France Gallery

Environnement-Littoral-Bretagne

Photo prise le 21 juin 2005 de la pointe du Raz, a Plogoff, le phare de la Vieille et l'Ile de Sein. Acquisition, conservation, protection : le conservatoire du littoral, cree en 1975 pour assurer la protection des espaces naturels littoraux, celebre ses 30 ans en commencant par la Bretagne, terre emblematique de son action. Parmi les realisations les plus remarquables du conservatoire en Bretagne, la restauration de la Pointe du Raz, qui en fait une "reference nationale" en la matiere. / AFP PHOTO / FRED TANNEAU

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24 Hours-Le Mans-1955-Hawthorn

British driver Mike Hawthorn steers his Jaguar D-Type on Le Mans racetrack, during the 23th edition of the 24 hours of Le Mans race, on June 11, 1955. The 23th edition of the endurance race was marked by the terrible crash that killed 82 persons, in which French pilot Pierre Levegh, and injured 77 others. In terms of human toll, it is the most catastrophic accident in motorsports history. Mike Hawthorn and his teammate Ivro Bueb won the race. / AFP PHOTO

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France-Car Racing-Gordini

Amedee Gordini, Italian-born French sport car driver and manufacturer stands next to his racing car in the 1950s during LeMans 24 hours car race.The Gordini firm was founded by Amedee nicknamed "Le Sorcier" (The Sorcerer). At the beginning Gordini had close ties with Simca. Gordini competed in Formula One from 1950 to 1956. Later Gordini worked with Renault as an engine tuner and finally sold his firm to Renault. With a Gordini modified 1,600 cc engine, the Alpine/Renault combination continued into the 1970s, and became one of Europe's most successful championship rallying cars ? the European Championship was won in 1970 (by Jean-Claude Andruet), and the World Championship in 1971 and 1973. In 1974, Alpine was taken over by Regie Renault. AFP PHOTO / AFP PHOTO

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