Open to the largest possible number of historic racing cars, the eighth edition of the French Historic Circuit Championship (the Historic Tour) takes off in Nevers Magny-Cours. All the indicators are green and the season is starting under the best auspices with a particularly full list of entries.

A REUNION AND A RETURN TO MAGNY-COURS. It is time for a reunion in the French Historic Circuit Championship. Its eighth edition starts this weekend on the Nevers Magny-Cours circuit, which the federal series had not visited since 2018. This inaugural meeting will be the image of what this promising 2022 season has in store for us with a plethoric programme of 24 races and an incomparable diversity of grids, which alone revisit almost half a century of motor sport. It is also worth noting that, since 2020, this will be the first circuit competition not to be subject to a health protocol. Finally, after the Nièvre heat, the French Championship will continue on five other circuits, successively in Lédenon, Dijon, Val de Vienne, Charade and Albi.

AFFLUENCE ON THE TRACK. It was difficult to dream of a better line-up for this first meeting. The 10 grids specific to the French Championship (regrouping no less than 14 different trophies!) are preparing to welcome a total of more than 310 drivers, including about 15% of foreigners coming from Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Ireland, Great Britain, Monaco and Luxembourg. Another very encouraging sign is that all the grids are particularly well filled, some of them even showing a record participation rate, such as the Roadster Pro Cup, the Lotus Trophy and the GT Classic/Saloon Cars Trophies, with lists of 40, 39 and 37 drivers respectively.

To all these competitors of the French Championship, will also be added those of the two "guest" grids of the weekend: the Colmore YTCC coming from the Netherlands and the 6 hours of V de V endurance, this last race, in teams, taking place on Saturday evening. So, overall, there will be more than 380 drivers in the Nièvre this weekend!

To make the best transition from one season to the next, it should be noted that Friday evening will be devoted to the prize-giving ceremony for the 2021 French Championship, which was to be held at the Retromobile Show.

LOYAL PLAYERS. A sign of the drivers' attachment to the French Championship, almost all the main protagonists of the 2021 edition are expected at Magny-Cours. Lionel Robert (Martini/Formule Renault Classic) and Sébastien Mathieu (Porsche 964/GT Classic), respectively outgoing champions in Single Seater/Protos and GT/Touring, will be there to defend their prerogatives, while their immediate successors will once again be ready to challenge them for these titles. In the order of the 2021 prize list, one thinks in particular of Gislain Genecand, Xavier Jacquet, François Belle, Gianluigi Candiani, Dominique Vulliez, Frédéric Rouvier, Anthony Delhaye, Nicolas Beloou, Philippe Gandini, Arnaud Dousse, Julien Grenet, Jean-Paul Gobba, Laurent Fesnais, "Nelson ", Steeve Hergault and Axel Castillou.

WHICH RACES, WHICH CARS, WHICH DRIVERS?

THE FRENCH SINGLE-SEATER/PROTOTYPE CHAMPIONSHIP GRIDS

F3 Classic Trophy and Formula Renault Classic Trophy

Races: Saturday 2.00 pm and Sunday 5.35 pm (2 x 30 min).

The cars: F3 single-seaters from before 1985 and Formula Renault (atmo and turbo) from before 1995.

The drivers: F3: Rouvier, D.Leone, Beltramelli, Lajoux, Lacour (March), Rossi, Gerbout, Eynard-Machet (Martini), Jacobs, Tavarès (Ralt), Candiani (Chevron), etc.

Formula Renault: Robert, Gobba, "Nelson", Monnet, Mottez, Bagur, Moniat, Fouche, Foucher (Martini), Rimbert (Orion), etc.

Formula Ford Historic Challenge

Races: Saturday 3.20pm and 12.15pm (2 x 25 minutes).

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

The drivers : Belle, Deverly (Lola), Genecand, Vaglio-Giors, McMorran, Michel, Richard, Sanchez (Crosslé), Sanjuan, " Nelson ", Faggionato, Ingwiller, Corregelongue (Van Diemen), Lecluse (Lotus), Prévost (McNamara), Mantz (Hawke), etc

SportProtosCup

Races: Saturday 11.10am and Sunday 10.20am (2 x 25 minutes).

The cars: Sport-Protos from before 1995.

The drivers Ferrier (Chevron), in sight: Rossi (Osella), Martin (Debora), Candiani/Rouvier, L.Boch, Nguyen, Baumart (Lucchini), Vulliez (Bogani), Dougnac/Dougnac (Epsilon), Kolly, Regnier, Yvaren (Lola), De Murard, Gandini (Merlin), Destombes (905), Groppi (Tiga), Rossiaud/Le Jean (Hydra), etc.

Formula Ford Kent Trophy and Formula Ford Zetec Trophy

Races: Sunday 9.40am and 4.15pm (2 x 25 minutes).

The cars: Pre-1993 Formula Ford Kent cars and pre-2005 Formula Ford Zetec cars.

The drivers : FF Kent : Carini, Genecand, Michel, Sanjuan, Gerarduzzi, Dethier, Renavand, Monteiro, Midy, Weiss, Dupont (Van Diemen), Kozyreff, Tomsen, Thetiot, Derrider (Reynard), Comte (Crosslé), D'Aubreby (Swift), etc.

FF Zetec: Lebreton (Van Diemen), Arnould, Sanchez, Heudicourt, Rausch (Mygale), etc.

THE FRENCH GT/TOURING CHAMPIONSHIP GRIDS

Roadster Pro Cup

Races: Saturday 3.55pm and Sunday 11.35am (2 x 25 mins).

The cars: The first generation Mazda MX-5.

The drivers : Fresnais, Castillou, Hergault, Josquin, Grenottin, Dubelly, Rigoulet, Durville, Bellinato, Manganaro, Beck, Bouchet, Sauvadet, Carli, Blanc, Fady, Bourget, Turbot, Allard, Randazzo, Gaudelus, Guitteny (all on Mazda MX-5), etc.

Saloon Cars Trophy and GT Classic Trophy

Races: Saturday 11.00am and Sunday 10.55am (2 x 25 minutes).

The cars: GT/Touring cars from before 1999 (Saloon Cars Trophy) and GT cars from before 1998 (GT Classic Trophy).

The drivers : Saloon Cars : Grenet (Dodge Viper), Derognat (BMW 323i), Sabatier (Porsche 993 GT2), Lefebvre (Audi Quattro), Desmaele (Porsche 996), Danne (BMW M3 GTR), Fuet (BMW E36), Verney (R5 GT), Cuynet (Audi S2), etc.

GT Classic : Mathieu, Delannoy (Porsche 964), Morihain (Chevolet Corvette), Rosembly (BMW Z3), Chollet (Porsche 944), Gindre (Porsche 993), Roche/Roche (Porsche 996), Besson (Clio V6), Cazaux (BMW M3 GTR), Raffin (Ferrari F430), Gaillard (Porsche 928), Laberty/Moan (TVR Tuscan), Jaboulet (Marcos Mantis), others.

Lotus Trophy

Races: Saturday 12:25 and Sunday 14:25 (2 x 25 mn).

The cars: Lotus Seven and old Caterham.

The drivers : X.Jacquet, Vulliez, N.Beloou, Cazalot, Delhaye, C.Jacquet, Gaso, P.Metayer, C.Jacquet, Bouchetal, Odin, Szyndelman, Koenig, Dufetre, Vest, Berrezai, Roux, Giraud, Lauber, Pargamin, Seigneurin, Cerny, Grenot, Garcia-Imaz (all on Lotus Seven), Rucheton, Jan, Gronfier (Caterham), etc.

Asavé Racing 65

Races: Sunday 9.05am and 3.40pm (2 x 25 minutes).

The cars: GT/Tourism cars from before 1966.

The drivers : Beltramelli (TVR 400), Rousselot, Gravier (Shelby Cobra), Wilhelm, Berchon (Jaguar E-type), M.Rossi (Shelby Mustang), C.Rossi (Austin Healey 3000), Poulet, Benne, Sionneau/Sionneau (Lotus Elan), Raffin (Cortina Lotus), etc.

Maxi 1300 Series

Races: Saturday 5.10pm and Sunday 4.55pm (2 x 25 mins).

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

The drivers : Gandini (Jem), Besson (Alpine A110), Gruelles, Krause (Marcos), Destombes (CG), Timonier, Bardet, Trousse, Dupin, Pouillon, Cassina/Cassina, Kienert (Cooper S), E.Rouliere, N.Rouliere (R5 Coupe), Corthals (A112 Abarth), etc.

Youngtimers GTI Cup and Racing 81 & Gr 1

Races: Saturday 14:40 and Sunday 13:50 (2 x 25 mn).

GTIs under 2L from before 1991 (Youngtimers), GT/Touring cars from before 1982 and old Group 1 cars (Racing 81 & Gr 1).

The drivers in sight : Youngtimers : Quagliozzi, Julia, Gimonet, Bouvier (Honda Civic), Maehr, Faucogney (R5 GT), Latz, Hawes, Martin (Golf GTI), etc.

Racing 81 : Excoffier/Excoffier (Chevrolet Corvette), Faure (Porsche 930), Dauxerre, Achard, Clause/Clause, Kienert (Porsche 911 SC and RSR), Valinho (Datsun 240Z), Lagache (Porsche 914), Faurie, Castelli (Ford Capri), Bourguignon (BMW 530), etc.

THE GUEST CATEGORY

6 hours V de V endurance

The race: Saturday 5.50 pm (60 minutes).

The cars: GT (until 1990), Touring (1990) and Sport-Prototypes (1986).

The drivers in view : Faggionato/Vaglio-Giors/Genecand (Tiga), Gruau/Gruau (Chevron B16), "Nelson"/Sanjuan/Belle (March), Beltramelli x3 (Ford Escort MK1), Châteaux x 3 (BMW 635), Van de Vyver/Brossard/Mothe (TVR Griffith), Duhamel/Crubile, Antonini/Raffalli/Vivier-Muglioni, De Murard (Porsche 930), Duval/Duval/Bonnardel, Libens/De Siebenthal (Porsche 964), Wassermann/Baumard (BMW 323i), etc.

Colmore YTCC (Youngtimer Touring Car Challenge)

Races: Saturday 4.30pm and Sunday 8.30am and 3.05pm (3 x 25 mins).

The cars: GT/Touring cars from the 70s and 80s.

The drivers : Hoffmann (McLaren MC1), Bolliger (Pontiac Transam), Dubler, Hennessy (Chevrolet Corvette), Andriessen (Alpine GTA), Lawson (Alpine A310), Jilesen, Adriaans, Poels (Porsche 964), Kleiner (MGB V8), Hees (BMW M3), etc.

IN 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 also joined by LP Tent, Ellegi, Classic Racing and Lestienne Insurance.

THE RECAP

Friday 25 March: Qualifiers from 3.15pm to 7.45pm. Saturday 26 March: Qualifiers from 8.15am to 11am. Races (10) from 11.10am to 12.50pm and from 2pm to 12am. Sunday 27 March: Races (14) from 8.30am to 12.40pm and from 1.50pm to 6.05pm. Weekend entry 15 Euros, 1 day entry 10 Euros (free entry for under 15s), In advance on www.hvmracing.fr

Media contact: Jacques Furet - presse@hvmracing.fr