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.

2020 - Historic Trophy - Charade - Formula Ford

The start of he the first Formula Ford race of the weekend.  On the left Arnaud Dousse spins his tyres in his 2002 Van Diemen.  His was the only Zetec runner.

Always lovely to see a Formula Ford race and to see one at a great historic circuit like Charade is even better.  For the Historic Tour at the end of August I was there for the first race on Saturday with the Trophée Formula Ford Kent-Zetec which had seventeen runners.  It was actually a good race with good battles throughout the field and a good race particularly for the podium. There are a number of classes for cars from1966-1981, 1982 to 1989, and 1990 to 1993.   No surprise that I loved the older cars.

The Formula Ford field streams into the first corner with Geoffroy Horion in the lead in his 1992 Van Diemen.   

I particularly admired this Crosslé 16F of circa 1968/70 driven by Serge Depla.

Action down the field with Claude Thetiot in a 1985 Reynard leading this battle for fifth place at Virage du Petit Pont.

Another old Formula Ford Crosslé battling with a 1968 Dulon.  The 1971Crosslé 20F driven by Jean-François Comte on the outside and on the inside, Belgian,  Michel Dupont in a Dulon LD4B.

The 1988 Swift of Loic Bouquet, that finisherd third in its class, cutting the apex at Petit Pont.

I had to take and publish photos of the podium as they will hopefully look very strange in years to come with everyone wearing their surgical masks.

The first of three FF podiums.  This is the one for the top three overall.  On the left is Antoine Weil who came second, in the middle is Geoffroy Horion who was the winner, and on the right is Gislain Genecand who fought his way up to third.

The second FF podium for the pre-1990 cars.  On the left is Michel Kozyreff who was second, the class winner Claude Letiot is in the centre, and on the right is Loic Bouquet who was third.

The third FF podium for the older GHI cars.  On the left is second placed Vincent Missistrano, in the middle the class winner Augustin Sanjuan, and on the right Michel Dupont who was third.

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.

A family day out, as they watch the leaders, all in Van Diemens, on their last lap.

2020 Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique - Départ Reims - Cars from 1970 to 1975

The 1973 Ford Escort RS2000 MkI of the all female crew of Edelhoff and Binder heads off into the night out of Reims towards the South.

In this second post of the 2020 Monte-Carlo Rally Historic from Reims, i feature the cars built from  1970 to 1975. This was a great period for Rallying with the likes of Alpine Renault, Porsche, Lancia, Datsun, Fiat and others battling for the podium in major rallies.   As with my first post I have a mix of pictures from the verification hall and on the road in Reims and in the parking at the Place du Boulingrin.  A rather lovely group of historic rally cars even if it was disappointing not to have a Lancia Stratos start from Reims this year.

The 1970 Alpine Rensult A110 of  Coppola/Boulanger arrives at the Place du Boulingrin.

The 1970 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super of the Hellmers follows the queue arriving at Boulingrin.

A beautiful 1970 Renault 8 Gordini awaits the verifications.  It was to be driven by the Norwegian pairing of Kleppe and Thune.

A 1971 Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF heads off into the night.  It was driven by the Fichets.

Another 1971 Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF also heads out of Reims with Hervieu and Huchard on board.

The Loth's 1971 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV arrives in the Place du Boulingrin.  

A 1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia Super driven by Brie and Michel.

This 1972 Datsun 240Z arrived first at Place du Boulingrin.  It has the Japanese crew of Ikeuchi and Morikawa.

You can't be at a French classic car event without a Citroen DS!  This is the 1972 Citroen DS23 of the Ancellins.

The 1972 Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF of Stephen and Tony Graham.

This 1972 Fiat 128 Coupé passes one of the famous Champagne houses on its way out of Reims.  It had the Danish crew of Hindsgaul and Pagh.

Guyon and Caen's 1972 Autobianchi A111 leads a group of the rally cars.

A 1972 Porsche 911T 2.4 with Eric and Chloe Verdonck.

A 1973 Alpine Renault A110.

Ozanne and Strub's 1973 Lancia Fulva 1.3S.

The 1973 Ford Escort RS1600 of Frye-Hammelmann and Hug.

The 1073 Datsun 240Z of Kowalczuk and Constant heads out through Reims

The 1973 Fiat 124 Coupé of Polivert and Herluison.

The 1973 VW Porsche 914-4 of Messersi and Oswald.

The 1974 Alpine Renault A310 of  Firmin Bour and Laurent Carrion.  This car finished a very good seventh overall.

The 1975 Lancia Beta Coupé 1800 of Van Hecke and Lorente.

The 1975 Lancia Beta Coupé of Paolin ans Bourgeat.

A 1975 Alpine Renault A310 heads of Reims with Merle and Bazin as crew.

The 1975 Renault 17 Gordini of Lesage and Benard heads out  for scrutineering.

The 1975 BMW 2002 of Muller and Clavel.

The 1975 Innocenti Mini Cooper 1300 of Bauchet and Ducreux.

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 1973 Alpine Renault A110 of Daniel and Garzino.