60 MINUTES OF CASABLANCA 1968

New evidences

Christian Magnanou, former inhabitant of Casablanca :
17 years old in 1968

Panel carrier

"The 60 minutes of Casablanca " are an unknown episode. Two Alpine A220 V8, driven by André Guelfi and André De Cortanze had made displacement in Casablanca . Amédée Gordini himself was on the circuit, I remember I’ve talk to him during this meeting.
My father being close to the organizers, I had this day the "the enormous one responsability" to show the panel indicating every laps remaining to the head driver. I was 17 years old...
Among participants there was Giorgi with his Lola T70 wich was broken during qualifications, Dutoit with an already old Porsche 904, Kerguen (French man from Casablanca participating several times at Le Mans, particularly with an Aston Martin Zagato) on a Porsche 911S and the rest of the grid was composed with local drivers on Matra Djet6, Alpine Berlinette Tour de France, Alfa Giuletta Veloce and other antique Tank DKW...
Guelfi (he was at the time 48 years) who has never been very soft with mechanics, exploded the gear box after some laps; De Cortanze walked in his racing car, and it was rather an advertizing operation for "Renault Maroc" and "Afriquia ELF".
I’ve never found a line about this winning in a magazine, however it took place.

I’ve a picture, which was taken by a local photographer on the start line, showing me handling lap by lap panel beside De Cortanze sitting in the Alpine V8, the door was opened because of heat, and he was waiting for the start:

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