VIN: the Team Claude Dubois / Pierre Rubens De Tomaso Pantera Gr.4 chassis 2860
History of chassis 2860
Chassis THPNMR02860 was one of 14 Panteras built to Group 4 racing specification.
Completed on April 13th 1972 and dispatched to De Tomaso’s Belgian distributor, Claude Dubois in Brussels, it became one of the quasi-works factory supported cars that went racing for the ‘72 season.
The red and black Pantera first appeared at round six of the 1972 World Sportscar Championships: Dubois’ home race – the Spa 1000km. Belgian drivers Jean-Marie Jacquemin and Yves Deprez qualified second fastest of the GT cars in 13th and went on to finish a spectacular seventh overall, winning the Grand Touring class (De Tomaso’s second successive GT win after victory at Monza).
Jacquemin and Deprez were then back behind the wheel four weeks later for the Le Mans 24 Hours, but 2860 proved unable to deal with the relentless speed of the latest Ferrari 365 GTB/4C Daytonas. The Ferraris took the first five GT places with fifth through ninth overall; Jacquemin and Deprez nevertheless finished a creditable 16th overall (seventh in the GT class).
Chassis 2860 made its final appearance under Claude Dubois ownership three weeks later at the European GT Championship race in Belgium, the Benelux Cup at Nivelles, where Jacuemin finished second overall behind the sister Pantera of Herbert Muller.
The car was not raced again until 1975, by which point Dubois had sold 2860 to noted privateer, Jean Blaton, who in turn passed it on to fellow Belgian, Pierre Rubens.
Rubens had done most of his racing thus far in small Alfa Romeos like the 1300 GTA and continued to have the Claude Dubois outfit run 2860 on his behalf.
A debut alongside Hermes Delbar at the 1975 Spa 1000km had to be aborted owing to a blown engine in practice. At Le Mans, Rubens teamed-up with Paolo Bozzetto; they qualified well in 23rd and come home 16th overall (eighth in the GT class). Rubens then drove single-handedly in the 60 lap European GT Championship race at Miasno and finished eleventh overall (eleventh in class).
Pierre Rubens continued to race 2860 throughout 1976 and had good success in the Benelux Championship. He retained chassis until 1978, at which point the car was sold to the present owner.
Notable History
Claude Dubois (Team Claude Dubois), Belgium
07/05/1972 WSC Spa 1000km (J.M Jacquemin / Y. Deprez) 7th oa, 1st GT class (#42)
11/06/1972 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (J.M. Jacquemin / Y Deprez) 16th oa, 7th GT class (#32)
02/07/1972 EGT Nivelles (J.M. Jacquemin) 2nd oa, 2nd 2.0+ class (#27)
Sold to Jean Blaton, Belgium
Sold to Pierre Rubens, Belgium (Team Claude Dubois entry)
04/05/1975 WSC Spa 1000km (P. Rubens / H. Delbar) DNS (#49)
15/06/1975 ??? Le Mans 24 Hours (P. Rubens / P. Bozzetto) 16th overall (#43) 8th in class (#43)
03/08/1975 EGT Misano (P. Rubens) 11th oa, 11th in class (#??)
Subsequently raced in the Beneluc Championship
1978 sold to present owner
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Jean-Luc Chetif
