Every June, visitors to the Le Mans 24 Hours are treated to an historic race on the Saturday morning before the main event. As a chance to see Le Mans cars from a specific era battle it out once again, it’s hugely popular with the crowds – and no era is more cherished by spectators than that of the outrageous, iconic Group C cars of the Eighties and Nineties.

So, on the morning of 12th June 2010, Le Mans-goers are likely to leave their hotels (or crawl out of their tents) early, for a chance to see such memorable machines as the Silk Cut Jaguars, Sauber Mercedes and Porsche 962s take to the fabulous, 8.5-mile Le Mans circuit in flat-out competition.

As usual, the support race is being organised by Motor Racing Legends, this year in partnership with Group C/GTP Racing. It’s the 10th historic race which Motor Racing Legends has run at the Le Mans 24 Hours, and Chairman Duncan Wiltshire is confident it will be popular: “On the two previous occasions when we’ve run Group C cars, there has been an overwhelming reaction from Le Mans fans. The Group C era was truly a golden one for the sport and it still engenders massive emotion from the crowds.”

Nor is it just the spectators who will be pleased to hear that Group C cars are back at their spiritual home. As Bob Berridge of Group C/GTP Racing confirms, “There has already been a huge surge in interest by potential and existing competitors to race at this event, and we’re expecting a wide range of marques on the grid – from Porsche, Jaguar, Mazda, Spice and Mercedes, to Aston Martin, Nissan, Argo and Tiga.”

For further information on the 45-minute Group C/GTP support race at the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours, see www.motorracinglegends.com or www.groupcracing.com.

Motor Racing Legends
Woodbine Farm,
Thorndon,
Eye, Suffolk IP23 7JJ.
Tel: +44 (0)1379 678101.
E.mail: [email protected]

www.motorracinglegends.com

Text: Charis Whitcombe
Photos: Motor Racing Legends