Report | Formula Renault Historic & Classic Dijon

On the first weekend in April, the Dijon-Prenois circuit, as usual, hosted the first round of the French Historic Circuit Championship (Historic Tour). On the occasion of this first double confrontation marking the evolution of the FRenault Historic & Classic Trophy, now open to Formula Renault cars built and entered in official competition between 31/12/1994 and 31/12/2009, 11 drivers battled it out under a sun worthy of a month of June on the Burgundy track.

Qualifying practice:

On Friday, the drivers gathered for the first qualifying session of the season. After just under ten laps, Frenchman Alain Girardet set the fastest time in the Formula Renault Tatuus class with a 1'18.401, relegating Swiss driver Christian Vaglio-Giors to 0.725 seconds (1'19.126). In the Historic category, Pierre Boite was fastest in 1'28.379 with his Martini MK54, ahead of Benoît Bagur and his Martini MK63 in 1'32.015.

Race 1:

The following day, as the first green flag of the season was waved, the leading men began a great battle for the podium. Bruno Mottez and Laurent Fresnais, too greedy with the track limits, were penalised by 5 and 15 seconds respectively for not respecting them. 

At the front, Alain Girardet was gradually pulling away and extending his lead over Éric Martin, who had overtaken Christian Vaglio-Giors. Laurent Fresnais got away from Bruno Mottez and built up a comfortable lead, enough to hold on to his position despite the penalty. In third place, Christian Vaglio-Giors increased his lead over Laurent Vallery-Masson. Untouchable, Alain Girardet won this first race by a margin of 5.8 seconds over Éric Martin. Christian Vaglio-Giors completed the podium, 6 seconds further back. In the Historic category, Pierre Boite dominated Benoît Bagur.

FR Classic: 1. Alain GIRARDET, 2. Eric MARTIN, 3. Christian VAGLIO-GIORS

FR Historic: 1. Pierre BOITE, 2. Benoit BAGUR

Race 2: 

On Sunday, with the weather conditions still favourable, the ten drivers still in contention got off to a smooth start, until the safety car was deployed after Bruno Mottez made a mistake in the first corner, forcing him to retire in the gravel trap.

Before this interruption, Éric Martin had got the better of Alain Girardet. Three laps later, the race resumed and Alain Girardet passed Éric Martin again on the straight, on the slipstream, after an early restart in the Pouas curve. At the front, the two leaders engaged in a great battle, never losing touch by less than three tenths of a second each time they crossed the line. In the peloton, Christian Vaglio-Giors found his rhythm again and caught up with Laurent Vallery-Masson, whom he overtook on lap 11 in turn 1. 

Meanwhile, Alain Girardet took the lead, while Laurent Fresnais hung on to the lead. The leader remained unchanged, with Alain Girardet completing the double, three seconds ahead of Éric Martin. After a mechanical problem with Christian Vaglio-Giors' car, Laurent Vallery-Masson regained third place on the podium. In the Historic category, Pierre Boite once again dominated Benoît Bagur. Caroline Abbou Rossi Di Montelera, in her 1981 Martini MK34 - Toy, took 7th place overall.

FR Classic: 1. Alain GIRARDET, 2. Eric MARTIN, 3. Laurent VALLERY-MASSON

FR Historic: 1. Pierre BOITE, 2. Benoit BAGUR 

ROUND 2: The Historic Tour de Lédenon, 16, 17 & 18 May The Historic Tour news continues on Facebook @Historic Tour and Instagram @hvmracing_