There was a thrilling finale to the 2013 Challenge Formule Storiche season at Paul Ricard.
Despite Tecno F3-mounted Frenchman Thierry Gallo taking both wins to round off the five-meet series at the French circuit, championship-chasing Branca FJ pilot Bruno Ferrari was neck and neck to take second in one of the races and third in the other only because of a drive-through penalty for a false start.
Swiss poleman Louis Maulini guided his Merlyn Mk10 to second in the first race, but didn't make the grid for the second after engine problems.
Another championship contender, Brabham BT28 driver Francesco Liberatore snapped up the final podium place in the second outing.
The final standings were not decided until flagfall in the final race with Swiss pilot Angelo Delea – who had a poor weekend in France – victorious by just two points from Italian Bruno Ferrari with fellow-Italian Francesco Liberatore in third.
Tommaso Gelmini, or series organiser GPS said: "Delea deserved to win the race series since he took part in all CFS races from 2010. We are already working on 2014 calendar, in cooperation with Historic F3 European Trophy: despite their different kind of tyres, we have noticed how our FJ cars could match up to them and even precede them. We can't exclude a comeback to FIA Lurani Trophy but first we need to take into account the financial conditions."
James Elliott is a former Editor of Classic & Sports Car