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Jarama Classic 2016, the best European races at the Jarama circuit

PHOTOS: UNAI ONA / TEXT: JAVIER ROMAGOSA / VIDEO: PETERAUTO

Jarama Classic, series of high-level classics races run at the Jarama circuit, took place between April 1 and 3. Was expected a great show And, in the modest opinion of the one who signs this chronicle, the event responded to expectations with exceptional cars plying the track of the legendary Madrid track at full speed.

Organized by the French PeterAuto and the RACE, Jarama Classic It brought 186 of the best racing cars from central Europe with the aim of competing in the 10 races that made up the program. According to the organization, and despite a non-publicity of the event, around 10.000 spectators were able to enjoy the excellent launches of passenger cars, sport prototypes and Group C that thundered the circuit.

In addition, it was possible to move freely through a paddock and boxes packed with the best machinery; And the thing is that seeing the cars «in minor cloths», the mechanics working and the drivers preparing to go out on the track - having the possibility of chatting with them at all times - were as many incentives of the first edition of Jarama Classic.

Jarama Classic: Racing in style

Specifically, the races comprised the series designed by PeterAuto, French event organizer for classics who has to his credit appointments like le mans classic, Classic Spa, el Chantilly Contest of Elegance or the rally Auto Tour.

These respond to the names of Nastro Rosso Trophy, dedicated to Italian GT's between 1950 and 1965; Sixties Endurance, for cars before 1966; Classic Endurance, for machines manufactured between 1966 and 1981; Heritage Touring Cup, with cars from the golden age of the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) (1966-1984) and Group C, from 1982 onwards. The Iberian Historic Endurance, series run by Spanish and Portuguese pilots who decided to join the event.

As you can see in the photos of Unai Ona, there were exciting moments and also some other "pineapple", since according to what certain riders have commented, the Jarama asphalt is not going through its best moment. To see the list of races and winners, click here.

Some protagonists, among many others

There were cars really exceptional, as was the case with a Ford that looked like a GT40 MK4 but was not; It was the 3 Le Mans F68L P1968 prototype, a unique example that was not successful due to its dangerous aerodynamic design. I was not the only one proto of Le Mans that stood out above the rest: Without a doubt the Porsche 908 LH longtail it took my breath away. On the other hand, the Aston-Martin AMR1 is a heavy and underpowered Group C but, like the Ford, also quite rare.

Descending back to earth, it was inevitable to notice the around 15 original Shelby Cobra 289s present, in the Ferrari 250 GT SWB Breadvan (!) or in the Ferrari 250 GT of the Nastro Rosso Trophy, which ran accompanied by a Maserati T60 Birdcage, an Alfa-Romeo TZ1 or a Porsche 356B Carrera Abarth. All of them, without exception, pesos heavyweight motorsport history.

There was also a Ford GT40, two Lancia Beta Montecarlo, a BMW M1, a Volvo 240 Turbo or Lolas and Chevron of all types and conditions, just to name a few more examples of the exceptional classics that could be seen in the first edition of Jarama Classic.

To improve: Visitor service

However, not all were successes in the celebration of Jarama Classic; In particular, I think that the visitor service was not up to the expectations. It was something that I suffered in my own flesh when I arrived with my classic and was sent to one of the secondary car parks of the circuit, where I queued for half an hour in front of a disturbing-looking ticket office and at whose only window I was informed that it was not possible to pay with card.

Once inside, I found that there was conventional parking space and, above all, an empty paddock area reserved for classic and exclusive vehicles. A pity, because a better accessibility, and also a better diffusion - I did not see advertising anywhere-, they would have been the icing on the cake.

What do you think?

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Written by javier romagosa

My name is Javier Romagosa. My father has always been passionate about historic vehicles and I have inherited his hobby, while growing up among classic cars and motorcycles. I have studied journalism and continue to do so as I want to become a university professor and change the world ... Read more

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