2007 - Delage X Type wins the Concours d'Etat
This year saw the 29th edition of the Circuit des Remparts and the biggest group ever for the Grand Touring Club and Grandstand. Amongst the cars taking part was the 1911 Delage X Type, winner of the Coupe de l'Auto at Boulogne driven by Bablot. The owner David Ozanne not only drove the car all the way to the event, but took part in touristic rally, entered into the vintage race and also won the Concours d'Etat. Click here for more photos.
This famous Delage certainly saw some use during the Remparts weekend and was admired everywhere it went. David Ozanne and his co driver Hicky arrived in the Charente a couple of days before the event so that they could visit a Delage exhibition taking place in Cognac. On their arrival the car was directed straight to parking space right outside the door, the exhibitors were clearly happy to see the car!
On Saturday the 'Touristique' rally starts from the Geant supermarket, where each car takes to the start ramp whilst the commentator wow's the crowds with his knowledge of each car. He was not short of words for the 1911 Delage, with it having won the 1911 Coupe de l'Auto race at Boulogne driven by Paul Bablot at his home Grand Prix. From the start point the rally sinuously winds through the Cognac vinyards with a coffee stop and Cognac for the co drivers if they wish and then on to the lunch stop, this year held at the Cognac airbase.
The Delage was then entered into the Concours d'Etat a competition for particularly nice cars though ones that are regularly used. The judges clearly approved that the Delage was not only driven to the event from Guernsey, then on the Saturday rally but was also entered into the vintage race. Later that day the car was pronounced the joint winner alongside a 1908 Renault in very original condition! The prize was the owners height in cases of Cognac, however a cunning swap between the owner and his taller co driver meant that they came away with at least two more cases.
Onto race day and the Delage took to the circuit for its practice laps, however due to electrical gremlins only a few laps were completed and unfortunately the problem could not be solved in time for the race. However the owner was very happy that car had managed to do all the bits it should have and at least the crowds also saw it on the circuit, albeit briefly.
Jaguar XK racers at the Circuit des Remparts
The GTC were also kept busy as they were integral in bringing the Jaguar XK racers to the event, this was the feature race of the event and undoubtedly was the star of the show. View photos of the cars.
This years feature race saw 14 Jaguar XK's entered into the Circuit des Remparts. All 14 cars were bought over from the UK where they are regularly competing in the JEC championship. Practice saw David Hall take pole position from Michael O'Shea on the tight street circuit with the whole field seemingly enjoying themselves and at the same time pleasing the enthusiastic crowds.
The tricolour flagged off the cars for what was to be a close race all the way through the field. Mark Gibbon and Michael O'Shea were the two out ahead after David Hall had an incident that left him unable to continue. It would be Mark Gibbon that finished first ahead of Michael. There was an entertaining battle between Kevin Zwolinski and Nicholas Rochez for third with Rochez coming out on top.
The drivers came away with big smiles on their faces as guest of honour Sir Stirling Moss presented the three podium places with their laurels before being taken on a lap of honour in a classic Citroen convertible driven by the president of the event.
This famous Delage certainly saw some use during the Remparts weekend and was admired everywhere it went. David Ozanne and his co driver Hicky arrived in the Charente a couple of days before the event so that they could visit a Delage exhibition taking place in Cognac. On their arrival the car was directed straight to parking space right outside the door, the exhibitors were clearly happy to see the car!
On Saturday the 'Touristique' rally starts from the Geant supermarket, where each car takes to the start ramp whilst the commentator wow's the crowds with his knowledge of each car. He was not short of words for the 1911 Delage, with it having won the 1911 Coupe de l'Auto race at Boulogne driven by Paul Bablot at his home Grand Prix. From the start point the rally sinuously winds through the Cognac vinyards with a coffee stop and Cognac for the co drivers if they wish and then on to the lunch stop, this year held at the Cognac airbase.
The Delage was then entered into the Concours d'Etat a competition for particularly nice cars though ones that are regularly used. The judges clearly approved that the Delage was not only driven to the event from Guernsey, then on the Saturday rally but was also entered into the vintage race. Later that day the car was pronounced the joint winner alongside a 1908 Renault in very original condition! The prize was the owners height in cases of Cognac, however a cunning swap between the owner and his taller co driver meant that they came away with at least two more cases.
Onto race day and the Delage took to the circuit for its practice laps, however due to electrical gremlins only a few laps were completed and unfortunately the problem could not be solved in time for the race. However the owner was very happy that car had managed to do all the bits it should have and at least the crowds also saw it on the circuit, albeit briefly.
Jaguar XK racers at the Circuit des Remparts
The GTC were also kept busy as they were integral in bringing the Jaguar XK racers to the event, this was the feature race of the event and undoubtedly was the star of the show. View photos of the cars.
This years feature race saw 14 Jaguar XK's entered into the Circuit des Remparts. All 14 cars were bought over from the UK where they are regularly competing in the JEC championship. Practice saw David Hall take pole position from Michael O'Shea on the tight street circuit with the whole field seemingly enjoying themselves and at the same time pleasing the enthusiastic crowds.
The tricolour flagged off the cars for what was to be a close race all the way through the field. Mark Gibbon and Michael O'Shea were the two out ahead after David Hall had an incident that left him unable to continue. It would be Mark Gibbon that finished first ahead of Michael. There was an entertaining battle between Kevin Zwolinski and Nicholas Rochez for third with Rochez coming out on top.
The drivers came away with big smiles on their faces as guest of honour Sir Stirling Moss presented the three podium places with their laurels before being taken on a lap of honour in a classic Citroen convertible driven by the president of the event.
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