7ème Course de Côte VHC de La Pommeraye, 2024

 

The fastest VHC car at La Pommeraye was this Reynard 903 driven by Pierre-Alain Bureau.

This was my first time at the Course de Côte de La Pommeraye, which is in the Loire Valley near Angers, which was celebrating its sixty years in 2024.  This is actually only the seventh time that the historic cars have run here.

Running after the modern production cars and before the modern sporting cars, the VHC cars (Véhicule Historique de Compétition) provided some nice variety.  This was a round of the Championnat de France de la Montagne VHC.

Classification was decided by the cumulative time of the best two runs made out of four.  Cars run in different groups and classes as there is a huge variety of types and ages amongst  the 15 or 16 vehicles competing.

I started my day at the first of the esses.  Here is an Alpine A110.

I then moved up to the main viewing area near the passarelle.  This is a Talbot Simca Rallye.

Second fastest VHC was this very quick Ford Escort RS1600 Mk1 driven by Alexandre Chamagne.

Third fastest VHC car was this Martini Mk30 (Formula Renault 1980) driven by Pierre Joly.

Fourth fastest VHC car was this Géri RB08 driven by Daniel Louis.

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Fifth fastest VHC was this beautiful Martini Mk15 (1975 Formula Renault) of Viviane Bonnardel.

Sixth fastest VHC was this Porsche 911 SC of Michel Rolland

Seventh fastest VHC car was this Lucchini SP90-Alfa Romeo driven by Christian Bouvier.

Eighth fastest was this Ford Cortina Lotus driven by Philippe Vernay.

Ninth fastest VHC car was this Simca Rallye II driven by Jean-Claude Brazey.

Tenth fastest was this beautiful Volkswagen Scirocco of Jean-Michel Godet.

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.

A Ford Fiesta Mk1.

A Jidé Type Original.

Renault R5 Alpine.

14ème Course de Côte du Mont-Dore / Chambon-sur-Lac, 2021, VHC

Fastest of the VHC cars was this Martini Mk36 driven by Frédéric Assenault.

I always look forward to seeing the great field of VHC cars they have at Mont Dore each year.  This year I was, of course, not disappointed and in addition I had the treacherous conditions that made some of the photographs a little different to normal.  VHC stands for Véhicules Historique de Compétition.  In theory cars from 1919 to 1990 can take part and they are arranged in various classes depending on the age, type and cubic capacity of the car.   There were about 18 VHC cars taking part and most can be seen below.    All the pictures were taken in the two wet practice sessions on Saturday.  On Sunday the sun decided to appear and the times came down considerably, but I was rather pleased to have been their on Saturday.

The Martini Mk36 in the wetter conditions later on Saturday.

Second fastest VHC car was this Martini Mk30 of Gilles Cursoux.

Third fastest VHC cars was Jean-Marc Debeaune in this Van Diemen RF82.

Fourth fastest VHC was Jean-Marie Almeras in the Porsche 935 Silhouette seen here about to overtake the slower Porsche 911C of Norbert Rieu in the very wet conditions of early Saturday afternoon.

Another Martini Mk36, this one driven by Jean-Marc Coster.

Bernard Penilla his Martini Mk57.

The Geri RB08 of Daniel Louis.  This is a late seventies two seater sports racing car.

Another Martini, this one a Mk15 driven by Michel Ritzenhaler.

The same car later in the day.

Class winning Viviane Bonnardel in her Volkswagen Scirocco heading a Simca Rallye 2 driven by Philippe Ginel.

Another class winner, the Chrysler Avenger 1500 of Malival Castelli.

A wet Renault 8 Gordini driven by Gérard Toral.

The Lancial Delta HF of Philippe Colin.

The Simca 1100 Ti of Francois Durat.

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 Jidé Type Original of Gabriel Lejeune.

Heritage Touring Cup - Dix Mille Tours du Castellet - 2017

The huge field of classic touring cars comes round for the rolling start at Paul Ricard on Sunday afternoon.

The Dix Mille Tours du Castellet or 10,000 laps of Paul Ricard has become the traditional end to the European historic racing season.   The Heirtage Touring Cup is for classic Touring Cars from the era 1966 to 1884.  Thus a fantastic array of Fords, BMWs and other marques that recapture the history of the European Touring Car Championship in its golden years.  I was there for the qualifying on Saturday morning and the 60 minute 24 lap race on Sunday afternoon and captured the pictures below of these beautiful cars.  Hope you enjoy!

The winner was Christian Traber in his 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL.

Early leader was this 1974 Ford Capri 3100 RS shared by Gerard Lopez and Dickie Meaden.

A group of cars exit the last corner onto the start finish straight. 

The 1983 BMW 635 CSi that came third in Group A.

Capri vs Escort.

1974 Volkswagen Scirocco leads a 1965 pink Ford Mustang that was in the invitation class.

Typical Paul Ricard shot with an 1971 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTAm

1978 Ford Escort 1800 RS chased by a much older 1972 Escort.

1972 BMW 3.0 CSL leads another BMW and a VW Scirocco through the last corner.

1972 Ford Escort 1600 RS.

For the Classic Endurance I cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Classic Endurance 2 cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Group C cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Heritage Touring Cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Euro F2 cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

For the Trofeo Nastro Rosso cars at Paul Ricard, click here.

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 view down the start finish straight as a 1971 BMW 2002 Ti exits the last corner.