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.
The members of the Nastro Rosso Trophy, for Italian GTs with the Ferrari 250 LM, at the end of the straight
908 Porsche 3/1969
The paddock was fully accessible
Mechanics, like this Lola's, operated with an open heart
After each race, the podium was very lively and in full view of the public
Shelby Cobra 289 from 1983, one of about 15 that had
Porsche 356 Carrera Abarth, very few were made
Porsche 356 Carrera Abarth. Porche asked Abarth to rejuvenate the 356
ETCC Touring Car Cup cars in the pits: Alfa Romeo GTV 6, Ford Escort and BMW 2002
3.0 BMW 1973 CSL, one of the kings of European championship tribute touring car racing
Alfa-Romeo Giulietta 1300 Sprint Zagato from 1962, in the paddock
512 Ferrari 1980BB LM
The weather was good for De Miguel and Delso's Ferrari, without a doubt!
Jaguar E 3.8 from 1963, followed by Shelby Mustang 350 GT in Sixties Endurance series
Lancia Beta Montecarlo; in short, there were some heart attack cars
Variois Group C gild your interiors in the sun
jaguar XJR16 from 1991, Group C
Powerful Group C rear ends, pure speed
Shelby Cobra 289 from 1964, racing got these things
Ford GT40 participant in the Iberian Historic Endurance. He won both races of the series, unbeatable!
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.
Giants of diverse fur, with Porsches of the fat ones and Ford GT40 await their turn
Porsche 911 coming out of the pits
First-series Porsche closely followed by a De Tomaso Pantera
This Porsche 904 GTS forgot it had to trace so black
Alfa-Romeo Giulietta Sprint of the Repsol Team
Maserati T60 Birdcage, of debatable lines but very effective thanks to its tubular chassis
Lancia Beta Montecarlo
Peugeot 905, winner of Le Mans in 1992
Spartan interiors, for the race you need the minimum
Damages are inevitable in the race, like those suffered by this 26 Lotus Elan 1964R
Jaguar E 3.8 from 1963, under review
Alfa-Romeo TZ1, participant in the Nastro Rosso Trophy. You had to see him behind the Ferraris!
Alfa-Romeo TZ1 from 1964, with its lightweight and exclusive Zagato body
Onlookers milled in the paddock, where it was possible to see everything
Compact 16 Chevron B1971 and 8 McLaren M1970C DFV
36 Chevron B1976
3 Ford F68L P1968, unique
3 Ford F68L P1968 Le Mans car suffering from aerodynamic problems
Ferrari 250 LM, first mid-engined Ferrari sport
The Ferrari 250 LM had a little big setback ...
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.
Longtail Porsche 908 followed by the rest of the Classic Endurance Series competitors
The 908 Porsche 1968 LH was impressive
908 makes its intentions clear
Ferrari 250 GT SWB Breadvan, impressive and somewhat ugly, but unique
The members of the Nastro Rosso Trophy take to the track. Many millions of euros are at stake
Not another thing, but the breadvan Ferrari 250 GT SWB is a fierce guy
Ferrari 250 GT from 1960. In the background, the little Alfa TZ1 follows suit
Ferrari 250 GT, its line could not be more beautiful
Shelby Cobra 289 from 1965, it shouldn't be difficult to oversteer
Shelby Cobra 289 from 1964, this time without the hardtop
Lightweight fiber bodies come out smoothly to make repairs as easy as possible
Alfa-Romeo T33 / 3 from 1969. Participated in the Classic Endurance Series
512 Ferrari 1980 BB LM shows his V12
Small 16 Chevron B1970 FVC on Classic Endurance
Lola T70 MKIII B from 1969
Another Lola, they could almost pass for a Ferrari!
There were also Americans, like this 28 Chevrolet Camaro Z1968
Two Ford Escorts try to understand each other at the start of the ETCC commemorative touring car race
1600 Ford Escort 1972 RS
3 Ligier JS1971, in the Classic Endurance
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.
Porsche 911 followed by several Lola and Chevron, at the end of the straight
The straight was quite lively, no doubt
Porsche 911 RS followed by De Tomaso Pantera and other participants
TVR Griffith, takes to the circuit with its huge V8 engine
3 Ford F68L P1968 Le Mans car suffering from aerodynamic problems
Porsche 356 Carrera Abarth
Ferrari 250 GT SWB Breadvan, the Italian bread van
Ferrari 250 GT Berlinette
Ferrari 275 GTB from 1964 by Carlos de Miguel and Luis Delso
Lancia Beta Montecarlo in action
Lancia Beta Montecarlo, this time with Martini colors
This Alfa Giulietta 1300 SZ was not one of the fastest, but it was one of the most beautiful
Group C pass the finish line, with the Porsche 962 leading the way
Sixties Endurance cars pass the finish line
Chevron B8 from 1968, with its atypical BMW engine, beats copper with its brother B16 FVC from 1970
Lancia Beta Montecarlo, you also need to rest
BMW 6 Series and Ford Capri, participants in their own right to the Heritage Racing Cup
1600 Ford Escort 1975 RS, in the pits
Volvo 240 Turbo, a fast and rare piece to see. To your right, a BMW 6 Series
In the pits they worked tirelessly. Here the Peugeot 905
A pilot ready for whatever it takes
Alfa-Romeo Giulietta and Giulia Bertone of the Repsol Team
It is certainly a Japanese car but… what is it exactly?
Removing a wheel has to be an easy thing in racing
36 Chevron B1976
36 Chevron B1976, something went wrong