“Nothing gets lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed” … Matra 670C, Gulf Mirage, Ferrari 712, Porsche 936, Ford GT40, Howmet TX… are still here! And if the World Endurance Championship no longer exists, the Classic Endurance Racing took over with style!
In an electric atmosphere, the 51 competitors of the CER met on the magnificent circuit of Silverstone for the ultimate leg of the season. Indeed, no less than 20 subjects of her Gracious Majesty were in the paddocks, Peter Garrod behind the steering wheel of his Porsche 935, Sandy Watson (Chevron B19 BDG) or the rock star Neil Primrose, drummer in the English rock band “Travis” with his Lola T212. Attracted by a “tempting” entry list, John Burton (Chevron B26), David Gathercole on a beautiful Lola T290 ex Jo Bonnier and Rob Hall with his Matra 670C ex Jean-Pierre Beltoise confided at the end of the meeting: “for sure we will be back for the next season!”
On Friday morning, from the beginning of the first free practice, Rob Hall made things clear with a best time of 1:52.994, bettering his direct pursuer, Bobby Rahal on the Lola T290 by about 2 seconds! Later in the afternoon, only Ludovic Caron, and his Chevron B 21 had the luxury of pinching him the best time in the first qualifying session. But his dream won’t last longer than the night… A wind of novelty also blew in the Proto 1 category. The Lola T210′s crew Geoffrey Lister/Gareth Burnett, and young Oliver Bryant on Lola T70 MKIII changed the rules by sending John Sheldon back to the third place on the grid.
From the beginning of the race at 3:45, Paul Knapfield 4th on his Ferrari 712 took a superb start at the interruption of red lights. With the 7 litres capacity of his V12, he seized the head of the race while in 11th position Marc Devis with his extremely rare Gulf Mirage resisted Dominique Lacaud (Lola T294) and the British tandem Wilkins / Catlow, very much in shape at home with their Chevron B19. In category GT2, the spectators were able to appreciate the very beautiful fight for the first place engaged by Michael Foveny, the Portuguese Fernando Espirito Santo/Pedro Breyner Mello crew as well as the McInerneys, father and son, respectively on Porsche 935 and two BMW M1s. These latter will finally succeed, taking their category with an advance of more than 24 seconds.
After a few laps when distances were stabilized, the fight between Bobby Rahal, Doug Hart, Ludovic Caron, Philipp and Siegfried Brunn, John Burton, Jean-Marc Luco and David Gathercole for 3rd position deserves to be underlined. With no less than 4 seconds between 7 cars, the show was magnificent up to the first pit stops.
At only mid-race, while classifications seemed motionless, Rob Hall and Paul Knapfield had to give up leaving an open field to Jean-Marc Luco, Ludovic Caron, Bobby Rahal and John Burton. In GT1, Claude Nahum having made an impressive catch up on Heiko Ostmann’s de Tomaso Mangusta, finally had to make a drive through and offered a first victory to the German driver. The last three laps were once again completely epic with a new change at the head of the race. Downgraded for an unrespected penalty, Ludovic Caron and Jean Marc Luco were moved back 4 places in the general classification by the Stewarts of panel. Without a doubt, Jean-Marc Luco lost the most in this story.
Fast, clean and regular, Bobby Rahal and John Burton showed their experience and took benefit of their opponents’ mistakes to climb on the two highest steps of the podium. Fréderic da Rocha completes this exclusive podium.
Classic Endurance Racing closes its history book for a few months. We will have to wait patiently for the 2010 chapter which will certainly begin at the beginning of April…
Source : Classic Endurance Racing