HISTORIC TOUR DIJON: HALF A CENTURY OF HISTORY

It couldn't be more fitting! Used to exhume 50 years of motor racing, the French Historic Circuit Championship (the Historic Tour) arrives this weekend at Dijon Prenois. A circuit that celebrates its own half-century of history this year. 350 DRIVERS IN THE STARTING BLOCKSAfter the stages of Magny-Cours and Lédenon, the French Historic Circuit Championship is getting ready to continue its season on the Dijon Prenois circuit in this year 2022 when it celebrates its fiftieth anniversary. As always, the various grids of the Historic Tour will present a particularly large number of entries for this event on the Côte d'Or track. All categories included, no less than 350 drivers, including about 50 from abroad, are in the starting blocks!At the time of most of the 21 races of the weekend, the starting grids will be crowded, notably in the Formula Ford Kent Trophy, Lotus Trophy, Saloon Cars/GT Classic and Roadster Pro Cup, where 42, 38 and 34 cars are expected respectively.In accordance with the Historic Tour's principle, these different grids will feature cars from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, whether single-seaters (from F3, Formula Renault and Formula Ford), SportProtos or GT and Touring cars of all kinds. 50 YEARS LATERInaugurated in 1972, then extended to 3.8 km three years later in a configuration that is still in use today, the Burgundy track is unanimously acclaimed by the Historic Tour drivers for its unique character. They love its fast corners which require a perfect driving, such as the famous Pouas curve. They also remember the prestigious past of the circuit and some of the battles that marked its six F1 Grand Prix. Who hasn't dreamt of replaying the famous Arnoux/Villeneuve duel of 1979 at least once? UPDATE ON THE FRENCH CHAMPIONSHIPAt the end of the Magny-Cours and Lédenon meetings, a solid hierarchy is already emerging at the top of the French Championship rankings. In the Single Seater/Proto category, the young Hugo Carini is leading the way having not yet suffered any defeat in Formula Ford Kent, where he has no lack of competition! He is closely followed by François Belle (Formula Ford Historic) and Lionel Robert (Formula Renault Classic), who is exceptionally absent this weekend. In the GT/Tourism category, they are two to share the leadership having also managed to win their four races at the beginning of the calendar; Julien Grenet in Saloon Cars and Philippe Gandini in Maxi 1300 Series. Note that the half-season will (already) be reached on Sunday evening. WHICH RACES, WHICH CARS, WHICH DRIVERS?THE FRENCH CHAMPIONSHIP GRIDS FOR SINGLE-SEATERS/PROTOSFormula Ford Kent Trophy and Formula Ford Zetec TrophyRaces: Saturday 11.15am and Sunday 2.30pm (2 x 25 minutes).The cars: Kent Formula Ford cars from before 1993 and Zetec Formula Ford cars from before 2005.The drivers : Kent : H.Carini, Genecand, Michel, Sanjuan, Dethier, Waisler, Dousse, Faggionato P.Carini, Hackel, Midy, Monteiro (Van Diemen), Kozyreff, Tomsen, Thetiot, Dean (Reynard), Comte (Crosslé), D'Aubreby, Dessy (Swift), etcZetec: Heudicourt, Rausch, Sanchez, Labitzke (Mygale), Lebreton, Monbaron (Van Diemen), Clausnizer (Swift), etc.F3 Classic Trophy and Formula Renault Classic TrophyRaces: Saturday 4.25pm and Sunday 3.50pm (2 x 30 mins).The cars: F3 single-seaters from before 1985 and Formula Renault (atmo and turbo) from before 1995 + Formula Ford 2000 and Formula Opel.The drivers : F3 : Lajoux, D.Leone, V.Leone (March), Jacobs, Vallery-Masson, Tavarès, Paganin (Ralt), Eynard-Machet, Lacour, Gerbout (Martini), Michel (Chevron), Houzelot, Grasso (Dallara), etcFormula Renault: Gobba, "Nelson", Monnet, Mottez, Bagur, Moniat, Fouche (Martini), Rimbert (Orion), etc.FF2000 and Formula Opel: Menzner (Reynard), Tomsen, Thissen, Williamsson, Brandl, Suckow (Opel Lotus), etc.Formula Ford Historic ChallengeRaces: Saturday 12:25 and 12:20 (2 x 25 mn).The cars: Formula Ford single-seaters from before 1982.The drivers : Belle, Deverly, Verhille (Lola), Genecand, Girardet, Vaglio-Giors, Michel, Richard, Sanchez, Walsh, Barrois (Crosslé), Sanjuan, " Nelson ", Faggionato, Ogier, Vignes (Van Diemen), Lecluse, Hermet (Lotus), Prévost (McNamara), Mantz, Bourgeois (Hawke), Dupont, Leblon (Dulon), etc.SportProtosCupRaces: Saturday 2.35 pm and Sunday 10.20 am (2 x 25 min).The cars: Sport-Protos from before 1995.The drivers: Martin (Debora), Micheron (Osella), Nguyen, PL.Boch (Lucchini), Vulliez (Bogani), Ferrier, Perou/Cheminot (Chevron), L. Boch (Norma), Dougnac/Dougnac (Epsilon), Kolly, Regnier, Baumard (Lola), De Murard (Giada), Destombes (Spider 905), Rossiaud/Le Jean (Hydra), Guermonprez (Grac), etc. THE GT/TOURING FRANCE CHAMPIONSHIP GRIDSMaxi 1300 SeriesRaces: Saturday 14h00 and Sunday 11h40 (2 x 25 mn).The cars: GT/Touring cars of - 1300 cm3 from before 1977.The drivers : Gandini (Jem), Destombes (CG), Gruelles (Marcos), Timonier, Bardet, Pouillon (Cooper S), Cassina (Mini 1275 GT), Maingourd (Honda Civic), Corthals (A112 Abarth), Kerharo, Aguettant (Austin Sprite), Comelli (Matra Djet), etc.Roadster Pro CupRaces: Saturday 3.45 pm and Sunday 11 am (2 x 25 mn).The cars: The first generation Mazda MX-5.The drivers : Fresnais, Castillou, Dubelly, Hergault, Genottin, Durville, Beck, Bouchet, L.Bellinato, Bollengier, Manganaro, Fady, Bourget, Turbot, Sionneau, Sauvadet, Savin, Laborie, Allard, Randazzo, Darmet (all on Mazda MX-5), etc.Saloon Cars Trophy and GT Classic TrophyRaces: Saturday 10.40am and Sunday 9.40am (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), Lefebvre (Audi Quattro), Desmaele (Porsche 996), Danne (BMW M3 GTR), Fuet (BMW E36), Samson (Porsche 964), Drouilleau/Drouilleau (BMW M3), Cuynet (Audi S2), etc.GT Classic : Sabatier (Porsche 993 GT2), Mathieu, Delannoy, Spirgi (Porsche 964), Raffin (Ferrari F430), Roche/Roche (Porsche 996), Cantin (Ultima), Chollet (Porsche 944), Besson (Clio V6), Cazaux (BMW M3 GTR), Poirier (Porsche 928), etcYoungtimers GTI Cup and Racing 81 & Gr 1Races: Saturday 3.10 pm and Sunday 1.55 pm (2 x 25 mn).The cars: Pre-1991 GTIs under 2L (Youngtimers), pre-1982 GT/Touring cars and former Group 1 cars (Racing 81 & Gr 1).The drivers in sight: Youngtimers: Quagliozzi, Gimonet, Julia, Benjamin (Honda Civic), Vivas, Paupette (AX Coupe), Maehr (R5 GT), Hawes/Hawes (Golf GTI), etc.Racing 81 : Valinho, Schneider (Datsun 240Z), Excoffier/Excoffier (Chevrolet Corvette), Lajournade/Aubry (Porsche 934), Beltramelli, Dupuy (Ford Escort RS), Lagache (Porsche 914), Bourguignon (BMW 530), Castelli (Ford Escort), etcLotus TrophyThe races: Sunday 9.00 am and 4.35 pm (2 x 25 mn).The cars : Lotus Seven and old Caterham.The drivers : Delhaye, X.Jacquet, Vulliez, N.Beloou, Cazalot, Gaso, P.Metayer, C.Jacquet, Bouchetal, Rucheton, Odin, Szyndelman, Koenig, Dufetre, Pargamin, Giraud, Thiry, Lauber, Seigneurin, Couche, Garcia-Imaz (all on Lotus Seven), etc.Asavé Racing 65Races: Saturday 11.50 am and Sunday 3.10 pm (2 x 25 mn).The cars: GT/Tourism cars from before 1966.The drivers : Beltramelli, Gruau (TVR 400), Rousselot (Cobra Daytona), Poulet, Benne, Achard, Teyssier (Lotus Elan), Gravier (Shelby Cobra), Perou/Cheminot, Druguet/Grandidier (Austin Healey 3000), Wilhelm/Fontaine (Jaguar E-type), etc. OUTSIDE THE FRENCH CHAMPIONSHIP200 km Historic TourThe race: Saturday 5.15 pm (90 minutes).The cars: Protos/GT/berliners eligible for the Historic Tour grid.The drivers in sight: De Murard/Fresnais (Giada T118), Boch/Boch (Norma M14), Martin/Vallery-Masson (Tiga S2000), Perou/Cheminot (Chevron B8), Raffin (Ferrari F430), Baumard/Hottinger (Lola T492), Peinetti/Lauber (Porsche 964), etc. ON THE PADDOCKOn 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 RECAPFriday 6 May: Qualifying from 2.45 pm to 6.45 pm. Saturday 7 May: Qualifiers from 8.30am to 10.30am. Races (10) from 10.40am to 12.50pm and from 2.00pm to 6.45pm. Sunday 8 May: Races (11) from 9am to 12.25pm and from 1.55pm to 5pm. Ticketing on site: weekend pass 20 Euros, 1 day pass 15 Euros. Free entry for children under 15 years old.Media contact: Jacques Furet - presse@hvmracing.fr