The final event of the 2018 historic season by Peter Auto took place this weekend in Italy. It was the last opportunity for drivers to go head to head before the winter hiatus and for the organiser to give the first general round-up of the year that has just ended.

This weekend’s event was the fourth organised by Peter Auto on the Dino & Enzo Ferrari Autodromo. The first was held in 2011 in a different context as it was a modern race, the Imola 6 Hours, which heralded the return of endurance to the Italian circuit after 18 years. A historic moment as contrary to popular belief the Italian track doesn’t owe its renown to Formula 1 alone. And for good reason as sports cars did battle on the Imola tarmac from 1954 onwards long before it hosted a single-seater race. 

Legendary drivers like Nino Vaccarella, Jacky Ickx and Henri Pescarolo won here at the wheel of emblematic cars such as the Alfa Romeo T33/2, Porsche 917K, Ferrari 312PB, Matra MS670 and the Lancia LC2, some of which were racing this weekend during which numerous Italian cars were in the limelight including the Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ (1960), Giulia TZ (1963), T33/3 (1969), Bizzarrini 5300 GT (1965), De Tomaso Pantera (1971), Ferrari 250 GT Drogo (1959), 250 GT Berlinetta (1962), 275 GTB 4 (1966), 512S long tail (1970), 512 BBLM (1981), Iso Grifo A3/C (1965), Lancia Beta Montercarlo (1980), Maserati A6 GSC (1954), etc.

 Victory in the races went to Maurizio Bianco (Chevron B19) in CER 1, Yves Scemama (TOJ SC304) in CER 2, David Tomlin (Motul M1) et Charles Veuillard (Ralt RT 1) in Euro F2 Classic, Steve Tandy (Spice SE90C) and Michael Lyons (Gebhardt C91) in Group C Racing, Afschin Fatemi (Porsche 904), Carlo and Alain Vögele (Porsche 904/6) in The Greatest’s Trophy, Stephen Dance (Ford Capri) in HTC and Christophe Van Riet (Shelby Cobra 289) in Sixties’ Endurance. The names of the champions in each of the classes of the eight grids by Peter Auto will be announced shortly. The drivers will receive their prizes on 9th February 2019 at a gala evening held in parallel with the Rétromobile Show.

Looking forward to the future!

This weekend, the 2018 season ended on a high note. From Spain to Italy by way of Belgium and France competitors and spectators alike unanimously expressed their satisfaction with the five events on the calendar, which attracted between 210 and 325 racing cars accompanied on occasions by collector cars displayed by individual owners and clubs. The new 2.0L Cup series, was one of the big success stories of the season with 26 to 36 pre-1966 Porsche 911s taking part in each of the races. Looking back to the creation of the Heritage Touring Cup in 2014 when it sometimes attracted no more than 20 entries and now there are over 40 each time, there is cause for rejoicing and we look forward to the future with optimism! Boosted by its success, the 2.0L Cup will be part of the six meetings by Peter Auto in 2019. More innovations will be announced soon.

160 days to go!

The countdown has already begun for the Espίritu de Montjuïc (5-7 April), the first of the nine events of the 2019 season In the meantime, come and meet the Peter Auto team on its stand at the Rétromobile Show in Paris in February.

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