Classic Endurance Racing Valencia: The 2litre-engines are going places!

Second round for Classic Endurance Racing after an interesting opening race at Monza (Classic Endurance Racing at Monza - photos). The competitors carried on their way to South until Valencia, nearby the America's Cup quarters. After the fast Italian track, 30 classic cars have approached the Spanish twisty layout with a lot of enthusiasm. The 2Lengine prototypes drivers came with an only target, gaining the most point possible thanks to their car manoeuvrability meant to grant them a serious advantage.

No longer than during the first practice session on Friday, three of those prototypes –among which two Chevrons and one Lola -, have out distanced the splendid Gulf Mirage owned by Belgian Marc Devis. In the GT category, we could follow the pugnacity of two BMWs M1 chased by Turkish Claude Nahum's Ford GT40. Unfortunately the first laps have seen the drop out of the Miloe brothers' Porsche 908 which engine gave up.

During the qualifications Michel Quiniou could have his revenge on the very unfortunate Italian first round. Actually, he placed his Chevron B16 second behind Timpany's B19. Monza winner Jean-Marc Luco fought hard during the second qualifying session to place his Porsche 908/4 Turbo (1975) fourth; whilst Nahum saw his victory hopes vanishing with his gearbox sump break down. In early afternoon under a bright sun and on a dry track, the competitors invested their place on the starting grid, all set to lead their car until the very last of their sixty-minute race. All of them, but one: Olivier Cazalières, whose Chevron B21, having suffered from ignition trouble had to start from the pit lane. A fact which enhances his spectacular recovery, chasing Binnie Motorsport's Lola T212, the latter drives both in the Classic Endurance Racing and the Le Mans Series with another Lola BO5/40 equipped with a Zytek engine and their battle against Allen Timpany on Chevron B19 was worth watching. They endeavoured to remain ahead John Sheldon & Michel Quiniou, both driving a Chevron B16, as well as Jean Marc Luco's Porsche.