THE INAUGURAL STAGE IN FIGURES

The long-awaited reunion has arrived! On the Dijon Prenois circuit, which the French Historic Circuit Championship has been visiting since its creation, the 9th year of the Historic Tour will take off on Friday 5th May and will continue at the rhythm of the 19 races which will follow one another during the weekend. After this inaugural stage, the championship will move on to the Albi circuit, then to those of Lédenon and Magny-Cours before reaching its epilogue on the Val de Vienne track during the second half of October. 

In the meantime, let's make way for this Burgundy meeting that the drivers are particularly fond of. This is once again confirmed by the entry lists: all categories included, there are more than 300 riders preparing their trip to the outskirts of Dijon! According to a scheme revisited since last year with notably the creation of two new trophies for GT/Tourism cars from before 1981 (the Maxi 2L Classic and the Racing Over 2L), no less than 13 challenges, cups or trophies form the backbone of the Historic Tour 2023, with their drivers now divided on the circuits between 9 distinct grids. 

In Prenois, they will all look good. As an example, some 46 cars are expected on the starting grid of the common grid of the GT Classic, Saloon Car and Youngtimers GTI Cup Trophies, 35 in the Roadster Pro Cup, 34 in the Formula Ford Kent Trophy, 33 in the Lotus Trophy, etc. 

All these historic cars, from the 50s to the 90s, will take the stage twice during the weekend for races lasting 25 to 30 minutes.

And that's not all! In addition to the sprint format, there will be the 200 km Historic Tour endurance race on Saturday, lasting 90 minutes.

In the end, the spectators of the Côte d'Or circuit will hardly have time to get bored during the weekend with this almost uninterrupted succession of races. In addition to having free access to the competitors' paddock, they will also have the possibility to access the starting grid of some races during a daily "Grid Walk". A luxury within everyone's reach!

FRANCE CHAMPIONSHIP: FOUR TITLES AT STAKE

This is the great novelty of this new edition of the Historic Tour. Not two, but four FFSA French Championships will be the main theme of the season with as many national titles to be awarded at the end of the year. While the French Single Seater/Proto Championship remains unchanged, the GT/Touring Championship is split into two: pre-1990 cars on one side, post-1990 cars on the other. Finally, the 200 km Historic Tour race organised at each meeting is now part of the French Historic Endurance Championship.

WHICH RACES, WHICH CARS, WHICH DRIVERS?

THE FRENCH SINGLE-SEATER/PROTOTYPE CHAMPIONSHIP GRIDS

F3 Classic Trophy 

Races: Saturday 10.35am and Sunday 2.40pm (2 x 30 mins). Joint races with the Formula Renault Classic Trophy.

The cars: F3 single-seaters from before 1985.

The drivers : Lajoux, Vaglio-Giors, Lacour (March), Jacobs, Vallery-Masson, Tavarès (Ralt), Eynard-Machet (Martini), Michel (Chevron), Houzelot (Dallara), etc 

Formula Renault Classic Trophy 

Races: Saturday 10.35 am and Sunday 2.40 pm (2 x 30 min). Joint races with the F3 Classic Trophy.

The cars: Formula Renault (atmo and turbo) from before 1995.

The drivers : L.Robert, A.Robert, Gobba, Monnet, Boite, Mottez, Foucher, Bagur, Moniat, Fouche, Tomsen (Martini), Rimbert, Empois (Orion), Quéré/Quéré (Alpa), etc.

Formula Ford Kent Trophy 

Races: Saturday 4.45pm and Sunday 4.10pm (2 x 25 minutes).

The cars: pre-1993 Formula Ford Kent single-seaters + Formula Ford Zetec cars not included in the trophy.

The drivers : Genecand, Lebreton, Sanjuan, Vaglio-Giors, Dousse, Beloou, " Nelson ", Midy, Monteiro, Richard, Faucher, Leuber, Missistrano (Van Diemen), Kozyreff, Tomsen, Thetiot, Deridder (Reynard), D'Aubreby, Weiss, Dessy (Swift), etc

Formula Ford Historic Challenge 

Races: Saturday 3.25 pm and 12.30 pm (2 x 25 mn).

The cars: Formula Ford single-seaters from before 1982.

The drivers : Belle, Verhille (Lola), Genecand, Vaglio-Giors, McMorran, Eynard Machet, Sanchez (Crosslé), Sanjuan, " Nelson ", Faggionato, Colombat, Ogier (Van Diemen), Ghio (Merlyn), Crocker (Ray), Lecluse, Slotine (Lotus), Prévost (McNamara), Mantz, Leclerc (Hawke), Dupont, Leblond (Dulon), etc.

SportProtosCup

Races: Saturday 9.30am and Sunday 11.10am (2 x 25 minutes).

The cars: Sport-Protos from before 1995.

The drivers : Martin (Debora), Nguyen, PL.Boch, Mattez, Amoros (Lucchini), Fischer/Derossi (AMS), Ferrier (Chevron), Vulliez (Bogani), Kolly (Lola), Villot (Osella), L. Boch (Norma), Dougnac/Dougnac (Epsilon), De Murard (Giada), Groppi (Tiga), Rossiaud/Le Jean (Hydra), Guermonprez (Grac), Terrones (Chapman), etc.

THE PRE 90 GT/TOURING CHAMPIONSHIP GRIDS 

Lotus Trophy

Races: Sunday 9.00 am and 4.50 pm (2 x 30 min).

The cars : Lotus Seven and old Caterham.

The drivers : X.Jacquet, Delhaye, Vulliez, N.Beloou, Cazalot, Gaso, P.Metayer, Berrezai, Bouchetal, Odin, Szyndelman, Garcia Imaz, Koenig, Giraud, Thiry, Lauber, Seigneurin, Garcia-Imaz (Lotus Seven), Cane, Audry, Breton, Jan (Caterham), etc.

Racing Over 2L

Races: Saturday 11.20am and Sunday 9.45am (2 x 25 minutes).

The cars: GT/Touring cars of + 2000 cm3 (and - 2000 cm3 of + 200 hp) from before 1981.

The drivers : Rousselot (Shelby Cobra Daytona), Kohler, Chambon (Shelby Cobra), Besson/Besson (De Tomaso Pantera), Regnier (Porsche 910), Excoffier/Excoffier (Chevrolet Corvette), Dauxerre, Brigand (Porsche 911 and 930), Dupuy, Dusailly, Zavattin (Ford Escort), Perou, Ancelin, Druguet (Austin Healey 3L), etc.

Maxi 2L Classic

Races: Saturday 12:00 and Sunday 11:50 (2 x 25 mn). Joint races with the Maxi 1300 Series.

The cars: GT/Touring cars with less than 2000 cm3 and less than 200 hp from before 1981.  

Prominent drivers : Richelmi, Kohler, Benne, Bouvier, Achard/Piat, Chalendard (Lotus Elan), Thoulouze/Gravier (Lotus XI), Raffin/Raffin (Cortina Lotus), Fazi (Triumph TR4), Breugnot (Alpine A110), Ollevier, Mathay (BMW 2002 TI), Grosjean (Morgan 4/4), Bart (Alfa Giulia), Fouquet Hatevilain (Triumph Dolomite), etc. 

Maxi 1300 Series 

Races: Saturday 12h00 and Sunday 11h50 (2 x 25 mn). Joint races with the Maxi 2L Classic.

The cars: GT/Touring cars of - 1300 cm3 from before 1977. 

The drivers : Gandini (Jem), Destombes (Simca CG), Bandura (Fiat 128), Pouillon (Cooper S), Grosjean (Mini Marcos), Benjamin (Alpine A106), Lempereur (Fiat 127), etc.

THE POST 90'S GT/TOURING FRENCH CHAMPIONSHIP GRIDS

Roadster Pro Cup

Races: Saturday 4.05 pm and Sunday 3.30 pm (2 x 25 mn).

The cars: the first generation Mazda MX-5.

The drivers : Fresnais, Lu.Bellinato, Balthazar, Hergault, Gosset, Genottin, Dutoya, Vivas, Bouchet, Lo.Bellinato, U.Carini, Benjamin, Henry, Bourget, Carreno, Bouchereau, Turbot, Olivier, Sionneau, Sauvadet, Sionneau, Blanc, Laborie, Darmet, Gaudelus, Dantoing, Schikowski, Santraine, etc.

Saloon Cars Trophy 

Races: Saturday 2.40pm and Sunday 10.25am (2 x 30 mins). Joint races with the GT Classic Trophy and the Youngtimers GTI Cup.

The cars: GT/Tourism cars from before 1999.

The drivers : Grenet (Dodge Viper), Lefebvre (Audi Quattro), Desmaele (Porsche 964), Danne (BMW M3 GTR), Fuet (BMW E36), Delarche (Super Seven), Cuynet (Seat Super Copa), D Sanson (Porsche 996), Dubelly (BMW 30 CSL), Pirio/Pirio (Jidé), Verney (R5 GT), Drouilleau/Drouilleau (BMW M3), Cuynet (Audi S2), Texier (Alpine GTA), etc.

GT Classic Trophy

Races: Saturday 2.40pm and Sunday 10.25am (2 x 30 mins). Races shared with the Saloon Cars Trophy and the Youngtimers GTI Cup.

The cars: GT cars from before 1998.

The drivers : Sabatier (Porsche 993 GT2), Delannoy (Porsche 997), Roche/Roche, Gaillard (Porsche 996), Besson (VenturI 400), Boyer (Porsche 944), etc.

Youngtimers GTI Cup 

Races: Saturday 2.40pm and Sunday 10.25am (2 x 30 mins). Races shared with the Saloon Cars Trophy and the GT Classic Trophy.

The cars: GTI cars under 2L from before 1991.

The drivers : Gimonet, Piau, Morel, Mouty, Bouvier, Chaulan, Aumard/Aumard, Moreau (Honda Civic), Mathez (Peugeot 309), Maehr (R5 GT), Latz (Golf GTI), etc

FRENCH HISTORIC ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP 

200 km Historic Tour

The race: Saturday 5.25 pm (90 minutes).

The cars: protos/GTs/cars eligible for the Historic Tour grids.

The drivers in sight : Gravier (Ford GT40), Martin/Vallery-Masson (Debora SP91), Perrier/Bouvet (Lucchini SP94), Destombes (Peugeot 905), Villot (Osella), Yvaren (Lola T86/90), Danne/Grenet (Dodge Viper), Richelmi/Gache (Chevrolet Camaro), Roche/Roche (Porsche 996), Lortal/Delarche (Lotus Elise), Kohler (Porsche 911), Besson (Clio V6), Perinetti/Lauber/Bouchetal (Porsche 964), Pargamin (Lotus Seven), etc.

ON THE PADDOCK

On the paddock side, the Historic Tour partners' village includes the stands of Oreca (sale of competition parts), Sodipneu/Sodifuel (supply of tyres and fuel) and Stand 21 (made-to-measure and safety equipment for drivers). The traditional "KENNOL Awards" honour a deserving driver from each grid. All these valuable partners of the Historic Tour are joined by France Toner, LP Tent, Ellegi Motori, Yokohama, AM Paris and Assurances Lestienne. 

THE RECAP 

Friday 5th May: Private testing from 8.30am to 2.52pm. Qualifying from 3pm to 6.55pm. Saturday 6 May: Qualifying from 9.00am to 9.20am, from 10.05am to 10.25am and from 12.35pm to 12.55pm. Races (9) from 9.30am to 9.55am, from 10.35am to 12.25pm and from 2.40pm to 6.55pm. Sunday 7 May: Races (10) from 9am to 12.55pm and from 2.40pm to 5.20pm. 

Online presale ticketing (www.hvmracing.fr): weekend pass 15 Euros, 1 day pass 10 Euros. Grid Walk option: 10 Euros/day. Free entry for children under 16. 

Media contact: presse@hvmracing.fr