French triumph and podium places for Caerphilly racing ace

Caerphilly racing driver Graham Cole secured three podium finishes – including a victory – when he competed at the Val de Vienne circuit in France recently.

Driving his Bicknell PS7, prepared by Richwest Engineering, Cole competed in the France-based Trophee Tourisme Endurance (TTE) Free Proto races, held on the weekend of Friday September 4.

He took a first-place finish in his “Tube” class during the second race, alongside second and third-place finishes over the weekend. However, a broken exhaust manifold in the final race has left his GCCRacing team searching for a specialist welder in France before their next round in Nogaro this month.

The weekend began with a hotly contested 20-minute sprint race.

“We changed three gears in the British-made Hewland FTR gearbox following our Silverstone races to match the comparatively low-speed 155mph main straight of Val de Vienne,” Cole said.

“We led for most of the race only to be pipped on the last lap by the Ligier JS51 of Raphael Ramirez in a tangle with a backmarker, putting us on the second step of the podium.”

The second race brought better fortunes, with Cole securing a flag-to-finish victory by a narrow 0.8-second margin over Christophe Reignier’s Norma M20B.

“The race was a real battle though with several overtakes and being overtaken,” he said.

“At the finish we were delighted to at last get a class victory at Val de Vienne, this being at our third attempt. Previous races at the venue having ended with failure to even reach the finish.”

The final 40-minute race, held in 52-degree track temperatures, ended in mechanical frustration. After pacing themselves and taking the lead following a mandatory pit-stop, the Bicknell’s exhaust manifold broke with four laps remaining, dropping the team to third.

“We were not disappointed though as the car had clearly demonstrated the pace required to compete at this level,” Cole added.

“Having said that, Nogaro is next on the calendar and I just hope we can find a welder here in France with the facilities to repair our broken manifold in time.”

Cole thanked Richwest Engineering for supplying parts, alongside his wife Susan, Dave and Cher Brunstone, and Jim and Tracey Poultonx for their support.

Following the Nogaro round, the championship will conclude with a finale at Le Mans in early November.