McGarrity uses Birrane power

Classic Endurance Series

Running alongside the five-race Le Mans Endurance Series were hour-long races for the Classic Endurance Series, for prototypes and GT cars of the late 1960s and early ’70s.

Clearly fastest of the regulars was the twice-winning Lola T212 of Kevin McGarrity /Martin Birrane. The experience of Birrane and the fabulous pace of McGarrity combined to win at Silverstone and the Nürburgring, and victory at Istanbul only fell away when the fuel tank ran dry on the final lap. McGarrity also led in the fog and damp of Spa, but the car slipped back when a more circumspect Birrane took over.

Frank Sytner swept ahead to win at Spa in his ex-Sid Taylor Lola T70, while Paul Knapfield dropped in at Monza to wow the locals with victory in his Ferrari 712. When the Birrane/McGarrity Lola stopped at Istanbul, John Sheldon claimed the win in his Chevron B16, having previously been on the podium in earlier races.

Jean-Marc Luco finished third in all bar one race, first with his Porsche 917 and then in Turkey with his 908.