Grand Prix l'age d'Or Dijon 24/25th June 2006 a round of the UK Formula Junior HSCC/Millers oils Championship

Several of the FJ teams travelled to Dijon on the Wednesday before the race weekend, this was in order to take advantage of the "free" practice sessions on Thursday.
This driver's circuit with it's very long straight and it sweeping curves presents a real challenge to drivers, especially those who had never driven there before.

Qualifying reflected the experience factor with the Lotus 27s of Urs Eberhardt 1.34.314 and Alan Lloyd 1.34.320 showing the way with times .006 sec apart at the end of the session. Third fastest was newcomer to Dijon, John Fyda Lotus 22, with a very creditable 1.34.837. Stephane Rey Lola Mk 5A was fourth, Mike Hibberd Lotus 27 fifth on 1.35.535, Robert Goodwin Lotus 22 completed the top six with a 1.36.022.
Pacesetter in the front-engined class B was Robin Longdon with a lap time of 1.38.684 in his Lola Mk2, tenth overall. Second was Tony Goodwin in his Gemini Mk2 and third John Truslove in his Lola Mk2. David Stevenson was well up with the front engined runners in his U2 Mk2.
John Delane Lotus 18 was best of the class D cars.
Peter Mullen in his OSCA was the leading class A runner
Michael Treganowan in the Kieft best in class C.
Pit callers in this session included Mark Woodhouse in his Lotus 20/22, after only two laps with a serious misfire. Not a good reward for his marathon effort to drive down from the UK overnight to Dijon.
For a lot of the drivers it was thinking caps on and out with the gear ratio charts.

Race one as the lights went out a battle royal was under way, at the front of the field Allen Lloyd Lotus 27 led at the end of the first lap closely shadowed by Mike Hibberd's similar car, with Urs Eberhardt also in his Lotus 27 third. By lap three Mike Hibberd had the lead with Lloyd and Eberhardt in close pursuit. Lap five and Lloyd was leading again, with Eberhardt second Hibberd third. Lap nine and Eberhardt was in front again for three laps, Hibberd back to third. Laps twelve and thirteen Lloyd was back in front Eberhardt second Hibberd third. In the closing laps Eberhardt was firmly in the lead with Lloyd second and Hibberd third. Behind the leading trio a battle for fourth spot raged between the Lotus 22 of John Fyda and the Stehane Rey Lola Mk5A eventually settled in favour of Fyda's Lotus. Mark Woodhouse who's Lotus 20/22 was running better but still not properly moved up the order and became embroiled in a race long battle with Andrew Hibberd's Lotus 22 for eighth place which went to Hibberd in the 22.
In tenth overall the John Delane Lotus 18 took class D honours.
Robin Longdon Lola Mk2 headed the front engined cars with Tony Goodwin second in his Gemini Mk2 John Truslove third in his Mk2 Lola. Bill Grimshaw's Moorland only managed three laps before his experimental air-scoop captured a stone and sidelined him with a bent valve and pushrod.
Peter Mullen in his OSCA was winner of class A. Michael Tregaowan Kieft best in class C.
A very exciting race, for me the enduring memory will be the sight of three Lotus 27's slipstreaming on the ultrafast pit straight. Then as if that were not enough   pulling out of the tow at the next corner to pass, thrilling to watch.

Race two before the cars left on their green flag lap, confusion reigned when John Fyda was unable to start his engine, the start line marshalls first tried to move the car off the grid but then were instructed to leave it where it was, the other cars began their warm up lap. After the cars all got away the Lotus was pushed into the pit lane where it was allowed to start at the back of the field. After this confusion the race start proper nearly became a farce, the drivers waiting for the start lights, were suddenly and unexpectedly confronted with a starter waving a French Tricolor over his head, OK the lights had failed but why no warning to the drivers.
This odd start was helpful to Stephane Rey in his Lola Mk 5A who had some inkling of what was going on and went into an immediate lead which he held for the first four laps.
At the end of the first lap a groan went up from the pit wall as Bill Grimshaw's Moorland stopped at the end of the first lap, victim of a badly fitted gasket. 
Meanwhile the pursuing Lotus 27s sorted themselves out and began to get back on the pace again, Rey suffered a spin on the fifth lap and the three Lotus drivers were all through and battle for the lead was joined again. Eberhardt led then Lloyd, Hibberd was up into second, then on the tenth lap Lloyd managed to clear some backmarkers better than the other two 27s.
This turned out to be crucial,  the 30 minute race was stopped by the red flag, after only fourteen of the expected nineteen laps.
While all this was going on at the front of the race Mark Woodhouse was going much better in his 20/22, he was up into fifth, with his engine running much better.
Richard Hein Lotus 22 was sixth with Andrew Hibberd also in a 22 closing on him very quickly in seventh. In eighth was Marc Faggianato Lotus 22. Paul Smeeth Lotus 22 who had overcome gear-box problems between the races was in ninth with Robert Goodwin 22 strangely off the pace completed the top ten.
Eleventh overall and winner of class B was Robin Longdon Lola Mk2.
Twelfth was John Delane to take class D. although it was his sin, and subsequent contact with.Peter Mullen’s OSCA [ which took class A in twenty first place overall] that brought the race to its premature end.
Michael Treganowan was best in class C.
An eventful race again run at a furious pace with lots of position changes amongst the leaders.

First on aggregate and winner class E                  Alan Lloyd          Lotus 27
Second on aggregate and second in class E       Urs Eberhardt     Lotus 27
Third on aggregate and third in class E                Mike Hibberd      Lotus 27

Eleventh overall and winner class B                      Robin Longdon  Lola Mk2
Twelfth overall winner class D                               John Delane       Lotus 18
Twenty first overall winner class A                        Peter Mullen       OSCA
Twenty fourth overall and winner class C             Michael Treganowan Kieft

Fastest lap Race one incorrectly given.

Fastest lap Race two Mike Hibberd 1.35.481 (142.212 km/h)

Stan Hibberd 30-6-2006