Topic: Solved NIC#283 - 1969 Alpine-Renault A330 with Patrick Depailler at Magny-Cours

[nicanary]

What car is this, who is behind the wheel, and where?

[nicanary]

Experts?

[Majeko]

Off topic: Is that Neubauer behind the car at the side of the track?

On topic: Is the car a Lotus?

[nicanary]

Off topic: Is that Neubauer behind the car at the side of the track?

On topic: Is the car a Lotus?

The car is not a Lotus. I'm fairly confident it's not Neubauer - I can see no reason why he would be there, although he was still alive at the time. In fact, now you have raised the subject, I think I know who it might be, but if I told you it would help with the puzzle!

[shamrock]

ALPINE F3, driver Jean Pierre Beltoise , Pau

[nicanary]

ALPINE F3, driver Jean Pierre Beltoise , Pau

Hmmm.... que faire? You've identified the car, but nothing else is correct.

I think maybe it's worth a LOCK. Time for you to have a look and find the other answers.

[shamrock]

PATRICK DEPAILLER , CIRCUIT MAGNY COURS

[nicanary]

PATRICK DEPAILLER , CIRCUIT MAGNY COURS

Yes, another well-earned point for you.

It is indeed a young Patrick Depailler testing the F3 Alpine-Renault A330 at Magny-Cours in 1969. (I have a feeling that the rotund gentleman may be Toto Roche.)

[shamrock]

TOTO the starter at the French GP,  I read somewhere years ago that drivers could anticipate the flag dropping as his knees trembeled before he dropped the flag 

[nicanary]

TOTO the starter at the French GP,  I read somewhere years ago that drivers could anticipate the flag dropping as his knees trembeled before he dropped the flag

It was usually a shambles - he would stand in front of some of the cars, and then try to leap back when they moved forward. It didn't matter so much back then, because it was possible by driver skill alone to overtake and regain time lost. Good times in that respect - bad times for the lack of safety.