For its third date of the year, the Historic Tour (Historical French Circuits Championship) joins the Sequestre circuit to merge into the glorious story of the Grand Prix d'Albi.
After Lédenon and Dijon Prenois, the Séquestre circuit has at his turn hosted the drivers of the French Championship of Circuits.
In this historic place, this third round of the Historic Tour of the season acted as 75th edition of the Grand Prix d'Albi.
To the multiple line-up of the French Championship, the «GT & Sports Car Cup» was added for the occasion.
True privilege granted to the Historic Tour, the meeting of this weekend is part of the history of the Grand Prix d'Albi.
The names of Tazio Nuvolari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Raymond Sommer and Maurice Trintignant appear in letters of gold in his palmares or even in the years 60/70, those of Jack Brabham, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill or Emerson Fittipaldi.
In other words, a victory here takes on an invaluable value!
French championship of Single-seaters and Prototypes
SportProtosCup
Race 1
Already the fastest in qualifying with a time of 1:25:003, Matthieu Châteaux, at the wheel of his Lucchini SP94 Alfa # 83, settled immediately at the head of this first race of the weekend in front of Remy Fraisse (Lucchini SP94 Alfa V6 #44) and Gerard Pargamin (Lucchini SP94 Alfa V6 #77).
The gap between the leader and his two closest rivals ranged around four seconds to three laps of the finish, when Jean-Pierre Destombes (Martini MK68 Spider 905 Peugeot #45) ran off the track led to the premature termination of the race.
Ranked in this order, the three men preceded Franck Julien (Lucchini SP94 Alfa V6 #76) and Louis Kolly (Lola T292 BMW #81), winner in "H".
Glenn Dudley (Lola T87/90 Ford #9) and "Nelson" (March 81S Ford Pinto #51) were the other category winners in C3 and SP2000 respectively.
Race 2
After a short neutralization, Matthieu Châteaux was as dominating as the day before and crossed the half-race with ten seconds ahead of Remy Fraisse, while Franck Julien, Gianluigi Candiani (Lucchini SP94 Alfa #44) and Gerard Pargamin were fighting a little further.
After another break behind the safety car, the race was briefly revived to end with a new win of Matthieu Châteaux in front of Remy Fraisse and Gérard Pargamin.
Franck Julien giving up, the top 5 was completed by Gianluigi Candiani and Josserand De Murard (Osella PA18 Alfa #8), the first of ... "non Lucchini".
Jean-Michel Guermonprez (Grac MT14S JRD #30), Glenn Duddley and "Nelson" won their respective categories.
Trophée Formule Ford Kent-Zetec
Race 1
First leader, Augustin Sanjuan (Tatuus 98SC #40) then let the «poleman» Arnaud Dousse (Van Diemen RF02Z #46) and Maxime Lebreton (Van Diemen RF02Z #15) take command in turns.
Halfway through the race, the three Formula Ford Zetec were still on wheels, led by Maxime Lebreton.
As expected, the race found its end in the final lap, the latter retaining a slight advantage (0.443s) on Arnaud Dousse at the time of crossing the finish line.
Leader from start to finish, Adrien Laissac (Van Diemen RF92 #3) won brilliantly in Ford Formula Ford ahead of Michel Kozyreff (Reynard 88FF #19) and Georges Tomsen (Van Diemen RF90 #18).
Pascal Metayer (Van Diemen RF90 #23) and Marc Faggionato (Van Diemen RF81 #112) preceded them before crashed near the goal.
Race 2
As the day before, the Zetec versions of Arnaud Dousse, Maxime Lebreton and Augustin Sanjuan were immediately at the front of the race.
The Swiss driver took the lead from the fifth lap,then made a slight gap on his two rivals,themselves followed closely by the Monegascan Geoffroy Horion (Van Diemen RF99 #2) and Adrien Laissac.
At two-thirds of the distance, all this people were still grouped together in just over five seconds.
After taking power two laps from the finish, Arnaud Dousse finally won by a narrow margin in front of the pair Augustin Sanjuan, Maxime Lebreton.
Fourth, Adrien Laissac won again among Formula Ford Kent drivers ahead of Marc Faggionato and Philippe Beloou (Van Diemen RF90 #49).
Challenge Formula Ford Historic
Race1
After claiming pole position in-extremis the day before in 1:32.891, François Belle (Lola T 540 E #1) began the race to fight with Alain Girardet (Crosslé 25 F #58), while followed Antoine Fournier (Van Diemen RF #70) and Marc Faggionato (Van Diemen RF 81 #2).
The battle was unfortunately interrupted by a collision, causing the stand-by of the race time to clear the track.
The hostilities relaunched, a great match restarted between the four men, who succeeded each other at the command.
Then, the events rush with the spin of Alain Girardet, soon followed by the crash of Alain Vignes (Crosslé 35 F #247) causing the final stop of the race.
Under these circumstances, the ranking to be established based on the positions of the penultimate lap, Alain Girardet recovered his first place ahead Antoine Fournier and Marc Faggionato.
The Englishman Alain Crocker (Ray F 71 #39), seventh overall, won in class A ahead of Régis Prévost (McNamara FCA Mk3 #27).
Race 2
The day after a rather turbulent first race, it was up to François Belle to give the tempo and join the mid-race in front of Alain Girardet, Antoine Fournier, Marc Faggionato and a Jean-Jacques Deverly (Lola T 540 E #44) has already made a solid comeback.
François Belle and Alain Girardet then took turns in command without getting rid of Antoine Fournier.
The race ends on this three-way struggle, the young (21 years old) Antoine Fournier came out winner for having preceded Alain Girardet 130/1000 second on the finish line and François Belle little more!
Marc Faggionato and Jean-Jacques Deverly completed the top 5, while Alan Crocker claimed the double by winning the A class again ahead of Paul McMorran (Crosslé 20 F #55) and Pierre-Alain Lombardi (Lola T200 #3).
And the winner is
Trophée F3 Classic
Race 1
After a first start of the race quickly shortened by a red flag, the debates were finally launched.
Starting from the pole, Frédéric Rouvier (Martini MK34 - Toyota #59) was eager to follow his usual road map, ahead of "Nelson" (Martini MK42 - Alfa #51), Ian Jacobs (Ralt RT3 - VW #9) and an astonishing Denis Gibaud (Ralt RT3 - Alfa #16), qualified on the front line for his first steps in F3 Classic!
At mid-race, this hierarchy was still topical, while "master" Rouvier remains the fastest on the track.
Approaching the finish, Denis Gibaud lost the benefit of his efforts starting in spin.
Fred Lajoux (Ralt RT3 - Alfa #21) thus recovered the fourth place behind an unchanged trio.
Race 2
Once again, Frédéric Rouvier was the fastest in the first laps.
"Nelson", however, resisted brilliantly and conceded only 3.5s at the halfway stage. Then followed, about fifteen seconds, Fred Lajoux and Eric Martin (Martini MK39 - Alfa #2).
If the gap between the first two did not vary much thereafter, the end of the race was mainly animate by the return of Ian Jacobs.
After a collision in the first lap, the Englishman made a lightning comeback to grab the third place two laps from the finish.
The race ended on a top 5 identical to the previous day.
Trophée Formule Renault Classic
Race 1
Dominator in «qualifs», Fabrice Porte (Martini MK36 #29) was in the lead of the pack from the start of this race 1.
Florent Cazalot (Martini MK54 #3) and Jean-Charles Monnet (Martini MK41 #47) followed on his heels, but the gaps were inexorably widening.
The pilot of the Martini "ex Grouillard", imperial, joined the finish as winner without ever having been worried.
Florent Cazalot finished 13' behind the winner, while Jean-Charles Monnet earned himself an invitation onto the overall classification podium.
Race 2
The truth of Saturday remained that of Sunday.
Fabrice Porte escaped again in the lead from the start of the race and maintained his advantage over Florent Cazalot.
Third during the first laps, Jean-Charles Monnet was then forced to retire, his misfortunes allowing Arnaud France (Martini MK44 #26) to access the top three.
The race ended unchanged, while Olivier Legriffon Grente (Orion FR89 #92) placed the first atmospheric in fifth place.
French championship of GT/Touring
Trophée Lotus
Race 1
From the first laps, Xavier Jacquet (Lotus Seven #34) who checks in the lead ahead of Philippe Koenig (Lotus Seven #39) and Dominique Vulliez (Lotus Seven #36), the perfect reflection of the hierarchy of tests.
At the halfway, the "Gulf" was still firmly in command, while the battle raged in its rearview mirrors.
At that moment, Dominique Vulliez was doing best by gradually taking his distance with the other chasers, starting with Cyril Jacquet (Lotus Seven #24), the son of the leader nicely back in third place.
The race ended on this trifecta, while Didier Berrezai (Lotus Seven #35), Philippe Koenig and Fabrice Bernard (Lotus Seven #18) remained threatening until the end.
Vincent Bayard hoisted the first Caterham #123 to the fifteenth rank.
Race 2
Winner of Saturday's race, Xavier Jacquet started again on the same bases in this race 2.
Even better, he had, this time, his son Cyril nestled in his exhaust.
Halfway through the race, only Dominique Vulliez and Didier Berrezai still supported the comparison.
Shortly after, the brief entry on the track of the Safety Car erased the gaps between this leading quartet.
Caught in a collision, Dominique Vulliez immediately withdrew from this final explanation which sees the Jacquet family sign the double, the father preceding the son of four tenths on the finish line.
Jean-Marc Perroncel placed the first Caterham #62 in 14th place.
Asavé Racing 75
Race 1
Holder of the pole, in 1:33:608, at the wheel of De Tomaso Pantera Gr. IV #181 recently winner of the Tour Auto, in Compétition Groupe H-I, associated with Jean-Michel Carriere, Didier Sirgue however left the advantage to Ghislain Gaubert (Porsche 911 2.8 RSR #28) from the beginning of the race.
At half-distance, six seconds separated the two riders, while Sylain Regnier (Porsche Carrera 6 #81) followed at half a minute.
The boss of the circuit Albi then working to close the gap and crossed the line under the chequered flag only eight tenths of a second after the victorious Porsche.
Race 2
Guillaume Gaubert, driving the victorious Porsche the day before at the hands of his father, immediately took the advantage over Didier Sirgue and built himself a dozen seconds ahead of the halfway point.
The balance of power in favor of the Porsche was strengthened until the finish, while Didier Cruvelier (Porsche 911 2.8 RSR #177) invited himself on the podium.
Sylvain Regnier, a long-time leader in Sport-Protos but deprived of a gearbox ratio, finally tilted against Jean-Marc David and his powerful Lola T70MK3 B #33.
Roadster Pro Cup
Race 1
Best performer of the qualifying rounds, Florian Cabarrou (Mazda MX5 MK1 #46) confirmed his pretensions from the start of the race, but soon saw Nicolas Ariscon (Mazda MX5 MK1 #23) relay him in the lead.
Their duel was still going strong after the half-race, this time with Florian Cabarrou, who managed to keep a four tenths lead over his rival at the moment of crossing the finish line.
Third from start to finish, Mathieu Rigoulet (Mazda MX5 MK1 #70) completed the podium of this race 1.
Race 2
After Florian Cabarrou’s victory on Saturday, it was up to Nicolas Ariscon to give the tempo at the start of race 2.
At mid-race, the man was still leading the debates in front of the winner of the previous day, while Mathieu Rigoulet was in third place, alone.
Neutralized, then shortened by a red flag, the end of the race confirmed the domination of Nicolas Ariscon.
Despite having managed to climb to the second place on the track just before the race stop, Mathieu Rigoulet was legally to be satisfied with the third step of the podium.
Youngtimers GTI Cup
Race 1
After leaving David Julia (Honda Civic #20) the privilege of completing the first lap in the lead, Franck Quagliozzi (Honda Civic #51) took up his old habits again and rejoined the mid-race with already a dozen seconds ahead of the local of the stage.
Jean-Christophe Bastia (Renault 5 GT Turbo #2), Guillaume Mathez (Peugeot 309 GTI #12) and Damien Benjamin (Honda Civic #3) were fighting for third place.
If the gap between the first two increased inexorably until the finish, the abandonment at the approach of the goal Jean-Christophe Bastia allowed the Swiss Guillaume Mathez to reach the podium.
Behind Damien Benjamin, newcomer Eric Faure (Renault 5 GT Turbo #119) completed the top 5.
Race 2
According to a known scenario, the Honda Civics of Franck Quagliozzi and David Julia immediately took the lead and joined the half-way together, far ahead of the R5 GT Turbo of Jean-Christophe Bastia, superbly recovered after its abandonment the day before.
After a short neutralization, the top three was confirmed before a crash forces the race management to interrupt the race one lap from the end.
Trophée GT Classic
Race 1
After dominating the qualifying the day before, Laurent Sabatier continued his demonstration at the wheel of his impressive Porsche 993 GT2 #151.
At the halfway point of the race, Sebastien Mathieu (BMW M3 GTR Evo PTG #84) was more than twenty seconds behind, while François Cantin (Ultima GTR #31) followed at a distance after making a 360 ° early in the race.
Soon penalized by a drive-through, the latter was again slowed in its progress, but managed to recover his third place in view of the finish.
In front, Laurent Sabatier won without any resistance in front of Sebastien Mathieu, nearly half a minute.
Race 2
In a perfect remake of the race of Saturday, Laurent Sabatier quickly took off at the controls of his powerful and reliable Porsche 993 GT2.
Sébastien Mathieu and François Cantin followed at a distance, with no real hope of catching him.
The end of the race confirmed this fact, while Gilbert Daumas (Porsche 968 Turbo RS #968) and Philippe Smaniotto (Porsche 993 C2 #7) completed the top 5 as the day before.
Maxi 1300 Series
Race 1
Already neck and neck in the morning during the qualifying, 166 thousandths between the two protagonists, Laurent Majou-Rosinoer (Austin Cooper S #99) and Jean-François Besson (Alpine A110 #110) were logically continuing their duel in the race.
The withdrawal of the first, due to engine problem, unfortunately put an end to it before halfway, leaving the driver of the Alpine alone in the lead.
This one finished the job and won with a nice safety margin on Franck Julien (Austin Cooper S #69) and Tomy Gruelles (Mini Marcos #10).
Samuel Notebaert (Austin Cooper S #98) and Damien Benjamin (Alpine A106 #106) won their respective categories.
Race 2
Winner of race 1, Jean-François Besson set off again with the firm intention to achieve the double in this closing race of the meeting.
For once, Laurent Majou-Rosinoer watcher helpless against the way to the top of the Berlinette Alpine, whose advance already reached the fifteen seconds at the halfway point.
The case is heard; Jean-François Besson and Laurent Majou-Rosinoer joined the finish line in this order, followed by Tomy Gruelles' Mini Marcos.
Mathieu Peron, 4th overall (Austin Cooper S #98), as his teammate, won the M3 class and Damien Benjamin (Alpine A106) repeated his previous day's triumph in class M1
Asavé Racing 65
Race 1
Author of the pole, in 1:34:086, at the wheel of his magnificent Lola T70Mk3B #33, Josserand De Murard however left Jose Beltramelli the task of leading the start of the race with his new TVR Griffith 400 #69.
Halfway through the race, the Lola logically led the show, while Beltramelli «father» was soon under the threat of Didier Gruau (on another TVR 400 Griffith #10), then overtaken by him.
The end of the race froze these positions, while Didier Sirgue finished at the foot of the podium with his Chevrolet Corvette C2 #81, ahead of the Belgian Roger Poulet (Lotus Elan #22).
Race 2
In the absence of the Lola T70 of Josserand de Murard, winner the day before, the TVR Griffith 400 of Didier Gruau and José Beltramelli animated the first laps, before the latter gave up after an unfortunate visit to the gravel trap.
Therefore , Didier Gruau had the free way and reeled off quick laps ,maintaining a ten-second lead over the Chevrolet Corvette C2 #81 of Grégor Raymondis, the Director of the circuit d'Albi.
At the wheel of his Lotus Elan, the Belgian Roger Poulet joined them on the podium.
Outside the French Championship and guests
Trophée Saloon Car
Race 1
Without a rival in qualifying with his Audi Quattro «Groupe B replica» #1, Fabrice Lefebvre quickly disappeared in the race and left it to his opponents to share the accessits.
Halfway through, Vincent Delarche (Lotus Seven #2) was good in second place, but he would have to give up soon after.
Patrick Fuet (BMW M3 E36c #87) took the relay and joined the finish line at this place before being penalized by 30 '' (Transgression the Safety Car procedure).
José Mas, excellent at the wheel of his Jidé #154, thus recovered the second step of the podium.
Race 2
Without more competition than the day before, Fabrice Lefebvre escaped from the start of the race ahead of José Mas’s Jidé, soon overtaken by Eric Wassermann (Toyota Carina Supertourism #35).
The situation remained in the state until the attack of the last three laps which saw the Toyota withdraw, then José Mas lose two places in favor of Patrick Fuet and Fabrice Delavault (Cateham HPC #68).
GT and Sports Car Cup
Two hours endurance single race
Present in Albi for the first time, the predominantly British GT & Sports Car Cup set held its third meeting of the season after Donington and Silverstone.
With some 20 wonderful GT cars from before 1966,he was on the scene Saturday for a qualifying session of 40 minutes particularly contested.
The first three crews were completed grouped in 3/10 of a second, namely Watson/Cox (Lotus Elan 26R #44), Beltramelli J./Beltramelli B. (Chevrolet Corvette Stingray #69) and Chris Chiles Sr./Chris Chiles Jr./ Simon Garrad (AC Cobra 289 #74).
The race
It was under the sun, that the two-hour endurance GTSCC International race, began on Sunday morning.
Faced with an essentially English opposition, the Beltramelli' family Chevrolet Corvette started this endurance in the lead, then quickly left the limelight at the AC Cobra 289 of the British trio.
The latter completed the first hour at the command with half a minute ahead of the crew Beltramelli father and son.
By the staggered stopping strategy, the French team then took the advantage before yielding again to the AC Cobra at the start of the last twenty minutes and ... give up immediately the struggle(accelerator cable broken)!
Stripped of this threat, the powerful American imposed itself, after 67 laps, with a generous lead over the Lotus Elan of John Watson and Dan Cox, who had distinguished themselves the day before by signing the pole.
The podium was completed by the pair Keith Ahlers/James Bellinger (Morgan Plus 4 #29), winner of the class GT3.
The GT2 category being won by Joe Ward/Andy Newall (TVR Grantura MkIII #48).
(Based on Historic Tour Press release)