Piennes International F2C Event - June 12/13th

This event is a regular for the British contingent and was to prove one of the "hottest' competitions in recent years (outside the World and European Champs). Weather was fine on the Saturday but became rather mixed on the Sunday with a few heavy, but thankfully short, cloudbursts. Amongst the entry of 24 this year were 9 British teams very much appreciated by the organizers.

Racing got underway rather late in the day but it was clear early on that this was going to be a fast meeting.. Although there were no really quick times in the first round there were to be 5 sub 3:30s with the Austrians Fischer/Straniak leading the way with 3:26.6. Top British performance at this time was a 3:28.2 from Ross/Turner.

The second round was held on the Sunday morning and, although there was only to be one sub 3:30 time, there was a significant closing up of several teams just over 3:30. Fastest in this round were the French team of Surugue/Surugue with 3:25.3. The two British teams of Fitzgerald/Thomason and Langworth Campbell managed to put in times of just over 3:30 thus ensuring that the current British Team were all present in the semi-finals.

In the first round of Semis the two French teams of Maret/Peret and Delor/Constant were the fastest with 3:23.2 and 3:23.3 respectively.. The British pair of Ross/Turner looked on for a very quick one until the red light came on due to over-ambitiousness from Malcolm in the centre

a pity as a new British record could have been close. In third place at the end of the first round of semis were Fischer/Straniak with 3:25.6.

The second round of semis was generally slower than the first as all of the teams attempted to beat the 3:25.6 cut off time for the final. In the end the only team to manage it were Ross/Turner putting in an excellent 3:19.8 (without any warnings). See you can do it Malcolm !

In the final Ross/Turner lead throughout, gradually building up a clear lead. They were on a bit of a knife edge but Brian took a bit of heat out of the motor at a couple of stops by spraying water over the motor case and this enabled them to finish with a time of 7:02.3. Delor/Constant pulled out after Bruno slipped on take off at 159 laps but Maret/Peret had a clean run to record a 7:12.9 just 5 laps behind Ross/Turner.

This was Malcolm and Brian's first open international victory and, after all the work Brian has put in with the gear, was much deserved.

The organizers showed their gratitude for the attendance of foreign teams by awarding a trophy for the "furthest travailed team" to the Portuguese pair of Mortinho/Coulau and also to the "best represented country" in this case the British contingent.. This is a competition that should be considered by all British teams who want to gain experience in team racing and fancy a weekend away - we are always made welcome and the site (currently undergoing extensions ready for the 2000 World Champs) is in a pleasant countryfied area of France.

Results

Heat 1

Heat 2

Semi 1

Semi 2

Final

1

Ross/Turner

3

28.2

3

34.2

dq

3

19.8

7

02.3

2

Maret/Peret

3

27.3

3

52.9

3

23.2

dq

7

12.9

3

Delor/Constant

3

29.4

3

47.7

3

23.3

ret

29.0

ret

159.0

4

Fischer/Straniak

3

26.6

ret

62.0

3

25.6

ret

38.0

5

Fitzgerald/Thomason

dq

3

30.6

3

32.6

ret

70.0

6

Nitsche/Nitsche

3

29.6

ret

91.0

3

33.3

3

33.1

7

Surugue/Surugue

3

35.6

3

25.3

ret

35.0

3

41.8

8

Martini/Menozzi

3

50.9

3

33.0

3

42.7

ret

67.0

9

Heaton/Broadhead

3

33.5

3

35.2

dnf

ret

69.0

10

Langworth/Campbell

3

45.5

3

30.5

ret

00.0

ret

67.0

11

Dessaucy/Dessaucy

ret

18.0

3

36.3

12

Tribe/Bollen

3

37.0

3

49.6

13

Borer/Saccavino

4

07.5

3

39.2

14

Gilbert/Gilbert

3

42.2

3

42.4

15

Pennisi/Rossi

3

57.1

3

44.6

16

Fry/Whorton

3

44.7

3

55.1

17

Mortinho/Coulao

3

57.4

3

46.6

18

Picard/Fordoxcel

ret

00.0

3

54.1

19

Raffal/Maiffret

3

57.1

dq

20

Miles/Yeldham

3

58.2

ret

00.0

21

Metkemeijer/Metkemeijer

dq

3

58.3

22

Beringer/Beringer

ret

43.0

4

04.1

23

Walker/Peart

4

08.3

4

15.0

24

Holmes/Robson

ret

70.0

ret

91.0

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