The tenth Grand Prix de Pau Historique took place this weekend, on 14 & 15 May,in the French South West city.
This was the occasion for 200 hundred racing cars to battle on the track to win the eagerly coveted Winner Trophy.
Once again, the single seaters have made evidence of their superiority on the street circuit in front of 10.000 spectator's eyes!Trophée des Pyrénées: Strong and Powerful!The Trophée des Pyrénées and its Formulas Ford Historic offered an interesting grid made of 33 fast cars where
Laurent Fort has excelled during the two rounds of the weekend.Race 1 : 1. Laurent Fort – 2. Jean‐Louis Carponcin – 3. Xavier Michel Race 2 : 1. Laurent Fort – 2. Xavier Michel – 3. Alain Girardet Trophée Légende: All for the Elders The Trophée Légende Pre‐War cars, with 27 entries, have paid tribute to their category. The Bugatti Grand Prix trio: Ramouna, Laffont & Overington have distinguished themselves during both the free practice and the qualifications. During the race, Paddins Dowling, driving his
1936 ERA B TYPE, has dominated the competition and both races. To be noticed: the remarkable performance of Frederic Novo behind the wheel of a 1930 Bugatti 44, in front of many Grand Prix cars.Race 1: 1. Paddins Dowling – 2. David Freeman / Russel Busst – 3. Alain Plasch Race 2: 1. Paddins Dowling – 2. Albert Otten – 3. Jean‐Marc Laffont Trophée Argentin: Caliente ambience!We are still talking about Paddins Dowling, who has also outclassed his rivals in the Trophée Argentin with his ERA RB10B.
A notable feat, considering the Cooper Bristols and Maseratis 250F usually trusting the podiums.
During the second race, victory went to Ian Nuthall aboard his Alta F2 of 1952.Race 1: 1. Paddins Dowling – 2. Ian Nuthall – 3. Paul Grant Race 2: 1. Ian Nuthall – 2. Paul Grant – 3. Nick Eden Trophée Junior: A tremendous finish!The 27 front and rear engine single seaters have caused a stir. Most famous Lotus', Lolas, Brabhams even an Ausper have brought life to the streets of Pau. Nathan Kinch reached the top of the podium of the first race.Race 1: 1. Nathan Kinch – 2. Martin Walford – 3. Stephane ReyTrophée de Pau: F1 back to its land 19 Historic Formula 1s made the Trophée de Pau show. Lucky with a bright interval during the qualifications,
Enrico Sperggiari has set up the pole ahead Peter Horsman. A reversed situation for race 1 with Horsman's Lotus 1821 preceding Spaggiari's Cooper T53.Race 1: 1. Peter Horsman – 2. Enrico Spaggiari – 3. Jon Fairley Trophée Phil Hill‐ Sixties' Endurance: GT & Two‐Seaters, all the same!The GT and two‐seater cars have made a full grid with 36 cars, and a special class made of four Alfa Romeos GTA.
After a complete domination during the practices, AC Cobras and Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta shave fiercely battled for the race.
Vincent Gaye's made the best of it during the first race which saw many track slip offs. The second round was the theatre of a merciless duel for the win between the Berlinetta owner and his rival, the E‐Type Jaguar. Christian Traber finally took advantage of the 250GT drop.Race 1: 1.D.Guenat / Y.Mahe – 2. V Gaye / D Franklin – 3. C. Traber Race 2: 1. Christian Traber – 2. Nathan Kinch / Larry Kinch – 3. Kilian Kinch Mini Classic for a Maxi Race The Trophée Mini Classic was founded by two Pau natives, Philippe Lalanne and Philippe Quiriere.
It has gathered no less than 20 cars for its first event among which locals, of course, but also experienced Brits.
This discipline is much fought: five of them were within the same second! Nick Swift aboard his 1965 Morris made a clean swift of the weekend two races, preceding Christian Devereux and Charles E. Rousseau.
A leading trio which did not move for the second podium.Race 1: Nick Swift – 2. Christian Devereux – 3. Charles E. Rousseau Race 2: Nick Swift – 2. Christian Devereux – 3. Charles E. Rousseau The Clubs at the Palace!The Palais Beaumont Garden has hosted the club cars splendid display for the whole weekend.
Thus, the visitors could amble among the collection cars. No less than 80 Lotus', 50 Porsches, 30 Morgans and many others (a total of 500 of them) have paid tribute their weekend star: the Delahaye 145 winner of the Grand Prix de Pau in 1938, supported by the French Delahaye Club.The Grand Prix week is launched: good luck!Friday 13 was the official launch of the Grand Prix Week for the whole city. For everybody's pleasure, the activities will carry on all along the week making a bridge between the Grand Prix de Pau Historique and the Grand Prix dePau.Find all the weekend results on: www.grandprixdepauhistorique.com.
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