The year 2024 was marked by a particularly tumultuous spring. While February and March treated us to beautiful 25°C days in the shade, April gave us no respite. As the saying goes, "April showers bring May flowers," and it was indeed well-covered that we had to arrive with our 24 steeds at the Val de Vienne circuit!
There was no hesitation about whether to prepare the rain tires. Every refresh of the weather app promised even more disastrous conditions. To the point where we almost considered bringing our boats! But as you know us, a little drizzle isn't going to stop us from kicking off this round in the heart of the Vienne region. Just a few days after the Tour Auto had passed through, here we were, ready to shake the walls of the pit lane on this iconic track. We took advantage of a lull to set up our structure and waited for the first competitors while keeping an eye on the sky. We all became amateur meteorologists, poorly predicting with a wet finger what was headed our way. Just in case, we strapped down the structures to anything we could find before leaving the track for a quiet evening. We needed to be in top shape to tackle a weekend packed with action. Free Practice on Saturday, Qualifying, Race 1, and Race 2 on Sunday. Nearly 3.5 hours of track time over two days for our gentlemen drivers in their classic cars, most without any modern assistance. On the agenda: aquaplaning and missed braking points!
It's Saturday, and track time begins at 3:00 PM. The morning fluctuates between rain and strong winds, with the Ferdinand Cup structure almost transforming into the house from the Wizard of Oz. But thanks to the LP Tent, which have been with us for over three years now and have already endured the cataclysms at Charade, Spa, and the bug invasion at the Anneau du Rhin, they proved to be a welcome shelter for our friends. The weather remained unpredictable in the afternoon, but offered much-appreciated moments of calm during the free practice sessions—especially for the spectators and the organizing team, who weren’t cozily seated in race cars. Joking aside, let's give a big shout-out to the marshals for their courage and dedication, watching over us no matter the weather conditions.
A trend seems to be emerging, hinting at a battle between Team Terriou and Christophe Feret. Notably, Samuel Serres secured the 3rd fastest time in his little FC3, setting the tone! Let’s admit that being from Paris and driving a frog-green car gives him a certain advantage… It's time for everyone to attend the drivers' briefing, just in time for a massive downpour. It's a race back to the paddock, but this time on foot! We take refuge under the Ferdinand Cup canopy and get ready to enjoy the evening with friends, organized by Damien Gault in collaboration with a friendly winemaker, whom we warmly greet and thank for his kindness. It’s always a great opportunity to catch up with friends and meet new participants. So, let’s welcome Jean Jacques Renaut with his incredible RSR, which we had already seen in action at Pau in 2022 under the expert hands of Lionel Robert!
It's time to get some rest and recover from the excitement after driving the little rear-wheel drives in the rain, especially since Sunday promises some intense battles.
Sunday, 9:50 AM, the qualifying session begins! Part of the round takes place in the rain, which seems to suit Damien Kohler and Sébastien Serra well as they claim the top two positions in FC1. A magnificent display by Stephan Ehrhardt, who not only leads FC2 but also takes third overall. The Terriou team secures third place in FC1. Christophe Decultot and Dominique Mathon, in car number 93, will start second in FC2, clocking a best lap just 70 milliseconds faster than Fred Ramousse. Samuel Serres aims to maintain his dominance in FC3, taking the lead ahead of Bastien Mathieu and the JS Speed Shop team of Jérôme Salva and Stef Morisset, who are separated by just a tenth of a second.
At noon, we put away the sausage and peanuts, and put on our helmets for the race, which runs from 12:10 PM to 1:00 PM. The sky is clear, and the drivers are fired up. Kohler and Serra confirm their qualifying performances by securing the top two spots on the podium. Christophe Feret, with his freshly christened 928 "Blackbird," named after the legendary SR71 for both style and speed, rockets from the last position to finish 3rd, lurking behind the two leaders. In FC2, Stephan Ehrhardt quickly shakes off his Dijon troubles and maintains a strong hold on first place. Gilles Boyer moves up to the front, taking 2nd in his 944, ahead of Decultot/Mathon. In FC3, the podium mirrors the start with Samuel Serres, Bastien Mathieu, and the Salva/Morrisset duo finishing in the same order as when the lights went out.
It's finally time to grab some food and take a well-deserved break before the second race at 4:30 PM.
The sun is still shining, but clouds seem to be creeping closer. The race kicks off for an hour, and everything runs smoothly until a few drops start to dot the windshields about 10 minutes before the end. Yellow and red flags appear along the circuit. Everyone holds their breath, but the focus of our drivers remains unwavering. The podium for FC1 and FC2 ends up exactly the same as in the first race. In FC3, Bastien Mathieu falls victim to a broken driveshaft, handing second place to Team JS Speed Shop, who take the opportunity to add another trophy to their wall. This also allows Luc Deslaurier and Olivier Franc to claim the third spot on the podium.
The first three races have flown by in a short time, and our drivers show no signs of fatigue. However, they will enjoy six weeks of rest before facing the French Nürburgring, none other than Charade. The passion, joy, and excitement brought by participants at each meeting have created an unprecedented enthusiasm. This enthusiasm has given us the opportunity to race at Hockenheim on July 6th and 7th. This pilgrimage promises more great and exciting moments, which any owner of a pre-1997 Porsche is invited to share alongside the Ferdinand Cup family!
Complete results are HERE
News written by Nico Ferdier