HISTORIC TOUR DIJON (4, 5 & 6 april) | Presentation

Something new for the eleventh season

As usual, the French Historic Circuit Championship kicks off its season on the Dijon-Prenois circuit in early spring.  A full field and a copious menu of 24 races herald a happy and exciting weekend, all under sunny skies. 

This year, it is with great pleasure that we announce the evolution of the Trophée FRenault Classic within the Championnat de France Historique des Circuits (Historic Tour) into : Formula Renault Historic & Classic. This evolution of the grid promises to further enrich the spectacle of historic racing by showcasing the single-seaters that have marked several decades of competition.

Formula Renault Historic & Classic will bring together all the Renault formulas which took part in official competitions before 31/12/2009, according to the following category breakdown:

- Category A / Formula Renault Historic :

All Renault Formulas built and having taken part in official races before 31/12/1994 (in all their National, Europe, Turbo, Atmo versions, etc.).

- Category B / Formula Renault Classic :

All Formula Renault cars built and having taken part in official races after 31/12/1994 and before 31/12/2009 (in all their versions 1.6l, 2.0l etc.).

- Category C / Guest Formulas:

These are single-seaters with performances similar to those in Category A (e.g. Formula Ford 2000, Formula Super V, F3, F3 1600cc, F3 1000cc, etc.).

MORE THAN 280 CARS EXPECTED ON TRACK

After a 5-month winter break, the French Historic Circuit Championship kicks off its eleventh tour of France this first weekend in April, at the much-loved Dijon-Prenois circuit. This is the first round in Burgundy, before the drivers take to the tarmac at Lédenon, Paul Ricard, Val de Vienne and Magny-Cours. In Côte d'Or, the French Championship returns to an iconic circuit that it has visited almost systematically since its creation in 2015. Renowned for the technicality and speed of its layout, marked by the history of the French F1 GPs, it is unanimously acclaimed by the drivers.

In all, more than 280 cars and 300 drivers will take part in the 24 races on the weekend's programme. These drivers will be divided into 12 separate grids, each with two races, with the exception of the 200km endurance race on Saturday evening and the ‘Westfield Cup’ grid, which will have three starts. In line with these figures, more than 60 single-seaters will be on track, divided between the Formula Renault Historic & Classic, Formula Ford Historic and Formula Ford Kent grids. The Lotus Trophy alone will boast 38 cars on its grid! 

FRENCH CHAMPIONSHIP: FOUR TITLES ON THE LINE AGAIN

As in previous years, each Historic Tour meeting will be the scene of a fierce battle for one of the four French Championship titles. Depending on their category, drivers will be competing in the French Single-Seater/Proto Championship, the pre-1990 GT/Touring Championship, the post-1990 GT/Touring Championship and the French Historic Endurance Championship, contested over the 200km events. Absent from this first round are our 3 winners of the 2024 season: Emmanuel Brigand, Augustin Moreau and Jean-Charles Monnet, who will make way for other title contenders, while the duo of Jean-François Besson and Guillaume Gagnard will be competing in the 200km event to defend their crown as French Historic Endurance Champions. 

WHICH GRIDS, WHICH CARS, WHICH DRIVERS?

FRENCH SINGLE-SEATER/BIKE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Formula Renault Historic & Classic Trophy

Races: Saturday 3.25pm and Sunday 10.30am. (2 x 25 minutes).

Entries: 11 

The cars: Formula Renault Historic (pre 95) and Classic (pre 2010).

The drivers: Vaglio-Giors, Vallery-Masson, Martin, Mottez, Girardet, Bagur, Boite, Fresnais. 

Formula Ford Kent Trophy 

Races: Saturday 4.40pm and Sunday 4.05pm (2 x 25 minutes).

Entries: 23

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

Prominent drivers: Rossi, Monteiro, Kozyreff, Dousse, Vaglio-Giors, Rimbert, etc. 

 Formula Ford Historic Challenge 

Races: Saturday 1.30pm and Sunday 2.15pm. (2 x 25 minutes).

Entries: 28

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

Prominent drivers: Belle, Michel, Ghio, Sanjuan, Fresnais, Pargamin etc. 

PRE 90 FRENCH GT/TOURING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Lotus Trophy

Races: Sunday 09:05 and Sunday 17:25. (2 x 30 mins).

Entries: 38

The cars: Lotus Seven and former Caterham.

Prominent drivers: Vulliez, Faye, Jacquet, Lauber, Beloou, Berrezai, Miller etc. 

Racing Over 2L + Proto Historic & Classic

Races: Saturday 2.05pm and Sunday 11.45am. (2 x 25 minutes).

Entries: 12

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

Prominent drivers: De Murard, Rossi, Calas, Kolly, Dusailly, Garsou etc. 

Maxi 2L Classic + Maxi 1300 Series

Races: Saturday 09:35 and Sunday 11:05. (2 x 25 minutes). 

Entries: 13

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

Prominent drivers: 

- Maxi 2L Classic: Breugnot, Hofmann, Raffin, Mathay, Lagache, Fouquet Hatevilain. 

- Maxi 1300 Series: Eynard-Machet, Gandini, Grandpierre, Pouillon, Petit, Aubrun. 

POST 90S FRENCH GT/TOURING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Roadster Pro Cup

Races: Saturday 11.00 am and Sunday 2.50 pm (2 x 25 minutes).

Entries: 27

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

Prominent drivers: Turbot, Leboulenger, Durville, Hergault, Bellinato etc.

Youngtimers GTI Cup + SuperBerline 2L

Races: Saturday 2.45pm and Sunday 4.45pm. (2 x 25 minutes). 

Entries: 31

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

Prominent drivers: Maehr, Morel, Pozzobon, Martin, Latz, Moreau, Chaulan etc. 

GT Classic Trophy + Saloon Cars (Plateau Support)

Races: Saturday 09:00 and Sunday 13:40. (2 x 25 minutes).

Entries: 33

Cars: Pre-1998 GTs (GT Classic). GT/Touring cars from before 2000 (Saloon Cars).

Prominent drivers: Lefebvre, Danne, Le Flem, Miller, Yvetot, De Murard, Delannoy etc. 

FRENCH HISTORIC ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

200 km Historic Tour

The race: Saturday 5.25pm. (90 minutes).

Entries: 35

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

Prominent drivers: Besson/Gagnard, Danne, Pargamin, Lagache, Faye, Pozzobon, Santos, Gosset etc. 

SUPPORT GRIDS

FERRARI CLUB DEUTSCHLAND

Races: Saturday 10.15 am and Sunday 9.50 am (2 x 30 minutes). 

Entries: 11

Cars: pre-2020 Ferraris.

Prominent drivers: Thuss, Gosch, Zeitz, Vital etc. 

Westfield Cup

Races: Saturday 4.00 pm and Sunday 8.30 am and 3.25 pm (3 x 25 minutes). 

Entries: 20

The cars: Westfield zetec 2.0.

Prominent drivers: Dullart, Claeus, Weesie, Dennissen, Vriend etc. 

ON THE PADDOCK

On the paddock side, the Historic Tour partners' village includes Oreca (sale of racing parts), Sodipneu/Sodifuel (tyre and fuel supplies), Stand 21 (made-to-measure and safety equipment for drivers), as well as stands selling derivative products, clothing, miniatures, a 5-cylinder F1 simulator and Historic Tour food trucks. 

In addition, the traditional Kennol Awards will honour a deserving driver at the end of each of the Sunday races.

THE SCHEDULE 

Friday 4 April: Private practice from 8.30am to 12.30pm. Qualifying from 1.35pm to 6.50pm. 

Saturday 5 April: Qualifying from 8.30am to 8.50am and from 11.40am to 12.00pm. 

Races (11) from 9.00am to 11.25am and from 1.30pm to 6.55pm. 

Sunday 6 April: Races (13) from 8.30am to 12.10pm and from 1.40pm to 5.55pm. 

On-site ticket sales: weekend pass 30 Euros, 1-day pass 24 Euros. 

Grid Walk option: 20 Euros/day. Free entry for under-16s accompanied by a ticket holder.

Media contact: presse@hvmracing.fr