Le Mans Classic 24 hours - July 8-10, 2016

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Jeroen
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Le Mans Classic 24 hours - July 8-10, 2016

Post by Jeroen »

The top 3 of the very best classic racing events must be Goodwood, the OGP at the Ring and Le Mans Classic. Goodwood is still on my wish list, but first up for me is Le Mans (with the 'real' 24h on this weekend btw!).

So in a few weeks time we will head for France for a ball, enjoying wonderful cars, many BMW Clubs as well as BMW France present to celebrate BMW's centennial, and a whole bunch of legendary drivers are already announced, see below outline from the press announcement. And you can always have a look at our own report of the 2014 edition of Le Mans Classic. See you at Le Mans?!

MULTIPLE FORMER WINNERS WILL BE COMPETING!

Le Mans Classic gives spectators a unique opportunity to see the cars that took part in the Le Mans 24 Hours between 1923 and 1993. And not only that, as many drivers use the event to get back behind the wheel. The man with the highest number of victories is Emanuele Pirro, five-time winner of the race with Audi (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006 and 2007). The popular Italian has been a regular member of the Peter Auto grids and in the Sarthe he will be driving an Alfa Romeo T33/3 (1969), a Lola T290 (1972) and a Lancia Beta Gr.V (1979). Out on the track he may come across his former team-mate, Marco Werner, three-time winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours, who is also entered to drive three different cars: a Lotus IX (1955), a Maserati T63 Birdcage (1961) and a Maserati A6 GCS Barchetta (1954). Current works Porsche driver Romain Dumas, first in the 2010 race in an Audi, will compete in Group C Racing with a Porsche 962C.

In homage to his father Jean-Pierre who died last year, Julien Beltoise will race in grid 6 with Henri Pescarolo who holds the record for the number of participations (33) in the same Inaltera that he drove with Jean-Pierre in 1976. Another driver who spearheaded the Matra attack in the early 70s, Gérard Larrousse, the current president of the Drivers’ Club, is back at the wheel of a Porsche 550 Spyder (1958).

Andy Wallace, who won the race in 1988 in a Jaguar, remains faithful to the Coventry make as he will be at the wheel of a D-Type (1955). The Englishman is among the drivers who have raced in the event on multiple occasions with 19 starts. But his former team-mate in 1988 Jan Lammers from Holland, entered in an Austin Healey 3000, has racked up more starts than Wallace as he has 22 to his name, the same score as Emmanuel Collard who is racing in the Le Mans 24 Hours for the 22nd time this year. At Le Mans Classic he will be tackling the long circuit in a Porsche 908/3 (1971) and a 911 Turbo RSR (1974).

Other outright winners Jochen Mass (1989) and Gijs van Lennep (1971 and 1976 are back in a De Tomaso Pantera Gr. IV (1971), a Porsche 911 RSR 3L (1974) and a Porsche 908 LH (1968) respectively. A number of class winners will also be on the grid including Casper Elgaard, first in the LM P2 category in 2009, in a 1964 Porsche 904 as well as John Fitzpatrick, Ralf Kelleners and Uwe Alzen, all victorious at the wheel of Porsche 911s (1975, 1996 and 1999 respectively), who remain faithful to the Stuttgart make.

Many other well-know figures who have raced in the Le Mans 24 Hours are expected like David Halliday (BMW 3.0 CSL), Jean Ragnotti (Alpine M 65, Renault Alpine A443), Paul Belmondo (Ford GT 40), Chris Mac Allister, etc etc.


Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: Le Mans Classic 24 hours - July 8-10, 2016

Post by BertjeConti »

Very attempting Jeroen.
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Re: Le Mans Classic 24 hours - July 8-10, 2016

Post by Jeroen »

Here's a sneak preview of Le Mans Classic, story later this week...

The event was opened by Pharrell Williams

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Christophe Schwartz traded his regular Hemicuda for the original Le Mans Dodge Charger for the event and had great fun!

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A record 47 Group C cars did a set of support races

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So many wonderful stuff presented in 6 grids, each for every period covering the 1920's until the late 1970's

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Great fun in the evening

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And even throughout the night!

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Just my luck, blowing up entering the pitlane and right in front of me!

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Great to see Le Mans winner Andy Wallace again and being terribly quick, leading his class from beginning to end in the D Type

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Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: Le Mans Classic 24 hours - July 8-10, 2016

Post by gerrit323 »

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bmw 328

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other old cars

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bmw

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and action

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een kleine greep uit de 47 aanwezige groep C wagens

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2 nightshots

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Re: Le Mans Classic 24 hours - July 8-10, 2016

Post by Mich »

nice pics gents!
Gr Mich

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Re: Le Mans Classic 24 hours - July 8-10, 2016

Post by uwbuurman »

Sounds like a great event! Great pics!
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Re: Le Mans Classic 24 hours - July 8-10, 2016

Post by Jeroen »

When it comes to real classic racing, this is THE event according to many. Gerrit, you really made a wonderful set of photos mate! Not bad at all really is an understatement!
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: Le Mans Classic 24 hours - July 8-10, 2016

Post by Jeroen »

BMW club session at Le Mans, Hartge 323i RS

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Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: Le Mans Classic 24 hours - July 8-10, 2016

Post by gerrit323 »

Finally another one on here .. nice :thumbsup
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Re: Le Mans Classic 24 hours - July 8-10, 2016

Post by Jeroen »

I'm sorry I have to keep the BMW photos for BMW Car as much as possible, processing these as we speak, planning to have the article in the October issue. But there's enough older event material that's not published on line either, will try to push that to towards the forum shortly. Already started with the Schloss Dyck 2015 pics and will try to proceed asap. But time is limited and events are taking place every weekend... generating more new photos that need to be processed haha!
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: Le Mans Classic 24 hours - July 8-10, 2016

Post by Jeroen »

OK a few bonus shots

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Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: Le Mans Classic 24 hours - July 8-10, 2016

Post by Jeroen »

In BMW Car's November issue, out Oct 19th

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Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: Le Mans Classic 24 hours - July 8-10, 2016

Post by gerrit323 »

:thumbsup .. hopefully I manage to find a copy, not really any store that sells them in my neighbourhood

If you know where to buy them Jeroen .. please go get one for me :wink:
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Re: Le Mans Classic 24 hours - July 8-10, 2016

Post by Jeroen »

I'll keep my eyes open! Most magazine stores can order them btw, you can always check and since the mag is not out yet you're on time
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: Le Mans Classic 24 hours - July 8-10, 2016

Post by Jeroen »

Will try to post more of the BMW photos on Thurs or Fri. Then I need to start working on the set on Chantilly... and OGP comes with a slight delay as publication is delayed, out in roughly 2 weeks in BMW Car's Feb 17 issue. Stay tuned!
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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