PUB CLASSICPORSCHE911 RACESERIESLAUNCHED Newcategoryforpre-1966carswillberunbypeterauto
DOWN THE WITH MALCOLM SMITH Uk-based Porsche specialist Lee Maxted-page is behind the project and believes there is sufficient demand to support standalone races. Despite spiralling values for the 2-litre short-chassis 911s from up to 1966, the target
He survived a big Formula 3 crash in 1967 “I was cut out of a Brabham BT18 at Clay Hill at Oulton Park in March 1967. There were no barriers then, so I was in the trees and I was very lucky. The only thing that saved my life was the roots of the tree that killed Dick Protheroe. We didn’t have seat belts and I broke all the pedals off with my feet and tore the ligaments in my ankles, which was quite painful.”
He soon had a new car “Brian Redman took me home to my parents’ delight. I went over to David Bridges Racing at Garstang to see the car and they wouldn’t show it to me. It was that bad. However, there was a brand spanking new BT21 there, which is the car that Jim Timms now owns and races.”
He went to Monaco “I had to be signed off by the doctor on the Friday of a race at Barcelona and I finished sixth with people like Francois Cevert behind me. We did Monaco and I took the transporter down by myself to try and qualify. I did qualify but on the sixth lap the car overheated as I’d been checking the water in the swirl pot and hadn’t tightened it back down properly.”
He was at Casserta when tragedy struck “I went to Chimay the week later and finished in the top eight. It was a pretty dangerous track, but then we got to Casserta in Italy, which was another street circuit. There was a blind corner between high walls and a terrible accident ended up with three drivers being killed.”
He quit racing “It’s still a vivid memory 50 years later. A couple of days after the accident I was a pall bearer for one of the guys who was killed. I knew that if I didn’t quit racing there and then, I’d be the next one. I was driving the transporter home and late at night going up the M6 the engine blew up. I pulled over onto the hard shoulder and just burst into tears.”
He survived dangers “I raced against 20 guys who went into Formula 1 and there were only five I didn’t beat. But I’m here 50 years later to tell the tale. That accident was the end of me racing professionally. But I’ve made a living as a racing coach ever since.”
Loeb:nopressureonpart-timewrcreturn
Nine-time world champion Sebastien Loeb says he has “no expectations” for his three-rally return to the WRC this season.
The Alsatian, who departed the full-time WRC as champion in 2012, will tackle the third and fourth rounds of the series before missing seven rallies and returning for the penultimate outing of the season in Spain in October.
Loeb described the return to competition as “the next logical step” after he tested the C3 WRC twice last year.
“The feeling you get in rally is one of the most thrilling feelings I have ever experienced,” said Loeb. “I was excited about driving one of these new World Rally Cars in a race. And it’s nice to be able to do it in the team with which I have enjoyed so much success.”
Loeb added the emphasis would be on competing and enjoying the sport rather than any results.
He added: “I just want to enjoy myself. I thought it made sense to take part in the French round, especially since I’ve always loved racing on Tarmac, although I’m not familiar with the current route of the Tour de Corse. Spain seemed like a good option too. I also wanted to contest a gravel rally. We opted for Mexico, since I have good memories of racing there.”