Mexican driver, Martin Fuentes, in a Ferrari 458 Italia GT3

Andy Wilzoch in the Flying Lizards Porsche GT3R

Drew Regitz in the Audi R8 LMS GT3

Tim Pappas in a Porsche

GTS Class
The GTS cars have lower power than the GT cars and are 300-400hp and have a lower permissible prep level.

Ford Mustang Boss 302 driven by Nate Stacy

Martin Barkey in a KTM XBow GT4

Scott Heckart in a Sin R1 GT4

Greg Milzcik in an Aston Martin Vantage GT4

Jeff Courtney in a Maserati Gran Tourismo MC Trofeo leads a similar car through Turn 2.

The Lotus Evora GT4 of Kevin Marshall

Harry Gottsacker's Ginetta GT4 leads a group in the GTS race.

Tony Gaples in a Chevrolet Camaro Z28

GT CUP Class
The GT Cup class is for 2015-2016 Porsche 991 GT3 Cup spec cars with about 400hp.  They race with the GT cars.

Preston Calvert in his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in Turn 3.

The GT Race
This was an exciting race which Austin Cindric led for a long time in his McLaren before finally getting beaten by Johnny O'Connel's Cadillac.  Top GTA car was the Porsche of Michael Schein who just beat the Ferrari of Martin Fuentes.

Austin Cindric's McLaren leads on the first lap at the hairpin turn 7.  He is followed by 2 Cadillacs, 2 more McLarens, a Porsche and a Nissan.

Further down the field the Acura battles it out with the Porsches, Ferrari and Bentley.

The field exits the hairpin and enters the Esses.  Close racing throughout.

The No.97 Porsche of Gunnar Jeanette spins on the exit of the hairpin.

Patrick Long's Porsche finished in eighth position.  Here he leads a Nissan and a Ferrari.

The battle for the lead between McLaren and Cadillac between turns 3 and 4.

The GTS Race
The GTS race was also great entertainment with Nate Stacy just holding off the pack to take a win in his Mustang.

Stacy's Mustang leads the field into the second corner on lap 1.

Further down the field a Sin R1 leads the Maseratis.

After a lap or two the Mustang had a definite lead from the KTM XBows. The sixth place Ginetta eventually finished second. 

Ginetta about to gobble up a KTM XBow.

Mark Klenin eventually finished eighth in his Maserati.

Top XBow driver was Hugh Plumb in third place.

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.