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.

14ème Rallye Epernay Vins De Champagne VHC, 2022

One of only two VHC cars to make it to the end of the rally was this Opel Kadett GTE.

There were just eight entries for the VHC (Véhicule Historique Compétition) section of the Rallye Epernay Vins de Champagne 2022, and only seven actually started.  In the end only two of these finished the rally!   Having seen some of the yumps, steep gradient changes and rough vineyard roads, I was not that much surprised by the high retirement rate.

The rally took place on the first weekend of April 2022 over 15 stages on Saturday and Sunday. All of the VHC cars that took part are featured in this post.

The Parc Fermé in the beautiful town of Epernay.

The two teams that were fastest early on, also were the ones that finished.  The Opel won the Groupes 1/2/3/4/5 (1976 and prior) whilst the BMW won Groupes AJ/BJ/NJ (1982-1990), so both went away as winners.  Nobody in the Groupe Classic (1977 to 1981) finished.

Some of the VHC drivers and navigators in Epernay including Jean-Louis De Roeck and Francois Guillemin in the centre.

1st and winner of Group 2.  No. 202.  Opel Kadett GTE.  Francois Guillemin & Patrick Charlot.

The Opel at speed on ES5.  This was the seventh victory on this rally for Francois Guillemin.

The Opel Kadett on ES13.

2nd and winner of Group AJ2.  No. 201.  BMW M3.  Jean-Louis De Roeck & Patrick Milleville.

The BMW M1 on ES2.

The fast Belgian entered BMW M1.  

Those who didn't last the distance:

No. 203 - Porsche 911 SC, Eric Torrejon & Mireille Guy.

On ES7 near Ay, the Porsche races through the vines as dusk arrivers.

On ES13 near Le Mesnil-le-Huttier, the Porsche climbs up through the Champagne vineyards.

No. 208 - Volkswagen Golf GTi, Yves & Lorelie Jaillet.

The VW Golf leaving the podium in Epernay to start the rally on Saturday morning.

Driving up the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay.

No. 207 - Volkswagen Golf GTi, Clement Jaillet & Thibaut Darque.

The VW Golf on ES2.

The VW Golf on ES7 as night falls.

No. 204 - Ford Escort RS, Cyril & Manon Saint-Pol.

The Mk1 Escort on ES2.

Ford Escort at speed on ES5.

No. 205 - Volkswagen Golf 2 GTi, Fabrice Bodson & Baptiste Rock

The VW Golf 2 on ES7 near Ay on the road up through the vines to Mutigny.

The Volkswagen at speed on ES7.

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.

My favourite VHC car was this Ford Escort RS.  Brings back memories circa 1971.

2020 Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique - Départ Reims - Cars 1976 to 1979.

The 1979 BMW 3201 heads out of Reims with its crew of Igor Zorin and Nikolay Ostapolets.

Carlos Tavares.

This third and final post on the 2020 Monte Carlo Rallye Historique features the cars built between 1976 and 1979.   As well as the cars, their were a couple of "celebrity" drivers.  The 1980 and 1982 World Rally Champion Walter Rohrl was present to drive a Porsche.  Also the PSA Chairman and CEO, Carlos Tavares, who has done a bit of rallying in his time, was present to drive an old product of his company.

However, the real stars of these historic events are the cars.  The era of the late seventies is not my favourite but there was such variety and nice to be reminded of the Russian Ladas, the Toyota Celica and some nice Lancias.  Not to mention the Fiat X1/9, The Opel Kadett GTE, and the Ford Escort MkIIs.

All in all a lovely events and as I have mentioned before Reims really celebrates well its racing and rallying connections over the years.    The pictures below are of the verifications, driving to the Place du Boulingrin for the start, waiting for the start and the drive through Reims after the start.   I am sure I will return in the future.  it makes for a great start to the motor sport year.

The 1979 Porsche 911 SC that the multiple World Rally Champion Walter Röhl drove with Christian Geistdorfer.

 Constantin and Jegat in the 1976 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 pass the spectators in Reims.

The 1976 Lancia Beta Monte Carlo of De Olivera Miguel / Chapuis in the Boulingrin parking area.

Monnetreau and Roger in a 1976 Saab 96 V4 start their journey towards the south of France and eventually Monte Carlo.

A 1976 Ford Escort RS2000 MkII, with Herbeth and Jover on board, leads a queue of cars into the Boulingrin parking.

Christophe and Anne Baillet in this 1977 Ford Escort 2000 MkII finished an excellent 10th overall.

A 1977 Lada 1500S with Stanevics and Hmielevskis arrives for the rally.

The Russian crew of Kashin and Kostyrko in a 1977 Volkswagen Golf GTi.

Another Lada, this one the 1977 Vaz Lada 1500S of the Russians Zasadych and Shevel.

The 1977 Toyota Celica 1600 of Richard / Mignet in the verfications hall.

The 1977 Lancia Beta Monte Carlo of Valentin and Delhorme enters the Place du Boulingrin.

Another Lancia, this one the 1978 Beta Coupé of Vincentini and Waldmeier.  

Gordon and David Glen wave to the crowd from their 1978 Opel Kadett GTE.

A 1978 Autobianchi 112 Abarth with the Marcos on board sets off on its Rally.

A 1978 Citroen CX 2400 GTi in Reims with the Viets on board.

A 1978 Opel Kadett GTE speeds through Reims.

The Danish crew of Per Vilslev and Erik Andersen enjoying their preparation.

The 1978 Ford Escort RS2000 MkII tof David Glen and Andrew Sturgess hat started in Glasgow. 

The 1978 Lancia Beta Coupé of Rollet and Millet.

The 1979 Peugeot 104 ZS of Carlos Tavares and Pauline Schoofs.

The headlights of this 1979 Lancia Beta Coupé light up the crowd as he enters a sharp left-hander.  The crew was Molet and Demeure.

This picture of the 1979 Fiat X1/9 of Leonardi and Macq shows the huge crowd in the verfications hall.

A 1979 Autobianchi A112 Abarth with the crew of Morin and Tinnes.

Danes, Frandsen and Ostergaard-Nielsen, in a 1979 Volkswagen GTi driving through Reims at night.

  Vannerrum and Plas by their Audi 80 GLE for the technical scrutineering.

The  1979 Fiat 131 Racing of Vivier and Vignot leads some other rally cars in Reims.

Mike Kent and Rupert Barker in a 1979 Chrysler Sunbeam Ti in the queue.

The 1979 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV of the Flamberts.

A 1979 Opel Ascona 2000 with its crew of the Dutch pairing, Bart Thielen and Vincent Spijker. 

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 1979 Porsche 924 of Maudit / Sacchet in the parking.