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Racereport 2003 / 07 Estoril


Surf-Blue at the Atlantic

 

Which colour makes a car more stylish for a promising trip to a seaside resort than turquoise or surf-blue, as it was called in the BMC catalogue of the Sixties? None? Your are right, especially when you look at the final of the FiA-TC at Estoril, one of the most characteristic racetracks of the world.

 

Claude Boissy and Alain Miran travelled as FiA-TC-leaders to the last round in Estoril, Portugal. In their Mini Cooper S (1964, colour: surf-blue) they had won the 1,3 litres class in four of six races. They led with four points ahead of Bo Warmenius and Gunnar Turebrand. The Swedish team had dominated the first half of the season in their Ford Lotus Cortina (1963). But starting with the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix, they lost their red line to the championship. In Spa they experienced their season low, when they retired.

 

In the qualifying at Estoril, Boissy and Miran underlined their concentration on the title clinch from the beginning of the final round. On the slippery wet track, they reached the second best time behind Mikael and Carl Gustavsson (S) in the Ford Lotus Cortina. All cars drive on the standardized treaded Dunlop Racing tyres. Warmenius/Turebrand had to realize that their idea to race a rental Mini Cooper did not work. „We had a lot of trouble, so we put the car down“, said Bo Warmenius. But with their Ford Lotus Cortina they reached only the fourth best time of their class.

 

But in the end they could have won the race overall. Boissy and Miran won their class and could celebrate the FiA-TC championship. „We came here to compete and not to just go slow“, said Alain Miran. „In wet conditions we had wanted to go to the podium“, the 50-year-old designer stressed. „But on the dry track today we had no chance with the Mini“.

 

After the final race Bo Warmenius and Gunnar Turebrand offered their congratulations to their comrades-in-arms as fair sportsmen. The race was won by Günter Alth (A) in his BMW 2002 (1968) ahead of Kerry Michael / Nick Stagg (GB) in a Ford Lotus Cortina (1965).

 

The new champions Boissy / Miran have raced together for seven years. 2001 they already had the chance to win the FiA-TC but lost it to Allen Lloyd/Gerry Wainwright (GB) in a Ford Mustang (1965). Last year they had a strong concurrent team in their class with Federico Boratto and Danny Zardo (I) who won the challenge in a Mini Cooper S (1964), although Boissy/Miran scored three class wins.

 

Claude Boissy, a scrap dealer from Montfermeil, a suburb of Paris, has raced since 1968. All his racing cars were Minis. In 1969 he bought an ex-works car with an injection engine. „It’s a long story. We have great passion for the Minis because they are always very competitive“, says his partner Alain Miran.

 

Their surf-blue Mini Cooper S is prepared by Bruno Coulombs from La Fontaine Chateau (F). „His father Thierry raced against Claude in former times. „The Coulombs belong to the best tuners with a lot of experience and contacts“.

 

The FiA-TC season 2003 ends with the success of one of the most popular touring cars in 40 years European Touring Car Championship. The history of the series started as European Cup in 1963 with the race on the Nürburgring. Peter Nöcker (D) won the first Cup in a Jaguar Mk II 3,8. In 1964 Warwick Banks (GB) was successful with a Mini Cooper 997, run by Ken Tyrrell. One year later Sir John Whitmore (GB) became European Touring Car champion in a Ford Lotus Cortina.

 

 

 

Dirk Johae


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