CER 2019: The Swiss clean up 🎥

RUN WINS AND CHAMPIONSHIPS The Classic Endurance Racing Series (CER), which is particularly popular with Swiss drivers, came to an end in the south of France with the "Dix Mille Tours" by Peter Auto. They celebrated several victories and titles at the finale. The magazine about the last race weekend of the event series by Peter Auto from Paris gives a brief insight into the beginnings of the Circuit [...]

Editorial - October 27, 2019

The magazine about the last race weekend of the event series by Peter Auto from Paris gives a brief insight into the beginnings of the Circuit Paul Ricard in the south of France, then shows, among other things, an interview with the Valais collector Charles Firmenich about his Shelby Cobra 289 and highlights the various racing series at the final round of the Classic Endurance Series (CER). The French motorsport agency is also the organizer of the Le Mans Classic, which takes place every two years and will be held again next year on the first weekend in July on the original Circuit des 24 Heures.

Victory and CER title to Yves Scemama
In the two categories CER1 and CER2, which are always among the fastest at Le Mans, the Swiss set the tone as everywhere. First and foremost Yves Scemama, who landed another victory with his Toj SC304 with Cosworth V8 engine in the field of sports cars and GT from 1972 to 1981 (CER2). The title also went to the Neuchâtel collector.

Yves Scemama and Maxime Guenat on the way back to the award ceremony. They ensured a Swiss double victory with their Toj sports cars (Photos: Fotorissima and Photoclassicracing).

Maxime Guenat ensured a Swiss one-two victory in a Toj sports car from 1978 that was two years younger. Yves' brother Philippe came fourth in the Lola T600 with Chevy V8 engine. In between, the Gulf-Mirage GR7 of Goethe/Hall was the fastest car in the field.

Third title in a row for Eggimann
In the CER2 championship of the two-liter sports cars, Beat Eggimann at the wheel of his Cheetah G601 had already built up a nice cushion of points, which he lived off in the end. Lying in third position behind the Frenchmen Patrice and Paul Lafargue in their Lola T298, Eggimann had to have his crew change the ignition box on his Cheetah G601 after the mandatory pit stop. With four laps behind, this resulted in only 10th place, but the garage owner from Sissach was no longer able to take the third championship title in a row.

Fast Swiss in a Swiss car. The Cheetah sports cars were built by Chuck Graemiger.

The CER2 GT class saw a rare success for a Chevrolet Monza, which in its day had virtually no sting against the European Group 5 cars.

The initial leader Urs Beck had to admit defeat by ten seconds to Frenchman Gilles Ceron in his legendary Porsche 935 in Coca-Cola livery (winning car from the IMSA in the USA).

Urs Beck was unable to keep the Frenchman behind him in his Chevrolet Monza.

Toni Seiler best Lola driver
In the CER1 for sports cars from 1967 to 1971, Claudio Roddaro (Porsche 917) and Toni Seiler (Lola T70 MkIII) were separated by only six points. For a long time it seemed as if Seiler could still turn the tide in his favor, as he was in third place, far ahead of the Monegasque.

A slow puncture forced the Zurich driver into the pits after 17 laps for a tire change, whereupon Seiler dropped back to P11. With P3 behind two Lola T70s, Roddaro took the title ahead of the Swiss.

The CER1 field on the starting lap. In front a McLaren, followed by the three Lola T70s of Lopez/Hélary, Seiler and the eventual winner Gibson in #79.

All victories to the BMW drivers from Berne
Michael Erlich and Christian Traber ensured a resounding Swiss success in the 2019 season in the Heritage Touring Cup (HTC) for Group 2 and early Group A touring cars. Alternately, the two Bernese won with their beautiful BMW 3.0 CSL and did not leave a single race victory to the competition with other BMW CSL and quite a few Ford Capri in seven one-hour races.

In Le Castellet, it didn't look like it at first. The Briton Steve Dance in a Ford Capri 3100 RS set the superior fastest time in practice with a three-second lead over Trotter, followed by two other four-valve Fords with Maxime Guenat and Zak Brown/Richard Dean. Brown, by the way, is the boss of the McLaren F1 team.

56 touring cars started for the final run. In row 1 Christian Traber in a BMW, surrounded by the three Ford Capri 3100 RS of Dance, Brown/Dean (in Cologne factory colors) and Guenat.

Master of constancy
Initially, the team was unable to find a good rain set-up for Erlich's coupé, which is why he only managed ninth place on the grid. Before the start, MK Motorsports from Worb, where Traber's car also comes from, made a few setup changes, which Erlich managed to implement brilliantly in the race, which was again wet.

After the pit stops, Erlich was in second place behind the Capri of Brown/Hall. On the 17th of 21 laps, he grabbed the British Capri and took his fourth win of the season. Traber's third-place finish secured the HTC title ahead of Erlich. The fast boss of Sportgarage Graber from Toffen won one race less, but in addition to a second and third place he had only one retirement, while Erlich had two.

Last HTC podium: Dean and McLaren boss Brown on the left, winner Michael Erlich in the middle and new champion Christian Traber (3rd) on the right.

Second place for Oettli
After his terrific victory in Monza, Philipp Oettli finished second behind a British duo in the two-hour Sixties' Endurance race. Charles Firmenich/Henri Moser took fifth place in the evening race. The top five all drove Shelby Cobras. Sixth with a lap down, Maxime Guenat/Guillaume Mahé were the fastest duo on a Jaguar Type E.

All results of the CER are available at the link peterautoracing.alkamelsystems.com to be found on the website. Further information, including the race dates for 2020, can be found on the homepage of the organizer.