HISTORIC TOUR ALBI 2022: SACRED DAYS
The 2022 French Championship Historique des Circuits (the Historic Tour) will have its ending on the Séquestre circuit, at the gates of Albi. On the evening of Sunday 23 October, at the end of the 21 races of the weekend, we will know the identity of the two new champions of France!
A DESTINATION OF CHOICE FOR THE FINAL
After successively visiting the circuits of Magny-Cours, Lédenon, Dijon, Val de Vienne and Charade, the French National Historic Circuit Championship is preparing to live its grand final on the Albigensian circuit of the Séquestre. On this route, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, hospitality, a festive atmosphere and sport will be the hallmarks of the season’s three-day closing.
HVM Racing, the promoter of the French Championship, fully and faithfully supporting the efforts made to make live this unique site, the choice of the circuit of the Séquestre as framework of the final was obvious and natural. This will be the fifth edition of the Grand Prix Historique d'Albi.
50 YEARS OF MOTOR SPORT TO REVISIT IN ACCELERE!
Even before the Friday test sessions, the tone will be set on Thursday (from 6 to 8 pm) with a parade of racing cars of the Historic Tour in downtown Albi and a dynamic presentation of the event at the foot of the cathedral. An opportunity for some competitors to meet the public and the many spectators who will surely join the circuit the following days. A solid program will be waiting for them, especially during the weekend with an almost uninterrupted series of 21 different races, successively featuring single-seaters, protos, GTs and so-called Tourism cars exhumed from the 50 to 90 decades. That’s half a century of motorsport to rediscover in a hurry! In addition to a competitive park that they will be able to roam freely, spectators will also have the opportunity to be invited on the starting grid of the two F3 Classic races during the Grid Walk.
At the last point, more than 250 drivers made an act of commitment on one of the ten stages of the meeting, some of which will bring together particularly strong starting grids, like the Lotus Trophy (31 entered), the Roadster Pro Cup, The Formula Ford Historic Challenge or the Maxi 1300 Series (27 entries for each).
WHO WILL BE CHAMPION OF FRANCE?
Before attempting to answer this question, a brief reminder is in order. The French Championship Historique des Circuits is divided into two distinct categories, Monoplaces/Protos and GT/Tourisme, each giving rise to the award by the FFSA of a very official title of champion of France. Each of the six meetings of the season hosting two races per board, the drivers can thus accumulate a total of 12 results, of which the 10 best will be selected for the final ranking. This principle of counting the two worst results will inevitably have a significant impact on the final verdict.
Meanwhile, Philippe Gandini (driver of a Mini Jem in Maxi 1300 Series) is expected in Albi as leader of the GT/Tourism category ahead of José Beltramelli (TVR Griffith 400 in Asavé Racing 65), the only one still able to deprive him of the title. Both will have to dominate their races to hope to win the jackpot.
In the Single Seaters/Protos category, the situation is a little more open since there are still six who can aim for the title, at least in theory. Leader, Hugo Carini (Van Diemen in Formula Ford Kent) is obviously the best placed among them, against Davide Leone (March 783 in F3 Classic), or Fred Lajoux (March 793 in F3 Classic), François Belle (Lola T540 in Formula Ford Historic), Eric Martin (Debora in SportProtosCup) and especially Lionel Robert (Martini MK48 in Formula Renault Classic), the only one of the six who can still score two full results at Albi.
WHICH RACES, WHICH CARS, WHICH DRIVERS?
LES PLATEAUX DU CHAMPIONNAT DE FRANCE MONOPLACES/PROTOS
Formula Ford Historic Challenge
Races: Saturday 10h05 and 16h45 (2 x 20 minutes).
Cars: Formula Ford cars from before 1982.
The pilots in sight: Belle, Deverly (Lola), Genecand, Girardet, Richard, McMorran (Crosslé), Faggionato, « Nelson », Ogier, Courrègelongue (Van Diemen), Lecluse, Hermet (Lotus), Prévost (McNamara), Mangold (March), Dupont (Dulon), etc.
SportProtosCup
Races: Sunday 8:40 and 14:40 (2 x 25 minutes).
Cars: The Sport-Protos of before 1995.
The pilots in sight : Morel (Toj), Martin (Debora), Vulliez (Bogani), Châteaux, PL.Boch, Perrier/Bouvet (Lucchini), L.Boch (Norma), Kolly (Lola), De Murard (Giada), Groppi (Tiga), Guermonprez, Zimmer (Grac), Terrones (Chapman), Berrezai (Merlin), etc.
Ford Kent Formula Trophy and Ford Zetec Formula Trophy
Races: Sunday 9:15 and 16:00 (2 x 25 minutes).
Cars: Formula Ford Kent cars from before 1993 and Formula Ford Zetec cars from before 2005.
The pilots in sight Kent : H.Carini, Genecand, Dousse, Faggionato, « Nelson », Midy, Monteiro, Sikstrom, Simon, Dupont (Van Diemen), Kozyreff, Tomsen, Deridder (Reynard), etc. Zetec : Lebreton (Van Diemen), Sanchez (Mygale), etc.
F3 Classic Trophy and Formula Renault Classic Trophy
Races: Saturday 14h00 and Sunday 14h00 (2 x 30 mn).
Cars: The F3 cars before 1985 and the Formula Renault (atmo and turbo) cars before 1995.
The pilots in sight:F3 : Lajoux, D.Leone, B.Beltramelli, Coppini (March), Girardet, Vallery-Masson, Tavarès, Delannoy (Ralt), Eynard-Machet, Lacour (Martini), etc. Formule Renault : Robert, Gobba, « Nelson », Monnet, Mottez, Foucher, Bernard, Fouche (Martini), Rimbert (Orion), etc.
FRANCE GT/TOURISM CHAMPIONSHIP PLATEAUX
Lotus Trophy
Races: Saturday 10h40 and Sunday 9h55 (2 x 25 minutes).
Cars: Lotus Seven and old Caterham.
The pilots in sight X.Jacquet, Vulliez, Cazalot, Vetro, N.Beloou, Gaso, P.Metayer, C.Jacquet, Bouchetal, Rucheton, Odin, Szyndelman, Koenig, Dufetre, Vest, Seigneurin, Garcia-Imaz (tous sur Lotus Seven), Pollet, Touchet, V/P.Bachmann (Caterham), etc.
Saloon Cars Trophy and GT Classic Trophy
Races: Saturday 12:00 and Sunday 10:35 (2 x 25 minutes).
Cars: The pre-1999 GT/Tourisme (Saloon Cars Trophy) and the pre-1998 GT (GT Classic Trophy).
The pilots in sight: Saloon Cars : Lefebvre (Audi Quattro), Desmaele (Porsche 996), D.Empois, E.Empois (BMW E21), Yvetot, Gautier (Porsche 964), Danne (BMW M3 GTR), Verney (R5 GT), Lortal/Delarche (Super Seven), Trichet (Lotus Elise), etc.
GT Classic : Sabatier (Porsche GT2), Raffin (Ferrari F430), Roche/Roche, Gaillard (Porsche 996), Besson (Venturi 400), Cazaux (BMW M3 GTR), Daumas (BMW Z3M), Terral (Porsche 928), etc.
Roadster Pro Cup
Races: Saturday 15h25 and Sunday 15h20 (2 x 25 minutes).
Cars: The first generation Mazda MX-5.
The pilots in sight: Fresnais, Castillou, Hergault, Genottin, Bollengier, Fady, Durville, Pasquali, Benjamin, Bourget, Carini, Turbot, Sauvadet, Allard, Darmet, Espitalier, Lariau, Borrego, Gaudelus, Julien (all on Mazda MX-5), etc.
Youngtimers GTI Cup et Racing 81 & Gr 1
Races: Saturday 14h45 and Sunday 11h55 (2 x 25 minutes).
Cars: The GTI less than 2L before 1991 (Youngtimers), the GT/Tourism before 1982 and the former Group 1 (Racing 81 & Gr 1).
The pilots in sight:Youngtimers : Quagliozzi, Julia, Granpierre, Mouty (Honda Civic), Hawes (Golf GTI), Faucogney (R5 GT), Sable Fourtasou (Suzuki Swift), etc.
Racing 81 : Faure (Porsche 930), B.Beltramelli/V.Beltramelli, Zavattin (Ford Escort RS), Dauxerre (Porsche 911SC), etc.
Asavé Racing 65
Races: Saturday 11:20 and Sunday 4:40 (2 x 25 minutes).
Cars: The pre-1966 GT/Tourism.
The pilots in sight : J.Beltramelli (TVR Griffith 400), Gravier (Shelby Cobra), Benne, Szyndelman, Teyssier, Maillard (Lotus Elan), V.Beltramelli, Raffin (Ford Cortina Lotus), Carini (Ford Anglia), Baert (Alfa Giullia), Fazi (Triumph TR4), Dupin (DB), etc.
Maxi 1300 Series
Races: Saturday 16:05 and Sunday 11:15 (2 x 25 minutes).
Cars: The GT/Tourism – 1300 cm3 before 1977.
The pilots in sight: Gandini (Mini Jem), Gruelles (Marcos), G/A.Falière (Rallye 2), Calas, Timonier, Pouillon, Barrere (Cooper S), Aguettant, Kerhano (Austin Sprite), Comelli (Matra Jet), Wathelet (A112), Fardeau (Fiat X1/9), Donnay (Honda N600), etc.
OUTSIDE THE FRENCH CHAMPIONSHIP
200 km from the Historic Tour
The race: Saturday 17:20 (90 minutes).
Cars: Eligible protos/GT/sedans on the stages of the Historic Tour.
The drivers in sight: Martin (Debora Alfa), Perrier (Lucchini SP94), Vallery-Masson (Tiga S2000), Raffin (Ferrari F430), Lortal/Delarche (Super Seven), Roche/Roche (Porsche 996), Besson (Clio V6), Pargamin (Lotus Delarche), Mingot (Seven ham), etc.
ON THE PADDOCK
On the paddock side, the partner village of the Historic Tour includes the stands of Oreca (sale of competition parts) and Sodipneu/Sodifuel (supply of tyres and fuel). The traditional «Kennol Awards» honour a deserving driver from each set. So many valuable partners of the Historic Tour which also join LP Tent, Ellegi, Classic Racing and Assurances Lestienne.
THE RECAP
Friday 21 October: Qualifying from 14:15 to 18:45. Saturday 22 October: Qualifying from 08:25 to 09:55. Races (10) from 10:05 to 12:25 and from 14:00 to 18:50. Sunday 23 October: Races (11) from 08:40 to 12:20 and from 14:00 to 17:05.
Ticket office on site: pass 3 days 22 Euros, pass Friday 5 Euros, pass Saturday 12 Euros, pass Sunday 15 Euros. Grid Walk F3 Classic option (Saturday and Sunday) + 15 Euros. Free entry for – 15 years old.
Media contact: Jacques Furet – presse@hvmracing.fr
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