Classic F1 cars from the ’70s and ’80s in action at Paul Ricard (Pictures)
9 November 2009 by Keith Collantine
An ex-Martin Brundle 1985 Tyrrell in action at Paul Ricard
The last round of this year’s F1 season coincided with the final event in the 2009 Historic Formula 1 championship.
Philippe has kindly shared some photographs from the race at Paul Ricard in France. They include various great cars from the 1970s and 1980s from the likes of McLaren, Williams, Brabham, Lotus, Tyrrell and more.
It’s strange to see these old cars racing at a very modern venue – indeed, one most of them would have raced on before it was upgraded into the super-slick new facility it is today. Still I can’t help but wonder why the Historic F1 championship gets a French round but its big brother doesn’t.
Have a look a Philippe’s pictures below and see his blog for more.
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- Arrows A3
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- Arrows A4 and Arrows A3
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- Arrows A6
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- Brabham BT49 and Arrows A4
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- Lotus 87
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- Lotus 87 and Arrows A4
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- March 701
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- March 761
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- March 761
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- McLaren M26
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- Surtees TS9B
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- Surtees TS9B
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- Tyrrell 012
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- Tyrrell 012
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- Williams FW07C
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- Williams FW07C
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- Williams FW08
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- Wolf-Williams FW05
Thanks for these Keith
I sort of wish I was born earlier to actually see these cars race back in the 70s and 80s.
Favourite is the Tyrrell 012 closely followed by the March 701
Great pics. Anyone who wants to see these cars should keep an eye out – I saw a lot of them racing earlier in the year at Brands Hatch at the Historic Festival which was amazing.
Same here – pity it was on the same day as the Goodwood Festival of Speed, otherwise the turn out might have been even better.
For anyone who baulks at the eye watering cost of attending a contemporary GP, Historic F1 is a much cheaper way of hearing a grid of wonderful Cosworth DFVs, getting close to some older F1 machinery and seeing it in action.
Now you’re talking! The Lotus & Williams cars of that era were gorgeous.
Thanks for these Keith, they were some lovely beauties in that era, like the JPS Lotus and the Tyrrell 012. If I;d been around at that time I would have thought the space-age Surtees TS9B would become the blueprint for the future, and look how wrong I’d have been!
That JPS Lotus was awesome, some of the ciggarette branded teams have had the best liverys. But the black JPS was exceptional.
You mean Bernie isn’t in charge of Historic F1?
Nope, but I believe he owns the Brabham BT49 pictured above.
These cars are soooo nice to look at!
So simpler yest so prettier designs…the 70s and 80s were unquestionably happier times racing-wise..if only safety was at the same level as today….
Brilliant pics, Keith, thank you so much!
My favourite: Martin Brundle’s Tyrell 012:)
I think it’s nice that they still have the proper ciggie ads on the cars; I thought some bit of legislation would have necessitated its removal.
I know! Cars like JPS Lotus should never be touched as they are a thing of beauty.
It’s a good point. I grew up loving the JPS livery on the Lotus’ and never once connected ciggies with these cars.
I love the Lotus 87… I want a classic F1 car too!
Damn those are some ugly cars but at least they have a bit more character than the FIA prescribed clones we’re used to now.
UGLY?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?? there alot better looking than todays f1 cars.
Is anyone else having trouble picturing the 2008 cars running in an event like this 25-30 years down the road?? I can’t see a future rich gentleman driver wanting to employ 10 people MIN just to keep his weekend toy running.
Those cars truely were from a simpler time…..
Tyrrell 012 is a beauty!I love the old Lotus cars best though,with their green and yellow livery.
Happy to share some of ours from the Paul Ricard meeting as well as the rest of the Historic F1 Season.
Great cars to shoot and great people to work with
http://www.historicf1.co.uk
regards
Jon