Because you should never judge based on a first impression, we had to return to the Anneau du Rhin this year to make sure we truly loved it! So, after a month of summer tourism, our competitors gathered once again for the sixth round of the year at the Trophée d’Alsace! The format was traditional. Pilots arrived on Friday by late morning, under a blazing sun. Everyone shared their vacation stories and hoped that the extra weight gained from family restaurant outings wouldn’t slow them down too much during the race.
We quickly handle the administrative tasks with a briefing in the late afternoon before getting ready for the free practice sessions, which take place later in the day. For nearly half of the competitors, these sessions are crucial to familiarize themselves with a track they've never raced on before. Once the drivers and their machines are warmed up for the weekend, we enjoy an aperitif offered by the Serra family in honor of little Giulia, who graces us with her young presence. She made a grand entrance in her remote-controlled car, driven by her dad Alexandre, under the emotional gaze of Seb and Sonia, the proud grandparents. Promising times ahead!
It's time for everyone to get some rest—and they'll need it! The qualifying sessions are scheduled for 8:00 AM, with no warm-up beforehand. So, our helmeted men and women will need to be fully alert this Saturday. A few brave souls are already in the stands, cheering for their favorites and slowly building up the energy for this thrilling day. As the saying goes, "the early bird catches the worm," and Christophe Terriou certainly proves it by securing pole position with his 911, just ahead of Christophe Feret. Olivier Bosio will start in third place with his 917. In the FC2 category, Michel Carvalheiro, back after a break since Val de Vienne, clinches first in his category and fourth overall, promising an exciting first race lineup—a true reflection of the Ferdinand Cup—with a 911 ahead of a 928, a 917, and a 968! In FC3, Samuel Serres, who is reunited with his teammate Sébastien Puechavy (injured earlier in the season), takes the lead, continuing his streak. He’s closely followed by Ben Gayer and the JS Speed Shop team, always lurking in the wings!
They barely have time to check the starting order and refuel before getting ready for Race 1, which kicks off at 10:55 under scorching sun! The suspense doesn't last long. Christophe Terriou takes the victory… with a lap ahead of his closest competitor, Olivier Bosio. Local favorite Sébastien Serra secures third place and takes home a nice trophy for little Giulia. In FC2, Fred Ramousse speeds ahead, leaving second place to Christophe Decultot and Dominique Mathon. Stéphane Duverne finishes third, just 0.5 seconds behind Didier Clesse. In the FC3 category, the Parisian team "Les Parisians Cars," once again, adds another trophy to their shelf. Ben Gayer follows, while the JS Speed Shop team sees Olivier Franc and Patrice Wadley take the honor of a Top-3 finish.
A busy morning, but the afternoon is completely free for our drivers and their companions, who can take the time to explore the region or sign a few autographs for the many spectators who came out for the event. Once the circuit calms down from the day's excitement, it's time to bring out the raclette set and barbecue for an indecisive autumn-flavored evening, enhanced by a drone show viewed from the main straight. We enjoy the evening and stay up a little late! No worries though, as Sunday’s race doesn't start until 12:55.
The atmosphere is electric, and the roughly 2,500 people in attendance to witness the spectacle are motivating our drivers like never before. Everyone gets into position and heads to the grid for the 15-minute Gridwalk. During this special moment, spectators were able to approach the cars, gather autographs, and feel the tension of the start. As for the drivers, they got to experience what it's like to be pro racers for a few minutes! The crowd was reluctant to leave the grid, but eventually, our champions had to settle the score. Terriou had a fantastic start, once again pulling off an incredible performance, staying ahead of Olivier Bosio. This time, the father-daughter team of Feret returned to the race, taking a well-earned third place in their 928. In FC2, the gap widened, but Ramousse pulled off a double win ahead of the Decultot/Mathon duo. Michel Carvalheiro secured an impressive third place. A special mention goes to the impressive fourth-place finish of the Volodia Barras/Stephane Ehrhardt duo, which came together after the engine failure of car number 12 from Menton. This is yet another example of the paddock’s solidarity, as Stephan Ehrhardt, who is also the championship leader and title contender, was part of this new team. The story doesn't end there; after suffering a rear left hub bearing failure, their friend drove all the way from Paris overnight to deliver the part, allowing them to repair it early in the morning and make the start. Well done, everyone! Finally, in FC3, Parisians Car claimed first place, securing the championship title, followed by Ben Gayer and the Franc/Wadley team.
And so, this sixth race weekend of 2024 comes to an end. A huge congratulations to the teams at Kronos Event for their flawless organization. The smiles on everyone's faces are proof of the great time had by all. We'll meet again on October 5th and 6th in Wallonia, ready to quote all the best lines from *Dikkenek* while enjoying some delicious fries!