9éme Rallye Bordeaux Aquitaine Classic VHC - 2024

 

The Porsche 911 SC of Pierre Chauvin and Kevin Peccolo.  Nice looking colour scheme rather reminiscent of the 1970 LM24 winner but this one didn't finish the rally.

For lovers of historic rally cars, the great thing about the Bordeaux Aquitaine Classic is that it sports a large field of VHC cars (Vehicules Historique Competition).   In 2024 there were 19 cars at the start of which 9 finished the rally.  Perhaps, the entry wasn't as good as in 2022 when 25 cars started of which two were Lancia-Abarth 037s, but a good entry nonetheless.  Originally expected to have 12 stages of approximately 130km competitive time driving, the event was cut short at the end of the ninth stage due to bad weather.   A national rally they also had a permit for foreign drivers to take part and thus there was one Belgian entry - always nice to see a Ford Escort Mk1. 

The VHC cars waiting for the depart of the rally in Castillon-la-Bataille.

Our day started seeing most of the VHC cars getting ready to start the rally in Castillon-la-Bataille and then we saw them all again on Special Stage 3.   All of the cars are shown in this blogpost, either above or below.   The special stage sran through the Bordeaux vineyards.

Early leaders of the VHC rally were Alain Lemonnier and Eric Bentolila in this lovely Lancia Delta Integrale 16S.

The winning Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 of Vincent Esteve and Anne Pointet.  They led from Special Stage 4 onwards.

In second place was this Citroën Visa 1000 Pistes of Mathieu Herran and Fabien Janssens.

Final place on the podium went to this lovely looking BMW M3 E30 of José and Jean-Philippe Lamic.

Fourth were Bruno and Karine Chaudet in this Porsche 911 SC.  They were the first of the Classic as opposed to VHC cars.

Fifth were Michel Beziat and Bastien Girard in this Ford Sierra 4x4.

Sixth was this Peugeot 205 Rallye Louis Quetier and Dimitri Pilet.

Seventh was this Porsche 2.8 RSR driven by Joël Vicaire and Michel Perrin.

Eighth were a team frm Belgium, Angelo Desaeyer and Marc Sevrin in this Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1.

Final finisher was this VW Golf GTi 1 1600.  It had crashed on one special stage on day 1.

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.

We saw this Mazda 323 Turbo 4WD depart onto the rally but unfortunately it crashed on the first stage.

This Lancia Delta Integrale 16S retired with mechanical problems on Day 1 having led after the first three special stages.

This Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 retired with mechanical problems, rejoined the rally and then retired again.

This Opel Ascona B 1921cc didn't start the second day of the rally.

This BMW 323i didn't finish the rally.

This Volkswagen Golf didn't finish the rally.

This Lancia Delta Integrale had mechanical issues on Day 2.

This Lancia Delta HF crashed on Special Stage 9.

This Porsche 911 SC left Parc Fermé and thus wasn't classified,

Rallye du Médoc VHC - 2023

 

The winners of the VHC rally were Alain Grand and Bernard Correge in this wonderful Lancia Delta Integrale.

With two of the entrants withdrawing, just 5 cars started the VHC section of this year's Rallye du Medoc. In the end, after the Citroën retired, the well turned out Lancia took a relatively straightforward win.  For the spectators the unusual site of the Matra Djet competing was perhaps the highlight.   

The conditions were rather damp as can be seen from the photos.

Seeing this well turned out French Blue Matra Djet 6 on the Saturday in Parc Fermé made me eager to see it on the road on Sunday.

Second was this Fiat 131 Abarth which was the only finisher in the Classic section of the rally.  The driver / navigator were Max and Nadège Bazilet.

This wonderful Matra Djet 6 was second of the non-classics and third overall driven by Jacky and Dimitri Pivert.

Fourth overall and third of the non-classics was this Peugeot 205 driven by Erick Hornig and Pascal Robin.

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.

Another photo of the Fiat-Abarth 131.

This Citroën Visa 1000 led early on in the hands of Mathieu Herran but didn't last the rally.

The winning Lancia.

2ème Rallye Val de Boutonne, Régional VHC, 2023

 

Winner of the VHC rally was this Lancia Delta Intégrale crewed by Paul Paille and Christophe Gaudin.

The second ever Rallye Val de Boutonne managed to attract a good entry of 17 cars for its VHC / Classic section.  The rally was held over one day on Sunday 26th March 2023 over 2 different stages each run three times giving six special stages in all and 40km of competitive driving.  I took these photos on the last corner of the stage between Lussant and Cabariot in the Charente Maritime department of France.  The cars are shown in the order they finished.  Most of the cars were nicely turned out in liveries that reminded us of famous rally cars from the past and the faster cars were driven quite aggressively and were on opposite lock as they exited this corner.  The Lancia won every stage and won by just over 1 minute from last year's winner the Renault Alpine.  Most of these pictures were taken on ES4 when the weather was rather sunny but it turned rather rainy later on.

2nd of the VHC cars and winner of the Groupe 4/5 was this Renault Alpine A310 V6 crewed by Bruno Mainguet and Thierry Bonavent.  They had won the VHC rally here last year.

3rd of the VHC cars was this Porsche 911 SC crewed by Pierrick and Nathalie Chauvel.

4th in the VHC category was this BMW 325i of Patrice Rault and Christophe Beauchaud.

Winner of the Classic Group was this Ford Sierra 4x4 crewed by Jacques Suire and Clare Pallaro.

Second in the Classic Group was this BMW 323i of Alain and Antoine Kieffer.

5th in the VHC category was this Peugeot 205 GTi of Daniel Dupont and Laura Cadillon.

3rd in the Classic Group was this BMW 323i crewed by Christian and Céline Longe.

6th in the VHC category and winner of Groupe 2 was this BMW 323 of Richard Guibert and Mickael Murzeau.

7th in the VHC category and winner of Groupe NJ was this Opel Kadett of Eddy Allard and Bryan Derosier.

8th in the VHC category was this Ford Sierra Xr4i of Samuel Charron and Sylvia Dufau.

9th in the VHC category was this Peugeot 205 GTi of Nicolas and Jean-Claude Berard.

10th in the VHC category was this Ford Fiesta Xr2i of Michael and Mathieu Robin.

11th in the VHC category was this Talbot Sunbeam Lotus of Sébastien Sullam and Jean-Philippe Le Cam.

12th in the VHC category was this Fiat Ritmo of the all woman crew, Carla Hayet and Laura Bohler.  Here they can be seen kicking up the rain from the puddles.

4th in the Classic Group was Volkswagen Golf GTi of Anthony Verola and Alexandre Arrive.

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.

This Peugeot 205 Rallye of Florent Maillard and Marina Talut did not finish.

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.