We might be closer to know the truth now than ever, as just by chance, I asked Elena Martín this morning if she remembered the subject and, to my plain astonishment -because I had already given up pretending it was a figment of my imagination- she said: Yes!

She even said : I can perfectly recall the decoration of the car...

So I questioned : Was that a real car or a painting? Not sure, she said, might just have been an artist´s impression...

ANYWAY, Jorge de Bagration, the Escudería Calvo Sotelo, the Escudería Montjuich and the Spanish Grand Prix 1974, local hero included (previously Alex Soler-Roig) might not ring a bell to John Surtees but I very much doubt that it was all an invention...we have Jorge´s columns on the weekly "Autopista" magazine in the weeks previous to the race...

We´ll see...

Very sadly, from Georgia, comes news that de Bagration is dead. Link (en Espanol)

Hi Richie.

It is a sad news.
The "Príncipe Bagration" won a race in Interlagos and I was there...
It was in 06/12/1970 in the "COPA BRASIL Championship". Where four races in Interlagos (6, 13, 22 and 27/12). The anothers winners were: Wilson Fittipaldi (Lola T-70); Emerson Fittipaldi (Lola T-210) twice.
The first race classification was:
1) Jorge de Bagration (Porsche 908) 1h03'34" - 21 laps - 162,029 km/h
2) Alex Soler Roig (Porsche 917) 21 laps
3)Antônio da Matta (Cristiano da Matta father-Alfa Romeo P33) 20 laps
4) Emerson Fittipaldi (Lola T-210) 20 laps
5) Luís Carlos Moraes (Porsche 910) 20 laps
6) Jorge del Rio (Avante-Tornado) 20 laps
7) Ernesto Neves (Lotus 47) 19 laps
8) Eduardo Celidônio (Snob´s-Corvair) 18 laps
9) Silvio Montenegro (Volks 1900) 18 laps
10) José Pedro Chateaubriand (Puma 1600) 18 laps.

The champion of this championship was
Emerson Fittipaldi -> 30 points
2)Jorge de Bagration -.26
3) Alex Soler-Roig -> 21
4) Wilson Fittipaldi -> 15
5) Giampiero Moretti -> 14 (with a beautiful Ferrari 512-S)
6) Jayme Silva -> 8
7) Jorge Del Rio -> 7
8) Antônio da Matta -> 6
9) Ernesto Neves -> 6
10) Luís Carlos Moraes -> 4
11) Jorge Ternengo -> 3
12) Haruto Yanagida -> 2
13) Masami Kuwashima -> 2
14) Paulo Gomes -> 1
15) Camilo Christófaro -> 1
16) Eduardo celidônio -> 1
17) Carlos Alberto Sgarbi -> 1.

Here are some photos from him in this race and a synthesis of his life (in portuguese) from the brazilian Quatro Rodas Magazine (01/1971)


Bye...
Sergio Sultani.

He was only 63. The 1979 and 1981 Spanish Rally Champion with Lancia Stratos HF may rest in peace.

Very sorry to hear that. He was a charming man whom I knew well back in the 1980's when I was a consultant to the Fiat Group in Britain. Jorge was the head of Public Relations for both Fiat Spain and Portugal.

Quite an early end...

Is this a pic of him and the Lola ?

http://fotos.iher.net/72ric19w%20Bagration%20Lola%20T290.jpg

Sad news indeed My sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

RIP

Yes, Marc, it's him. Shown here at Paul Ricard circuit beside Ecurie Bonnier's Lola T290 which he drove to the third place in the second heat of Trophée Paul Ricard, the first round of 1972 European Sportscar Championship.

This is a very interesting thread. Thank you for all the knowledge and history.

I own his 1968 Lola T100 that he race in the F-2 series. It is fully restored but I painted it in the Sutees colors (or colours - if you prefer to misspell words). I would like to pain it in the orginal Escuderia Nacional colors but I do not know how / where to find that paint scheme. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I would also like to reach out to Prince Bagration and get his insights on the car and its history. Your help would be appreciated.

Kind regards,
Tim

I'm afraid the only way to "reach out" to Prince Bagration is via a medium. I suggest you read the whole thread on why the good man is, regrettably, short of insight these days.

Gentlemen,
Please forgive me. I am new to this bulletin board style of communication and I did not know that there were 2 pages of posts. I am sorry to hear the news that the Prince is gone.