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2006 Race
Reports
Paul Ricard, France,
19 - 20 August 2006
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Click here to see
more photos from the event |
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A 'first' for Group C/GTP Racing as a support race for the
FIA GT Championship at the Paul Ricard HTTT Supercar 500 race
weekend.
As you will see from the photos, and also when talking to the
drivers, this fabulous circuit and its infrastructure presented us all with an
amazing experience, both physically and visually!
This famous circuit,
scene of many memorable F1 races in the past, has since been developed into
the safest and most technically well supported race track in the world,
and until very recently, has been used exclusively for testing by many of the
biggest names in motor sport.
The weekend was split into four track
'sessions' with 30 minute free practice and qualifying periods, a 30 minute
'sprint' race followed by a two driver (optional) 60 minute race on Sunday.
Unlike the FIA GT racers, we were using the full circuit with the chicane in
the 'middle' of the Mistral straight, so a direct comparison with lap times
could not be made (!).
But, looking at the sector times, and
taking into account the different main straight configurations, it is
fascinating to consider that a modern GT race car; Corvette CR6,
Maserati MC12 GT1 and Aston Martin DBR9, with a professional driver, is now
capable of approaching the times of a 15-20 year old prototype,
with an amateur pilot, such is the progression of 'road/race car'
development. Conversely, we would be way off the pace of a modern prototype
such as the Audi R8, such has been the pace of all race car development, so it
is all relative!!
FREE practice was very much an experimental
session with drivers trying to get to grips with the flat nature of the track
coupled with the multi coloured run-off areas, and the need to pay great
respect to the technical nature of some of the tightening radius corners! The
Jaguar XJR12D of Nick Rini, Mauro Pane and Justin Law came to a halt with
electrical problems but, with a combination of skill and some good fortune, Don
Law's team got the voltage for the throttle pot perfect first time and the car
then ran like a dream and the most glorious V12 audio!
Qualifying
was just too short for the multi driver cars, as was demonstrated by many in
the races but top of the pile was Chris Randall in the Nissan NTP1 GTP in
2:05.090 (105.075mph), followed by Paul Whight in the fabulous Aston Martin
AMR1 (sonorous too!) and Philipp Brunn in Henry Pearman's Skoal Bandit Porsche
956. |
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Race 1 |
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Race 1 was 'dented' at the front by the demise of Paul Whight's
Aston with throttle problems, leaving Chris Randall an unfettered run to the
flag and a maiden win for the Nissan after three long years developing the
Nissan by Phil Stott's team for father Nick. A super result with fastest lap in
2:02.834 at an average of 106.38mph.
Philipp Brunn 'drove the socks' off
the Porsche 956 with a time of 2:03.715 to take second and Jim Mullen just
managed to hold off Klaus Frers in his 'rejuvenated' Porsche 962 (Phil Stott's
team having worked wonders for Frers car since Spa), after a fabulous 'dice'
that saw them swap places several times, Mullen just having the edge in top
line speed to take third place.
Meanwhile, Neil Clark in his 'new' C1
Spice was warming to the theme, having taken 14 seconds off his qualifying time
and raced past Oddie (Argo GTP), Rini (Jaguar XJR12D) and Nick Randall (C1
Spice) to finish a superb 5th . Behind him, Nick Randall made sure of a fine
6th but a battle royal commenced between Rini and Oddie as they used all their
'700bhp' and skills to get to the flag first. Oddie had got past Rini once and
considered a final inside move towards the end but 'old shoulders' stood the
test of time and Rini took an excellent 7th.
Jim Loftis from
Washington DC, in his rotary Mazda 757, could only marvel at the
'others' power but take another Class 4 win in his first season with
Group C/GTP Racing. |
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| Overall result:- |
Chris Randall |
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Philipp Brunn |
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Jim Mullen |
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| Class Winners:- |
GTP1 - Chris
Randall |
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GTP2 - Philipp
Brunn |
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GTP4 - Jim Loftis |
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Race 2 |
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Race 2 saw another fine drive and the second win for Chris Randall
(2:03.277) and Mauro Pane and Justin Law in Nick Rini's Jaguar XJR12 (Law
2:03.355) fought hard against the clock to take second with Jim Mullen taking
an excellent third place in his Spice Chevrolet GTP followed by Klaus Frers,
Porsche 962 (with a change to the rear wing settings mid race) who could not
quite match Mullen, despite the latter's problems later in the race with his
brakes starting to 'fade'.
Unfortunately, soon after Ian Stinton
had taken over from Neil Clark in the C1 Spice, he had gearbox problems but not
before posting a stunning 2:06.689. These two guys should make a great
new pairing in 2007!
Brunn had again driven brilliantly in the Porsche
956 to post a 2:06.546 but on changeover to owner Henry Pearman, a hitch with
the turbos left Henry in the pits for several laps, but they got going again to
take the Class 2 win. |
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| Overall result:- |
Chris Randall |
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Mauro Pane/Justin Law |
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Jim Mullen - Spice GTP |
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| Class Winners:- |
GTP1 - Chris
Randall |
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GTP2 - Philipp
Brunn/Henry Pearman |
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We would particularly like to thank Stephane Ratel, Patricia
Kiefer, Anne Bernard, Jürgen Barth and Birgit Spaltmann for all their help
and good humour over the weekend. |
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We would also like to thank the many officials of the meeting who
helped us too, including:- |
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| Steward of the meeting |
Alain MAHE |
| Steward trainee |
Gérard NEVEU |
| Clerk of the Course |
Jacky LAMONTAGNE |
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Daniel BLAS |
| Competitors relations |
Patricia DESMOTS |
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Manuella PRADES |
| Secretary of the meeting |
Lidwine DE GEA |
| Chief Scrutineer |
Michel RAMU |
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Thierry BRILLARD |
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David HIELY |
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Henri PLUTON |
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Lismon LAMBERT |
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André BAROLLE |
| Chief Medical Officer |
Jean DUBY |
| Chief Timekeeper |
Mike SALMON |
| Press Officer |
Frédéric
ESPINOS |
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Qualifying |
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It was
very difficult for the multi-driver cars to concentrate on best times as they
could only get 3 laps each! Bearing in mind this is a new circuit to all our
drivers and is fast. The race lap times tumbled when people had some real time
in the car to improve. |
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| POS |
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CL |
DRIVER |
CAR |
TIME |
LAPS |
GAP |
KPH |
| 1 |
88 |
GTP1 |
C Randall |
Nissan NTP1 GTP |
2:05.090 |
7 |
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168.12 |
| 2 |
18 |
GTP1 |
Whight |
Aston Martin AMR-1 |
2:07.138 |
10 |
2.048 |
165.42 |
| 3 |
33 |
GTP2 |
Brunn |
Porsche 956B |
2:08.300 |
12 |
3.210 |
163.92 |
| 4 |
32 |
GTP1 |
Pane |
Jaguar XJR12D |
2:09.205 |
11 |
4.115 |
162.77 |
| 5 |
33 |
GTP2 |
Pearman |
Porsche 956B |
2:11.460 |
12 |
6.370 |
159.98 |
| 6 |
32 |
GTP1 |
Law |
Jaguar XJR12D |
2:12.194 |
11 |
7.104 |
159.09 |
| 7 |
39 |
GTP1 |
Frers |
Porsche 962 |
2:12.302 |
13 |
7.212 |
158.96 |
| 8 |
12 |
GTP1 |
Mullen |
Spice GTP |
2:12.784 |
13 |
7.694 |
158.38 |
| 9 |
23 |
GTP3 |
Stinton |
Spice C1 DFR |
2:15.264 |
9 |
10.174 |
155.48 |
| 10 |
28 |
GTP1 |
Hepworth |
Argo Chevrolet JM20C |
2:20.608 |
11 |
15.518 |
149.57 |
| 11 |
80 |
GTP1 |
N Randall |
Spice SE90 - DFR |
2:22.311 |
13 |
17.221 |
147.78 |
| 12 |
28 |
GTP1 |
Oddie |
Argo Chevrolet JM20C |
2:27.421 |
11 |
22.331 |
142.66 |
| 13 |
23 |
GTP3 |
Clark |
Spice C1 DFR |
2:28.488 |
9 |
23.398 |
141.64 |
| 14 |
203 |
GTP4 |
Loftis |
Mazda 757 |
2:34.977 |
11 |
29.887 |
135.70 |
| 15 |
32 |
GTP1 |
Rini |
Jaguar XJR12D |
2:36.615 |
11 |
21.525 |
134.29 |
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Race 1 |
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| POS |
NO |
CL |
DRIVER |
CAR |
TIME |
LAPS |
GAP |
KPH |
| 1 |
88 |
GTP1 |
Chris Randall |
Nissan NTP1 GTP |
31:28.665 |
15 |
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167.03 |
| 2 |
33 |
GTP2 |
Philipp Brunn |
Porsche 956B |
31:32.405 |
15 |
3.740 |
166.70 |
| 3 |
12 |
GTP1 |
Jim Mullen |
Spice GTP |
33:28.074 |
15 |
1:59.409 |
157.10 |
| 4 |
39 |
GTP1 |
Klaus Frers |
Porsche 962 |
33:29.280 |
15 |
2:00.615 |
157.00 |
| 5 |
23 |
GTP3 |
Neil Clark |
Spice C1 DFR |
32:33.398 |
14 |
1 LAP |
150.73 |
| 6 |
80 |
GTP1 |
Nick Randall |
Spice SE90 - DFR |
32:55.118 |
14 |
1 LAP |
149.07 |
| 7 |
32 |
GTP1 |
Nick Rini |
Jaguar XJR12D |
33:20.922 |
14 |
1 LAP |
147.15 |
| 8 |
28 |
GTP1 |
Richard Oddie |
Argo Chevrolet JM20C |
33:22.493 |
14 |
1 LAP |
147.03 |
| 9 |
203 |
GTP4 |
Jim Loftis |
Mazda 757 |
32:23.450 |
12 |
3 LAPS |
129.85 |
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Not Classified |
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18 |
GTP1 |
Paul Whight |
Aston Martin AMR-1 |
4:16.540 |
2 |
D.N.F. |
163.96 |
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Fastest Lap |
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88 |
GTP1 |
Chris Randall |
Nissan NTP1 GTP |
2:02.838 |
15 |
106.38mph |
171.21 |
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Race 2 |
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| POS |
NO |
CL |
DRIVER |
CAR |
TIME |
LAPS |
GAP |
KPH |
| 1 |
88 |
GTP1 |
C Randall |
Nissan NTP1 GTP |
1:01:56.560 |
28 |
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158.44 |
| 2 |
32 |
GTP1 |
Pane/Law |
Jaguar XJR12D |
1:02:38.723 |
28 |
42.163 |
156.66 |
| 3 |
12 |
GTP1 |
Mullen |
Spice GTP |
1:02:33.353 |
27 |
1 LAP |
151.28 |
| 4 |
39 |
GTP1 |
Frers |
Porsche 962 |
1:01:59.349 |
25 |
3 LAPS |
141.36 |
| 5 |
23 |
GTP3 |
Clark/Stinton |
Spice C1 DFR |
1:04:11.654 |
20 |
8 LAPS |
109.20 |
| 6 |
33 |
GTP2 |
Pearman/Brunn |
Porsche 956B |
1:02:16.089 |
19 |
9 LAPS |
106.95 |
| 7 |
80 |
GTP1 |
N Randall |
Spice SE90 - DFR |
12:18.139 |
5 |
23 LAPS |
142.46 |
| 8 |
18 |
GTP1 |
Whight |
Aston Martin AMR-1 |
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0 |
28 LAPS |
N/A |
| 9 |
28 |
GTP1 |
Oddie/Hepworth |
Argo Chevrolet JM20C |
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0 |
28 LAPS |
N/A |
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Fastest Lap |
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88 |
GTP1 |
C Randall |
Nissan NTP1 GTP |
2:03.277 |
11 |
106.00mph |
170.60 |
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CLASSES |
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GTP1
Group C1, C1a & GTP cars 1988 - 1993 |
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GTP2
Group C1 & GTP cars 1985 - 1987 + all earlier Porsche 956/962s |
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GTP3
Group C2 & Camel Lights cars 1988 - 1993 |
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GTP4
Pre 1985 Group C, C1 & GTP cars, Pre 1988 Group C2, Camel Lights & C
Junior cars |
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GTP5
Interesting sports cars from a similar period. |
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Click here to see
more photos from the event
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