58 replies to this topic

[red stick]

Pixar influence.  Japanese Super GT300 Series, 2008. 

 

Edited by red stick, Today, 14:50.

[LegendInTheMaking]

Allan Simonsen at Le Mans in 2013. He crashed in lap 3 of the race at Tertre Rouge and until today he was the last fatality during the 24 hours of Le Mans. Simonsen was a versatile and established GT driver, having won the Danish Formula Ford, several Aussie touring car championships, an Asian LM GT2 championship and achieving 2 class podium finishes at Le Mans. Fittingly, compatriot Tom Kristensen took his 9th and final win at Le Mans that year and dedicated his win to Simonsen. 

 

[OvDrone]

Back in 2010, we were treated to a team royale in sportscars. During the 2010 Le Mans Series season ( the predecessor of modern day WEC ), in the GT2 class, we had the Grand Prix stars of Jean Alesi and Giancarlo Fisichella joined by GT phenomenon Toni Vilander at AF Corse. While driving their #95 AF Corse Ferrari 430 GT2 did not yield any outright win - they had a run of consistent podiums - 3rd at Paul Ricard, 3rd at Spa and 2nd at Algarve - this eventually got them 2nd in the GT2 class at the end of the year. 4th at both Le Mans and Hungaroring was completed by a lowly 12th at the Silverstone finale ( pictured ) 

Even though they didn't manage to win, it was fantastic to see Fisichella really enjoy his time as a full works Ferrari driver, Jean Alesi back in scarlet red after 15 years and the ever reliably fast Vilander work together. Sadly this was the only season of this wonderful trio as for 2011, AF Corse moved up to GT1 ( eventually becoming the much loved GTE class ) - Fisichella partnering Bruni and Vilander partnering Melo with Alesi doing that infamous errant quest with Lotus at Indy two year later.




Added a second picture as well so you can spot that distinctive helmet in a Ferrari again:



 

Edited by OvDrone, Today, 15:49.

[red stick]

Agreed.  I saw Fisichella at the 2011(?) Petit Le Mans and he reaaaaaallly seemed to be having a good time.

[PayasYouRace]

[ensign14]

Is that JD McDuffie behind?

[DeKnyff]

 

The Nissan 280 ZX of long term US Nissan driver Bob Leitzinger, being prepared for a SCCA race. Although the image from Jim's Flicker site places the scene at Pocono in 1980, I'm more inclined to think it's Road Atlanta in 1979, Leitzinger he finished third at the Champion Spark Plug Road Racing Classic.

 

Leitzinger drove all kind of Nissans for twenty years, from 1976 to 1995.

 

Bonus points for whoever identifies the veteran car behind the Nissan.

[Ivanhoe]

Bonus points for whoever identifies the veteran car behind the Nissan.

That’s a Stutz Bearcat

[Grippy]

Stutz Bearcat?

 

<snip>

 

Bonus points for whoever identifies the veteran car behind the Nissan.

 

edit: beaten by @Ivanhoe

Edited by Grippy, Today, 21:01.