PAU CLASSIC GRAND PRIX: MAKE HISTORY!
After an absence of two years, the historic version of the Grand Prix de Pau makes its comeback in the city of Bearn. In keeping with the event, the competition section of this weekend promises to be remarkable with 18 races, four of which are open to former Formula 1 and Grand Prix cars.
THE GRIDS ON DISPLAY
LEGENDS OF THE HISTORIC PAU GRAND PRIX (F1, F2, F5000)
A look back at the history of a legendary Grand Prix
This line-up, specially put together for the event, will be full of flavour, as the public in Pau will have the privilege of discovering or seeing again in action some of the "legends" of motor sports. The result of a Franco-British collaboration between the promoters HVM Racing and HSCC, the grid will offer a mix of single-seaters, largely revisiting the most beautiful chapters of the seventies. The F2s, which were the stars of the Pau GP from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s, will make their comeback in the city of Bearn, alongside the F5000s (powered by large V8s) and even the real Formula 1s of the time. Among the 22 cars entered are half a dozen F1 cars from the 1970s, including McLaren M26s, Surtees TS9s and Hesketh 308Es driven by celebrities such as James Hunt and John Surtees...
Two races (Saturday 1.30pm and Sunday 2.25pm).
HGPCA F1 PRE 61 AND PRE 66
F1 cars from the Fangio and Clark eras return to the track
As in 2019, the prestigious Formula 1 and Grand Prix cars gathered by the English association HGPCA will be present. Amongst the pre-1961 cars, the star will of course be the famous Maserati 250F immortalised in its time by Juan Manuel Fangio (world champion at the wheel in 1957), of which no less than three examples will be entered. Alongside these front-engined queens of the 1950s will be the frailest F1 cars of the 1961 to 1965 period, during which the Grand Prix cars were equipped with 1500 cc engines. A blessed era for certain artisan-builders such as Lotus and Cooper, of which several models seen at the Pau GP during their reign will be found at the start, notably in the hands of a certain Jim Clark! At last count, 34 of these legendary cars were announced.
Two races (Saturday 3.45pm and Sunday 11.25am).
HISTORIC FORMULA JUNIOR
At the crossroads of the 50s and 60s
The spectators will also be able to admire the multiple variations of the Formula Junior single-seaters. This universal category, conceived in 1958, lived its glorious hours until 1963 and its replacement the following year by the new F3 and F2 classifications. During this brief period, all the future great champions revealed themselves at the wheel of these frail single-seaters, with 1000 or 1100 cm3 engines, notably designed in the workshops of Cooper, Lotus, Lola or Brabham. In its six years of existence, this category symbolised the rapid technical evolution of the time, in particular the switch from front to rear engines on all single-seaters of the time. As always, the field is international with 24 drivers from six different countries, including the United States.
Two races (Saturday 5.20 pm and Sunday 8.50 am).
F3 AND FORMULA RENAULT CLASSIC
The unmissable
Initiated in 1964 and for a long time inseparable from the Grand Prix of Pau, Formula 3 is one of those emblematic categories whose best sequences can be relived in historical mode. The F3 Classic Trophy, which is used to visiting the city of Béarn, has taken on this mission by offering the public the opportunity to see many of these single-seaters in action. More particularly, those of the 70s and 80s (before 1986), which were produced at the time by famous specialist companies such as Martini, March, Ralt, Chevron or Brabham for the benefit of future great names in motor sport. So many former F3s from Mansell, Prost, Berger, Alboreto, De Angelis, Pirro (among others) that continue to race today in their original livery. Both races this year will also be open to the equally attractive pre-1995 Formula Renault cars. 25 cars are expected to be on the grid.
Two races (Saturday 6.35pm and Sunday 4.05pm).
FORMULA FORD HISTORIC CHALLENGE
In the footsteps of Ayrton Senna
The world history of Formula Ford is so rich that it can be interpreted in a thousand ways. Within the framework of the "Historic" Challenge, the emphasis is on the oldest of them, i.e. the single-seaters from a period running from the beginning of the category in 1967 to 1981, with all that this implies in terms of the variety of chassis makes. The most recent ones are not necessarily the most sought-after by drivers who are above all concerned by the rarity of their cars or, better still, by the fame of the champions who had the opportunity to drive them. Ayrton Senna himself was one of them! All these cars have in common that they are equipped with a Ford Kent engine coupled to a Hewland gearbox and thus display similar performances. The public will be sure to see some exceptionally competitive races, especially as this field has been chosen by some forty drivers, many of them British, determined to get the better of their continental rivals!
Two races (Saturday 2.10 pm and Sunday 8.15 am).
HISTORIC ENDURANCE PRE 76 GT
A page of history in crews
It is impossible to refer to the golden age of motor racing without evoking the magic of endurance racing. This very international grid, dedicated to GT and so-called Touring cars from before 1976 and to small protos designed before 1966, pays tribute to this precious chapter of history. As in previous editions, it will once again bring together more than forty prestigious cars (44 are entered), most of them from the Iberian Historic Endurance Championship. Jaguar E-type, Ferrari 365 GTB, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette, Morgan Plus 8, Alfa Romeo GTA and other Porsche 356 and 911 of all capacities, as well as frail protos of the sixties from Elva or Lotus, whose drivers will compete with audacity in the maze of the streets of Pau. As it has been the case since 2014, this line-up should be unanimous in the stands on the occasion of two 45-minute races.
Two races (Saturday 2.45pm Sunday 10.25am).
MAXI 1300 SERIES AND BRITISH GT
The race in pocket format
The Maxi 1300 Series, already seen several times at the GP de Pau Historique, goes back to the blessed time when small capacity racing cars could take centre stage. It is in this register of small popular sports cars that the grid in question has forged its success for over two decades. All the cars of less than 1300 cm3 from the 60's and 70's are now able to play the leading roles, led by the always valiant Cooper S, Alpine A110, Simca Rallye 2, Mini Marcos, Simca CG, Matra Djet and others. About twenty of these hot-blooded mini cars will be present in the race.
Two races (Saturday 7.20 pm and Sunday 12.00 am).
RECAP OF THE SCHEDULE
Friday 20 May: Testing from 8.30am to 11.45am and from 12.50pm to 6.45pm. Saturday 21 May: Practice from 8.15am to 12.15pm. Races (9) from 13h30 to 20h25. Parade at 5.55 pm. Sunday 22 May: Races (9) from 8.15am to 12.25pm and from 2.25pm to 5.15pm. Parade at 9.25am.
All the info and the races live: www.hvmracing.fr
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