I adored Group C, it was my favourite motor racing era that I saw and I think it stands up well against any era even the great 1970 to 73 sports car era and pre-war Silver Arrows, it's one of the epic series in motorsport. 1988, 1989 and 1990 were to my eyes the top of the sport when there were loads of top cars all fighting for position. I never missed a Group C race in the UK, my dad and I went to all of them usually to the test and qualifying days too which is when you got to have coffee or a proper chat with the drivers and a sit in 1 or 2 of the cars too. I met loads of the aces from the time, Ludwig, Bell, Winklehock (before he sadly died), Warwick, Schlesser, Brundle, Bellof (same again), Stucky, Patrese, Wollek (dead), Heyer and many others, top boys all of them and always took time to have a chat on the Saturdays.
I used to love the rolling starts too, they were ace to see all that horse power let of the leash, fantastic sight which that video above captures well. The 1990 race, the first with the chicanes was a crap start as the Nissan was on pole and he didn't bunch them up properly and had a massive lead as I recall come start time. Seeing these things coming towards you at in some cases close to 250mph on the Mulsane was breathtaking, something we'll never see again I susepct. Mind you, chatting to Tim Harvey (see, another name drop) at Oulton the other week he told me that in the first year of the chicanes the Nissan's were still hitting 238mph in between em!!
