Shelby Cobra hat-trick at the 61st Nogaro Grand Prix

Long dedicated to modern competitions, the Nogaro Grand Prix has been moving into the world of history for around ten years. However, Peter Auto had never set up shop in the Gers, apart from a side table during the 2012 Easter Cups and the enchanted parenthesis of the BPR at half-time in the 1990s.

Following disruptions linked to the coronavirus at the start of the season, Patrick Peter set his sights on the Paul-Armagnac circuit in order to keep a sufficiently full calendar. If we can criticize a reluctance among certain competitors, who did not seem attracted by this unique destination despite the rich history of the place, the rules for inter-border travel decided by the United Kingdom have logically cooled most of the British pilots.

Those who took the trouble to make the trip did not have to regret it. Mild weather, curious and accepted public in the paddock, the elements were gathered for a great meeting before the summer break.

Among the six competing categories, the Sixties’ Endurance was of additional interest to officially serve as a setting for the 61st edition of the Grand Prix. At the end of a two-hour race, Team Europe achieved a solid success.

Its three Shelby Cobra 289s monopolized the podium, led by the Swiss Urs Beck and the German Patrick Simon. The first named joins Jean-Denis Delétraz (2007) and Pierre Ryser (1964) on the list while his teammate takes over from Klaus Ludwig and Klaus Niedzwiedz (1988).

The other strong man of the Gers weekend was Franck Morel. The Frenchman seemed greedy by multiplying Endurance Racing Legends with a beautiful Dodge Viper GTS/R having raced the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2002 (Hezemans-Kumpen-Matteuzzi, accident) as well as Classic Endurance Racing thanks to a Toj SC206 boat from 1979. Result: two successes, one in each discipline!

Medhi Casaurang-Vergez, in Nogaro