Two up to de Cadenet

July 7th 2014

Endurance Racing Review

UP UNTIL the Monza Six Hours on April 27th, Alain de Cadenet had never won a major motor race. He had tried many times, and come close once or twice, but the big win had always eluded him. Then, in a splendid example of it never raining without pouring, or whatever, he and his co-driver Desire Wilson took two fine long distance victories just 15 days apart, at Monza and Silverstone. In each case their mount was the 3-litre Gp 6 De Cadence — a Lola inspired but much developed sports-racing one that is so British it not only has a Cosworth DFV engine and Dunlop tyres, but is even painted in a patriotic British Racing Green. How often do dark green cars win World Championship races these days, even if they are “only” rounds of the World Championship for Makes?

In the series itself, Lancia have made welcome havoc of all predictions this year, for after the first five rounds they lead Porsche by 100 points to 95. You’ll recall, perhaps, that in the series opener at Daytona, a Porsche 935 took twenty points for finishing first overall, while a turbocharged Lancia Beta Montecarlo notched up a similar score for a class winning tenth place. At the ill-fated, accident-shortened Brands Hatch round in mid-March, the works Lancias contesting the 2-litre class came first and second for a further 20 points. But another 935, although only fifth overall, was the best placed over-2-litre Gp 5 car, and that kept Porsche kvel pegging with the Italian manufacturer. A month later came Mogen°, and the crucial tie breaker that Lancia needed.