Vallelunga Classic opens Peter Auto season‏

After a few months’ rest the world of historic racing will be in Italy on 28-29 March for the season-opener. Peter Auto’s four grids will be assembled at Vallelunga-Classic, a meeting organised along the lines of the Mugello (2014) and Imola-Classics (2012 and 2013).Vallelunga-Classic will be run over two days with the qualifying sessions for the four grids on Saturday 28th March followed by the six races the next day. No admission charge for spectators.

Classic Endurance Racing

The oldest Peter Auto grid has attracted 55 cars split up into two groups confirming its uninterrupted success for over a decade. Martin O’Connell, winner in 2012 and 2014, is back to defend his title still at the wheel of a Chevron B 19 (1971) that he shares with Andrew Kirkaldy. Among the stand-out attractions of the first rendezvous of the year is a Porsche 917 in the hands of Jürgen Barth, winner of the 1977 Le Mans 24 Hours. Italian spectators will have their eyes fixed on home-built cars like the Alfa Romeo 33 (1971), the Group A Lancia Beta (1979) and the Ferrari 512 BBLM (1980).Heritage Touring CupThe Heritage Touring Cup, now in its second year, has been increased to five rounds and above all it is now a real championship with a classification established by points. The results of the first battles in 2014 make BMW the favourite, in particular the 635 CSI of Philipp and Siggi Brunn – a car that took part in the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) in 1984 and 1985. Richard Postins in his Rover Vitesse is one to watch as his challenge gathered momentum over the races crowned by second place in the Dix Mille Tours in October of last year, which points to a hotly-contested season.Sixties' EnduranceThe first battle of the season at Vallelunga between the 35 cars entered looks like being an enthralling one. Reigning champion Yvan Mahé is back with his Shelby Cobra (1965) associated with Dominique Guénat. However, they can expect tough opposition from another Cobra in the hands of two drivers who have raced in the Le Mans 24 Hours: Raymond Narac and Michel Lecourt. Jaguar will be out to break the domination of the powerful American cars as Da Rocha-Mestrot have entered an E-Type from 1964. Although the English car is new to this grid it is already well known to specialists as it finished 2nd of the the 2014 Tour Auto Optic 2ooo driven by Jean-Pierre Lajournade. In addition there will be three Porsche 904s in the field!

Trofeo Nastro RossoThe grid reserved for Italian cars will be one of the highlights of the meeting in the Roman province. It’s difficult to pick out a favourite from this field of exceptional vehicles consisting of Alfa Romeos, Ferraris, Bizzarrinis and four open Maseratis (300 S, 200 SI and A6 GSC Barchetta) !


Related Market and Auction Articles

4,931 articles