The French Historic Circuit Championship is back and kicking off season 10 on a high note at Dijon Prenois.  A full field and a copious menu of 21 races herald a happy and exciting weekend.  

MORE THAN 310 CARS EXPECTED ON TRACK

After a break of more than six years, it's time for a reunion in the very lively French Historic Circuit Championship (the Historic Tour). From the first weekend in May, the Historic Tour will begin a new five-date tour of France at Dijon Prenois, before visiting Charade (one return), Nevers Magny-Cours, Nogaro (another return) and Val de Vienne over the following months. A calendar set against a backdrop of anniversaries, as the Historic Tour celebrates its tenth year of existence this season (already!).

In the Côte d'Or, the French Championship returns to a circuit that it has used almost exclusively since its creation in 2015. Appreciated for the technicality and speed of its layout, immortalised by the French F1 GPs, it is generally unanimously acclaimed by the drivers. The entry lists for this first Historic Tour of the year demonstrate this once again.

With the addition of the forces announced for the 21 races to come, the public in Prenois will be treated to no fewer than 312 cars and more than 340 drivers! All this action will be divided between 11 separate grids, each of which will be the subject of two races over the course of the weekend, with the exception of the single 200km endurance race on Saturday evening. Still on the subject of numbers, the Formula Ford event will be particularly well attended, with more than 70 single-seaters divided between the two trophies which host them, and the Lotus Trophy can boast a record participation, with 42 cars expected on the starting grid!

FRANCE CHAMPIONSHIP: FOUR TITLES AGAIN AT STAKE

As last year, the various meetings of the Historic Tour will be subject to an exciting race for the four French championship titles. Depending on the grid chosen, drivers will be competing in the French Single-seater/Proto Championship, the pre-1990 GT/Tourism Championship, the post-1990 GT/Tourism Championship and the French Historic Endurance Championship based on the 200km events.

With the exception of Antoine Robert, all the other 2023 champions are expected in Dijon, including Philippe Gandini (back in the Cooper S in the Maxi 1300 Series), Emmanuel Brigand (loyal to the Porsche 930 in Racing Over 2L), Laurent Fresnais (moved from the Roadster Pro Cup to Formula Ford), Eric Martin and the Historic Tour's own organiser, Laurent Vallery Masson (both entered in F3 Classic). For them, as for all the others, the collection of points will begin in Dijon.

WHICH GRIDS, WHICH CARS, WHICH DRIVERS?

FRANCE SINGLE-SEATER/BIKE, GT/TOURING PRE 90 AND GT/TOURING POST 90 CHAMPIONSHIPS

F3 Classic Trophy + Formula Renault Classic Trophy 

Races: Saturday 11.05am and Sunday 2.10pm preceded by a Grid Walk (2 x 30 mins). 

Entries: 23

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

Prominent drivers: F3 Classic: Lajoux, "Nelson", Vaglio Giors, Lacour (March), Jacobs, Vallery-Masson, Tavarès, Gerbout, Monnet, Ogier (Ralt), Rossi, Martin, Eynard-Machet, Houzelot (Martini), Michel (Chevron), etc. 

Formula Renault Classic: Mottez, Bagur, Moniat, Tomsen, Remy (Martini), Rimbert, (Orion), etc.

Formula Ford Kent Trophy 

Races: Saturday 4.40pm and Sunday 4.45pm (2 x 25 mins).

Entries: 39

The cars: Pre-1993 Formula Ford Kent single-seaters.

Prominent drivers: Genecand, Midy, Lebreton, Sanjuan, Vaglio Giors, Dousse, "Nelson", Faucher, Monteiro (Van Diemen), Kozyreff, Thetiot, Deridder (Reynard), Richard, Comte (Crosslé), Verhille (Lola), Castillou, Weiss (Ray), Fresnais (Royale), etc.

Formula Ford Historic Challenge 

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

Entries: 32

The cars: Pre-1982 Formula Ford single-seaters.

Prominent drivers : Belle, Verhille (Lola), Genecand, Michel, Eynard Machet, Vaglio Giors, McMorran (Crosslé), Lombardi (Brabham), "Nelson", Ogier (Van Diemen), Ghio, Sanjuan (Merlyn), Rollet, Mangold (March), Fresnais (Royale), Crocker (Ray), Prévost (McNamara), Lecluse (Lotus), Dupont (Dulon), Henrioud (De Sanctis), etc.

Lotus Trophy

Races: Saturday 12.20pm and Sunday 4pm (20 and 30 minutes).

Entries: 42

The cars: Lotus Seven and old Caterham cars.

Prominent drivers: Vulliez, Delhaye, X.Jacquet, C.Jacquet, N.Beloou, Cazalot, P.Metayer, Berrezai, Bouchetal, Odin, Szyndelman, Vacher, Huret, Couche, Garcia Imaz, Koenig, Boucherie, Thiry, Lauber (Lotus Seven), Audry, Cattelin, Chambon-Laurey, Chevereaud (Caterham), etc.

Racing Over 2L + GT Classic Trophy + Proto Historic & Classic

Races: Saturday 2.10pm preceded by a Grid Walk and Sunday 12.10pm (25 and 30 mins).

Entries: 20

The cars: GT/Touring cars over 2000 cm3 (and those under 2000 cm3 with over 200 bhp) built before 1981, GT cars built before 1998 (GT Classic), Protos up to 89 or 2000 (Proto Historic & Classic). 

Prominent drivers: Racing Over 2L: Kohler (Ford GT40), J.Beltramelli (TVR), Julien, Dusailly, Calas, B.Beltramelli (Ford Escort RS), Brigand, Rossi, Langin (Porsche 930), Faure, Dauxerre (Porsche 911), Besson/Besson (De Tomaso Pantera), 

GT Classic: Raffin (Ferrari 430), Carmen (Maserati Trofeo), Miller (Lotus Exige),

Proto Classic & Historic: Kolly (Lola T292), Amoros (Lucchini), Regnier (Porsche 906), Garsou (ACE), etc.

Maxi 2L Classic + Maxi 1300 Series

Races: Saturday 10.25 am and Sunday 11.30 am (2 x 25 minutes). 

Entries: 23

The cars: GT/Touring - 2000 cm3 and - 200 bhp pre-1981 (Racing Over 2L) and GT/Touring - 1300 cm3 pre-1981 and Classic Mini Cup.

Prominent drivers: Maxi 2L Classic: Kohler, Richelmi, Benne, Sionneau (Lotus Elan), Odin, Gravier (Lotus Eleven), Mora (Ford Escort), Grosjean (Morgan 4/4), Raffin/Bachelier, V.Beltramelli (Cortina Lotus), Ollevier (BMW 2002 T1), etc.

Maxi 1300 Series: Gandini, Frenoy, Barrere, Pouillon, Puget, Desprez (Cooper S), Brazey (Rallye 2), Grandpierre (Honda S800), Kerharo (Austin Healey Sprite), etc.

Roadster Pro Cup

Races: Saturday 2.45pm and Sunday 2.50pm (2 x 25 mins).

Entries: 32

The cars: First-generation Mazda MX-5s.

Prominent drivers: Rigoulet, Laborie, Bouchet, Allard, Visentin, Durville, Randazzo/Oks, Guitteny, Blanc, Benjamin, Henry, Savin, Carreno, Martin, Bouget, Bouchereau, Turbot, Sionneau, Sauvadet, Blanc, Laborie, Darmet, Gaudelus (all on Mazda MX-5s), etc.

Youngtimers GTI Cup + SuperBerline 2L

Races: Saturday 11.50am and Sunday 5.25pm (20 and 25 minutes). 

Entries: 22

The cars: Pre-1998 GTIs under 2L (Youngtimers GTI Cup) and evocations of the Supertourism of the 90s (SuperBerline).

The drivers: Youngtimers: Maehr, Fischmeister, Morel, Chaulan, Grandpierre, Aumard, Moreau (Honda Civic), Martin, Latz (Golf GTI), etc.

SuperBerlines: Gosset (Opel Vectra), Giraud, Ortion, Crasson, Mathieu (BMW 318/320), Pozzobon (Alfa 156), Grand (Honda Accord), Bouvier, Bruggmann (Peugeot 405/406), Hebette (Renault Laguna), Bonnefoy, Couvreur (Nissan Primera).

FRENCH HISTORIC ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

200 km Historic Tour

The race: Saturday 5.20pm (90 mins).

Entries: 20

The cars: Protos/GTs/berliners eligible for Historic Tour grids.

Prominent drivers: Michel (Chevron B29), Richelmi/Gache (Porsche 934), Roche/Roche (Porsche 996), Pargamin (Lotus Seven), Quagliozzi/Piau, Moreau/Moreau (Honda Civic), Yvaren (Lola S2000), Lagache/Calmel/Delbreil (Porsche 914), Sionneau/Sionneau, Rigoulet/Rigoulet/Laborie (Mazda MX5), Gosset (Opel Vectra), etc.

SUPPORT GRID

Saloon Cars Trophy 

Races: Saturday 9.45 am and Sunday 10.50 am (2 x 25 minutes). 

Entries: 34

The cars: GT/Touring cars built before 2000.

Prominent drivers: Lefebvre (Audi Quattro), Grenet, Fortunati (Dodge Viper), Yvetot (Porsche 964 LMS), Fuet (BMW E36), Fastres (BMW M3), D. Samson (Porsche 996), Cuynet (Seat Supercopa), J.Pirio, A.Pirio (Jidé), Grué (Chevolet Monza), Gautier, A.Samson (Porsche 964), Cuynet (Audi S2), Verney (R5 GT), Faurie (Lotus Seven), etc.

GUEST TRAY

1300 ETC

Races: Saturday 4.00pm and Sunday 10.10am (2 x 25 mins). 

Entries: 25

The cars: Pre-1982 1300s and John Cooper trophies.

Prominent drivers: E.Thiefain, T. Thiefain (Cooper S), Feiten, Jansen (Rallye 2/3), Baumgarten (Alfa GTA Junior), Corthals (A112), Lanthony (Alpine A110), Bandura (Fiat 128), Chapel, Lempereur (Fiat 127 Abarth), Kremer (Audi 50), Cassina/Cassina (NSU TT), Comelli (Matra Jet), Benjamin (Alpine A106), Van Koeveringe (Fiat Abarth 1000), etc.

ON THE PADDOCK

In the paddock, the Historic Tour's partners' village includes Oreca (sale of racing parts), Sodipneu/Sodifuel (tyre and fuel supplies), Stand 21 (made-to-measure equipment and driver safety), as well as stands selling merchandise, clothing, miniatures, 'automobilia', a 5-piston F1 simulator and the Historic Tour Food Truck. In addition, the traditional Kennol Awards will honour a deserving driver at the end of each of the weekend's races.

THE RECAP 

Friday 3 May: Private practice from 8.30am to 2.20pm. Qualifying from 2.35pm to 7.00pm. Saturday 4 May: Qualifying from 8.40am to 9.35am and from 11.50am to 12.40pm. Races (9) from 9.45am to 11.35am and from 2.10pm to 6.50pm. Sunday 5 May: Races (12) from 8.45am to 12.40pm and from 2.10pm to 5.50pm. 

On-site ticket sales: weekend pass 25 Euros, 1-day pass 20 Euros. Grid Walk option: 15 Euros/day. Free entry for under-16s accompanied by a ticket holder.

Media contact: presse@hvmracing.fr