2H Endurance VHC: A great show for VHC enthusiasts

The qualifying session for historic vehicles is organized on the first day of this V de V weekend Endurance Series. The Mistral is there, but so is the sun, and the driving conditions are therefore almost ideal. Cars have 45 minutes to achieve the best time. David Ferrer's Lola T70 Spyder flies through the session and takes its place at the front of the line. Next to him is another Lola, the T210 of the British duo Gathercole/Brashaw, which is however not entered in the same category. The top 3 in qualifying is completed by another prototype, the small #36 Chevron B76 of Nigel Greensall driven by the two Americans Richard and Benton Bryan. Then come two 2.8 RSRs, that of the Team Cubana (Serge Kriknoff) and that of Crubilé Sport (Emmanuel Brigand). The TVR Griffith 200 of Eric Van de Vyver, associated for this race with journalist Pierre Gary, is in 6th position. The Alfa Roméo Giulia Super (GT/Tourism category) of the Blue Fox Engineering team will unfortunately not go any further following an engine failure which will deprive the Luxembourg drivers, Axel De Ferran and Bernard Zimmer, of the next day's race. Also note that the Elva MK8 from the Meca Engine team was unable to achieve a qualifying time, but will still take part in the race.

Saturday, 16:20 p.m., the green light comes on for the launch lap of the VHC peloton. The cars gather behind the leading Honda car which will disappear at the time of the flying start. The public, present in the different stands of the circuit, takes full advantage of the magic of this moment, but also of the incredible sound of these VHCs. Unsurprisingly, from the first pass, David Ferrer's Lola T70 Spyder is well ahead. She is followed by the second Lola T210 from Gathercole. We have not yet passed the first quarter of an hour of racing, and the leading car enters the pits to everyone's astonishment. Engine problem for Lola n°69 which enters its box. The suspense will not last long and a few minutes later the verdict falls, broken screw on the rocker cover: it's retirement for David Ferrer. In this first half hour of racing, we also lost #91, the Porsche 2.8 RSR entered by Crubilé Sport. After these adventures, we find the No. 210 Lola T60 in the lead with 44 seconds ahead of the Elva MK8 (No. 3) from Meca Motor. The #36 Chevron B76, the #66 Porsche and the Courage Classic Chevron B60 complete a top 5 whose drivers are already separated by large gaps as the halfway mark approaches. The first driver changes will begin and it is the TVR of the V de V team which opens the ball: Eric Van de Vyver leaves the wheel to Pierre Gary. If some drivers have decided to be alone in their car, they are nevertheless required to pass through the pit lane for at least two minutes. This is what Serge Kriknoff did, on his beautiful Porsche 911 2.8 RSR, who had a very good race. Halfway through the event, the ranking is as follows: n°3 Elva MK8 (SP3) / n°66 Porsche 2.8 RSR (GR4) / n°60 Lola T210 (SP3). We are moving forward in this last hour of the race and a duel seems to be emerging for victory between the n°3 and the n°60. Yann Le Calvez on his Elva MK8 is unleashed, he goes 7 seconds faster than the Lola T210 of Gathercole/Brashaw. The No. 19 Porsche of Henrique Gemperle enters the pits freewheeling, which is a shame because there are less than 20 minutes of racing left. We are in the last quarter of an hour, and Lola n°60 is joined by Elva n°3. We expect an exceptional finale after two hours of racing. The mechanics will decide otherwise! The No. 60 arrives in front of its box with only 8 minutes remaining before the checkered flag. Fuel pressure problem, she will not be able to restart to finish the event. With the lead acquired throughout the race, the car is still in 5th position in the final ranking. All categories combined, we find on the highest step of the podium Yann Le Calvez (Elva MK8 n°3 / SP3); then come Richard and Benton Bryan (Chevron B36 n°76 / SP3), and Serge Kriknoff (Porsche 911 2.8 RSR n°66 / Gr4).

See you in Dijon on June 28, 29 and 30 for the next VHC round which will again take place over a period of 2 hours.