07-2015 The 52nd edition of the Vuillafans-Echevannes hillclimb took place on the 3rd, 4th and 5th July. Organised by the ASA Sequanie, this French Championship event takes place in a nature reserve in the Franche Comte region: it is one of a number of such parks across Europe, selected for their animal and botanical species.
The 4.8km course, along the side of the River Loue valley, is very fast, permitting averages of over 150 kph , with some cars reaching 200 kph between the four hairpin bends. This was the 13th year there has been a Historic section, with 44 entries comprising cars which represented the best of motor racing's history.
With Michel Champelovier and his F2 single-seater absent, the Marcadier entries were all sports racers ( barquettes) in Class 6 . Pascal Ferretti was fastest in practice, his freshly-rebuilt engine giving him speed in the fastest parts and good acceleration out of the bends.
Gilles Coursoux went well too, in his 1300cc Simca-engined barquette, though again he was handicapped by under-gearing on such a fast course. For Vincent Lagache, unfortunately it was a weekend to forget. His 1300cc Gordini-engined barquette was plagued with transmission problems, starting with having to change the second gear pinion and ending with a broken differential whilst testing in the streets of Ornans! Our cars finished 4th and 7th scratch, and dominated their class in this event, which was held in tropical heat.
