Classic Racing: Strong start to the season in Dijon 🎥

SWISS SUCCESSES IN DIJON At the GP de l'Age d'Or in Dijon there were several Swiss successes in the individual fields of the Classic Endurance Racing Series. After a long time spectators were allowed to be present again. Enjoy the summary of the GP de l'Age d'Or 2021 without commentary and only "musically" accompanied by the great sound of the racing cars [...]

Editorial - 26 June 2021

Enjoy the clip of the GP de l'Age d'Or 2021 of the French YouTube channel Duafed without commentary and only "musically" accompanied by the great sound of the racing cars.

The Grand Prix de l'Age d'Or marked the start of the Classic Endurance Racing Series organized by Peter Auto. Unlike the few races in the previous year, 1000 spectators per day were now allowed to be present again.

They experienced varied races of the total of nine race fields from different categories and eras. Once again, a number of Swiss racers shone.

Fourfold Swiss victory
They took the cake in CER2 (GT 1972-1981 & Protos 1973-1981). In this one-hour race, there was a quadruple triumph for the Swiss.

After three lead changes, Maxime Guenat in the Lola T296 with Cosworth 3.0 engine won ahead of Yves Scemama in the Toj SC304 with the same engine. Because the latter was subsequently given a one-minute time penalty for speeding in the pit lane, he dropped back in the standings to third place behind his brother Philippe Scemama (Lola T600).

In fourth place, champion Beat Eggimann from Sissach in the proven Cheetah G601 decided the two-liter class in his favor ahead of all the fast French and English.

All Swiss or what? Start of the CER2 race with Maxime Guenat (#50), Yves Scemama (#52) and Philippe Scemama (#600) in front. Behind them with high air scoop Beat Eggimann in the white-blue Cheetah (Photos: Photoclassicracing).

No racing luck for Toni Seiler and Remo Lips
In CER1 (GT 1966-1974 & Protos 1966-1971) a Swiss victory was also in the offing. After Toni Seiler had sensationally taken pole position in his Lola T70 MkIII B, he also led the race for 16 laps before a loose gearshift linkage robbed him of the fruits of his efforts. This was reaped by Frenchman Pierre-Alain France in an identical model.

The fastest man in the race field, however, was Remo Lips. The Zurich native and the Briton David Franklin, who is also known for starts in Switzerland (Les Rangiers), piloted the "new" impressive Ferrari 312 P owned by Arnold Meier.

Unfortunately, the squad only got the twelve-cylinder going at the pre-start after a long delay. Lips then turned the faster laps than Seiler in qualifying. A puncture cost additional time.

Toni Seiler led the field with his Lola T70 from the start until the retirement.

Swiss double victory in the touring cars
There was a Swiss happy ending in the equally impressive Group 2 and Group A field from the era of the European Touring Car Championship and DRM from 1966 to 1984. When the Ford Capri RS3100 of the Belgian Christophe Van Riet fell victim to gearbox damage shortly before the end of the race, Maxime Guenat was on hand with his identical four-valve Capri.

Christian Traber stayed hot on the heels of the frontrunners in the BMW 3.5 CSL and ran in second, 8.8 seconds behind. Things did not go so smoothly for Michael Erlich in his identical BMW Coupé, who had to settle for P5. Yves Scemama, in sixth place in his Ford Capri RS2600, was the fastest of the race touring cars under three liters.

In the magnificent touring car field, the BMW and Capri drivers battled it out for victory. This went to Maxime Guenat (right).

Hat trick for Maxime Guenat
Maxime Guenat celebrated his first of a total of three victories in Dijon late on Saturday afternoon in the two-hour round of the Sixties Endurance contested by 56 teams. With Frenchman Guillaume Mahé as his partner, he won the 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 by 31.5 seconds ahead of two Shelby Daytona Coupés.

In fourth place, Urs Beck, with German pro Ralf Kelleners as his partner in another Cobra, missed the podium by just 2.5 seconds. In the lead, Henri Moser and Charles Firmenich retired due to a defective fuel supply in their Cobra.

Further respect successes
There were second places overall for the fastest Swiss in two other series. Carlo Vögele was able to make up for the performance disadvantage of his 1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ in the Greatest's Trophy field on a rain-soaked track with driving skills. Only the Bizzarini 5300 GT of the Germans Dirk and Leon Ebeling covered the 19 laps faster.

In the 2.0 L Cup for Porsche 911 2.0 according to FIA regulations up to 1966, Marc de Siebenthal and Frenchman Damien Kohler also finished second in the 100-minute race after leading for a long time. Rémi Terrail and Jürg Aeberhard brought their Porsche home in fourth position. Together they also finished second in the CER1 field with a 911 RSR 3.0 behind brand mate Didier Denat in the legendary Carrera in Toblerone livery.