19ème Maroc Classic : RAPPORT DE COURSE JOUR PAR JOUR

A flying start for the 19th edition of the Morocco Classic Rally (Rabat, 18.3.2012)
The first day of the race took the 51 participants from Rabat to Fez, with a stop in the historic city of Volubilis. The riders were faced with two regularity sectors in the Zerhoun mountain, north of Meknes. The first day, usually devoted to fine-tuning the calibration of the cars, turned out to be more intense than expected. Indeed, 10 crews out of the 51 missed a change of direction in sector 2 of the regularity and were heavily penalized!
In the 1st sector LAZRAK – CHRAIBI (Ferrari 308 GTS 1982) dominated LEFORT – LEFORT (Mini Cooper S 1969) and LAZAR – AGOSTINI (Ferrari 308 GTS), the winners of the 2011 edition. SUSSET – GUILLO (AC Cobra 1965) won the second regularity sector ahead of WIEDERIN – HOFER (Porsche 356 1959) and END – END (Lotus Elan 1967).
The newcomers in the competition LEFORT – LEFORT took the lead in the race, followed by GHISTELINK – DAVID (Mercedes Coupé 3.5 1969) and END – END. Regarding the PRESTIGE, a category in which modern GT cars built after 1983 compete, the leader after this first day is the 2011 winner, COURTENS – COURTENS (Ferrari 328 GTS 1989) against the Moroccan crews ALAOUI – ALAOUI (Caterham Super Seven 1994 ) and TAHIRI – TAHIRI (Mercedes SL 320 1993).
Tomorrow, during the second 418 kilometer long stage, the 51 crews will cross the south towards Bin El Ouidane, with 3 regularity sectors to respect.

2nd day of racing: Fes – Bin El Ouidane
(Bin El Ouidane, 19.3.2012)
A program of 451 kms with 3 sectors of regularity to respect awaited the 51 participants of Morocco Classic. The first regularity stage of 27 km, in the region of Ifrane, resembled a special stage of the Tour de Corse, with small roads lined with pines and hairpins. On this very selective section, the winners in the classic category are Jake and David HALL with their 1955 Jaguar XK 140. The winner in the Prestige category was again Damien and Alfred COURTENS (Ferrari 328 GTS 1989).
The victory of Jean-Claude and Richard THIRIET was impressive with their 1952 Jaguar Type C in regularity sector 2, while Majid and Karima ALAOUI (Catherham Super Seven) dominated the race in Prestige. The performance of the Type C pilots must be underlined because all the competitors highlighted the fact that this stage was the most difficult of the day. The third regularity section was located 17 km from the stage finish in Bin El Ouidane, from which Fritz and Birgit KAISER emerged victorious in the Classic category.

3rd day of racing – Bin El Ouidane to Ouarzazate
(Ouarzazate, 20.3.2012)
During this third stage the pilots left from Bin El Ouidane to reach Ouarzazate, the gateway to the South. The crossing of the Atlas, a difficult stage on this 3rd day, was perfectly executed by the 50 competitors still in the race. Curiously, and fortunately, the organizers only recorded one retirement, showing the quality of the cars competing in the rally.
In the Classic category Susset and Guillot (AC Cobra 1965) won the first regularity section of the day, despite the poor condition of the mountain roads. The Prestige category was dominated by Alaoui – Alaoui on their 1994 Caterham Super Seven.
The second sector saw Lazar Agostini, the winners of recent years’, take first place in the classic category in their 1980 Ferrari 308 GTB. In Prestige, Nabil and Selma Lalhou took their first victory of the rally in their Porsche 911 C4 from 1998.
Tomorrow the Morocco Classic Drivers will reach Agadir, via the west of the Kingdom and the Atlantic coast, with a 476 km long stage. The longest of the 2012 rally.

4th day of racing: Ouarzazate to Agadir
(Ouarzazate, 21.3.2012)
Ouarzazate in Agadir was on the menu for the 4th day of the 19th edition of the Morocco Classic Rally. A 476 km long stage, with 3 regularity sectors on the program. The first two sectors were “pure regularity”, organized on the long straights of southern Morocco, with their typical landscapes, similar to those of Arizona. The third sector, carried out in the afternoon, was scheduled in the Souss valley, shortly before the arrival in Agadir, on medium mountain roads.
In the Classic category, the first regularity sector was won by TOULAHLI – VERGER (Porsche 911 1979, followed by END – END (Lotus Elan 1967) in second position and GHISTELINK – DAVID (Mecedes Coupé 3.5 1969) in third. In Prestige, GALVAN – GALVAN (Ferrari 612 Scaglietti 2008) dominated the first regularity section, followed by R. LALHOU – S.LALHOU (Porsche 911 C2 1992) and ALAOUI – ALAOUI (Caterham Super Sven 1994).
Tomorrow, the 5th stage promises to be less demanding than the first 3, with a loop around Agadir including 2 regularity sectors. A navigation test will also be offered to competitors.

5th day of racing: Around Agadir
(Agadir, 22.3.2012)
The battle for the lead in the 19th Rallye du Maroc Classic is still intense after this fifth day of racing. The program for the day consisted of a loop around Agadir through Taroundannt.
2 regularity sectors on the mountain roads have been organised. The weather conditions were difficult, with more than 30°C and the classic cars suffered particularly. KAISER – KAISER (1957 Mercedes 300 SL) and ARAKI – ARAKI (1968 Triumph TR 5) notably had to deal with a vapor lock problem; while the engines of MEGUETOUNIF – MEGUETOUNIF (Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1959) and CEREZO – CEREZO (Jaguar XK140 1954) were overheated.
Big changes in the general classification occurred following these 2 sectors and END – END (Lotus Elan 1967) took the lead in the classic and GALVAN – GALVAN (Ferrari 612 Scaglietti 2008) that of the Prestige. The first sector was won in the Classic category by END – END and in prestige by GALVAN – GALVAN. The second sector crowned SUSSET – GUILLO (AC Cobra 1965) in classic and LALHOU – LALHOU (Porsche 911 C2 1992) in Prestige. Tomorrow, the competitors in the running will join Marrakech after crossing the mythical Tizi n’Test.

Last days of racing – Days 6 & 7
(Marrakech, 24.3.2012)
The sixth day of racing marks the end of a magnificent Rally full of surprises, enchantment and conviviality.
The sixth stage was therefore the last opportunity to decide between after an intense week the 51 participants who traveled, during this final stage, the roads from Agadir to Marrakech with the difficult but majestic crossing of the Atlas and the famous Tizi. n’Test which allows you to discover the green landscapes of the Asni and Ouirgân region.
After the Nfiss valley dotted with old kasbas, you finally reach the Tizi n’ Test, incomparable belvedere of altitude dominating the great overheated plain of Sous.
In Taroudant, the former capital of the province located some 90 km away, the participants were able to enjoy the haven of peace offered by the prestigious hotel La Gazelle d’Or for lunch.
The last two days of racing were marked by many upheavals in the general classification but also by the discovery of the legendary Moroccan Palace La Mamounia located in the heart of Marrakech. The hotel, completely redesigned and refurbished by the famous decorator Jacques Garcia, amazed the participants with its 8-hectare park which runs along the 12th century ramparts.
Throughout this rally, the participants were able to enjoy the magnificent landscapes offered by Morocco, but also the kindness of its inhabitants, the summer weather, the richness of its gastronomy and the luxury of the hotels in which they had the pleasure of descending.
After 6 days of racing and before tackling the last stage which consists of a 148 km loop and 2 regularity sectors around Marrakech, the END (Lotus Elan) were ahead of the THIRIET crew by 4 points/seconds -THIRIET (Jaguar Type C) and 4 seconds more ahead of the LAZAR – AGOSTINI crew (Ferrari 308 GTB). It all happened on the last day of the race and more specifically in regularity section 17 in which 9 secret checks were planned. Thus the big winners of this 19th edition of the Morocco Classic Rally are the Germans Jürgen END and his charming wife Yvonne with their 1955 Lotus Elan and after three previous rankings in second place! The second step of the podium was won by the talented crew THIRIET – THIRIET with their powerful Jaguar Type C and the Moroccan crew LAZRAK – CHRAIBI finished third in the standings.
A Gala dinner organized at La Mamounia closed this sumptuous edition which saw the competition of talented crews and sumptuous cars such as the 1955 Austin Healey of Daniel and Rabia SCHLATTER or the 1957 Mercedes 300 SL Roadster of Fritz and Birgit KAISER.

This is how this 19th edition of the Rallye Maroc Classic ends, which has delighted both the participants and the organizing team, which is already tackling the preparation of the 20th edition of the rally which will take place from March 16 to 23, 2013. This time the route will set off due south in order to be able to take advantage of sunny roads and landscapes and magnificent hotels. Always in line with “The pace is not just a question of speed” we wanted, for this anniversary edition, to offer our participants an unforgettable rally full of surprises!