Ivan Vicario Martin
More than 10.000 fans gathered in Cheste to celebrate the racing legends festival 2023. Born as a motorcycling event, over the years it has opened up to cars as well, although both wheels continue to rule. THE TEAM had the opportunity to travel to the event with the team of Historic SEATs, who participated in the batches of Vintage Formula.
They moved to Valencia two single-seaters of the F1430, specifically a Cordoban or with a selex ST5, evolution of the successful ST3. At the controls of the first was none other than Salvador Canellas, who continues to enjoy and run like the first day every time he puts on the suit. The ST5 drove it Jaume Xifré engineer creator of the Sélex ST3. Both went out to roll on the track along with the rest of the classic single-seaters that added up to forty.
If Xifré rode at a good pace, Seeing Cañellas evolve on the circuit was quite a spectacle. At your 78 years, the small Catalan pilot continues to enjoy driving as in the days when he won the Formula 1430 in the year 72. Also, always friendly and willing, when he got out of the car he solicitously attended to the fans who asked for photos and autographs.
For the rest, it was a joy to see the number and variety of cars present. From a curious Panhard with a front engine to the MEP with Citroën mechanics, passing through the Coloni of the Open Fortuna by Nissan, there was plenty to choose from. There was no shortage of Formula Renault, some F3, BMW, Martini, in short, a tribute to the different training categories played with single-seaters. There was even a barquetta Peugeot 905 Spider.
TRIBUTE TO JAIME ALGUERSUARI
On Saturday at noon the tribute to Jaime Alguersuari, a key figure in our motorcycling and also in motorsports. They did not want to miss the party champions of the stature of Alex Crivillé, Carlos Checa, Emilio Alzamora, Sete Gibernau, Peter Acosta o Alonso lopez. The act delighted the public present at Racing Legends, very biker as it could not be otherwise in Valencia. The fans were able to ride on the track with them, a unique privilege.
On Sunday the turn was for Jorge Martinez Aspar, who accompanied Jaime Alguersuari on the track. The four times world champion piloted the Ossa 250cc monocoque, owned by Alguersuari. Neither did his son, Jaime Alguersuari Escudero he wanted to miss the tribute. Unfortunately, he was unable to go out on track due to a problem in the World Series by Renault in which he was going to ride. It was considered that he would do it in a Formula Nissan, but the idea did not go ahead. Former F1 driver he had put on the Toro Rosso suit and helmet again for the occasion.
GREAT ATTENDANCE TO RACING LEGENDS 2023
Between cars and motorcycles, there were about 1.000 vehicles in the paddock and the pits of the circuit, thanks to the massive participation of the two wheels. To highlight both the good number of classics in the paddock and their state of conservation. It is more and more frequent to see series cars and it is something to be grateful for. Even modified cars tend to be with vintage elements, which speaks well of our car culture.
The industrial classics They also had their space, with a large truck concentration at the entrance of the circuit. There were models from Barreiros, Dodge, Pegaso or Renault that filled the Ricardo Tormo paddock with memories.
Ultimately, an excellent edition of Racing Legends that has left an unbeatable taste in the mouth. Perhaps we have missed a little more prominence of the four wheels, but you cannot have everything. In any case, the public present at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit He had a great time, and that's ultimately what it's all about.
RACING LEGENDS 2023 GALLERY
Historic SEAT photographs and José Miguel Vinuesa.
