Once a year, owners of historic Citroën racing and rally cars as well as sporty road versions meet up in France to let off steam on a race track for a weekend. The "Circuit du Bourbonnais" near Moulins was the venue for the ninth edition of the "C itroracing Historique" event in July 2014 .
Having fun
"The idea came about ten years ago. I just wanted to meet up with other owners of sporty Citroëns and have fun together on a racetrack. That's how the first event came about in 2006, back then on the Lurcy-Levis circuit," says Bruno Jammes from Toulouse. Together with his family, not least his brother Vincent, who runs a car workshop, Jammes is the driving force behind "Citroracing Historique".
"We have also raced in Montlhéry, but the "Circuit du Bourbonnais" has proven to be a very suitable race track. There are relatively large run-off areas, the paddock is nice and compact and the atmosphere is good. Over the years, we have built up a large base of regular participants. This year there were over 60, and we've had almost 80 in the past," he reports. "It's like one big Citroën sports family."
Madame racing
This is also confirmed by an elderly lady walking around the small paddock of the "Circuit du Bourbonnais", looking at the vehicles with great interest and chatting enthusiastically with those present. It is Marlène Wolgensinger, who took over the position of Sports Director at Citroën after the death of her husband René Cotton in 1971, making her the first woman in the world to hold such a position.
She was responsible for the successful expansion of the "Formule Bleue" racing series with the MEP formula cars and also initiated the first rally events with the CX, which was particularly successful in long-distance rallies in Africa. "It's great that so many people are still so committed to preserving the cars from back then and using them on the racetrack," she says enthusiastically.
MEP formula cars
The MEP formula cars, developed in the mid-1960s by racing enthusiast and Citroën dealer Maurice Emile Pezous from Albi, were a great success in French racing. The early version X2 with Panhard engine and the successor model X27 with Citroën-GS drive opened up a relatively inexpensive entry into motorsport for many ambitious drivers. Citroën and Michelin, as well as initially BP and later Total, supported the project with prize money, advertising and PR measures.
In total, over 100 cars were built between 1968 and 1975, many of which are still on the road today. Many are in use at "Citroracing Historique". "We are always happy to have this opportunity," explains Stefan Vermeyns from Leuven in Belgium, who owns and races two MEP X27s. "Otherwise, we sometimes drive together with old Formula Fords at historic racing events, but they are usually faster. Here, we all drive about the same speed, so it's much safer and therefore a lot more fun."
A colorful mix of vehicles
The formula cars race on the "Circuit du Bourbonnais" together with older DB vehicles, which are also powered by Panhard or Citroën engines. Other vehicle groups at the two-day event are geared towards sporty cars from the sixties, seventies and eighties (Visa, GS and BX, but also older Panhard) as well as more modern sporty Citroëns (AX, Saxo and Xsara).
"We try to give the participants as much driving time as possible," says organizer Bruno Jammes. "We start early in the morning and drive in sessions of 20 minutes until late in the afternoon. Of course, one or two riders will miss a session from time to time."
This is particularly the case on Sunday afternoon, when the onset of rain prompts most of the participants to load the race cars onto the trailers a little early and make the journey home. Until then, however, Citroën enthusiasts take the opportunity to complete many laps of the track.
"Very French here"
Some of the participants come from far and wide. Dutchman Kees de Waard Wagner, for example, and his wife tackled a journey of over 1000 kilometers to the middle of France: "This is my third time taking part," says the owner of a 115 hp Citroën Visa GTI, which he has specially adapted for use on the circuit. "I only drive the car on track days, like this event," he says.
De Waard Wagner is one of the few non-French drivers at the event, along with a Dutch compatriot with a Panhard and some Belgian participants with MEP formula cars. "Apart from that, it's all very French here, but over the years we've also made a lot of friends. You can always communicate somehow. We always enjoy coming here"
Savoir vivre
On Saturday evening, there is a four-course dinner for all participants in the building of the sports airport next to the race track. This was also organized by the Jammes family, including the wine they brought themselves.
After the meal, a number of historic Citroën sports films will be shown, including a documentary about the legendary "Trophée Visa Féminin", in which no fewer than 30 ladies competed in the French rally championship in identical Citroën Visas in 1984.
With Sylvie Seignobeaux, Christine Bellim and Muriel Gervais, three participants from back then are on site. Seignobeaux has even brought along the four-wheel drive Visa Mille Pistes that she drove in the French championship in 1985. "It was a great time back then, Citroën made a lot possible for us," she explains looking back.
Former works driver visits
Former Citroën works driver Patrick Lapie, who won the 1981 "Rallye Mille Pistes" in a CX, will be visiting the event on Sunday. "I was here three years ago. It's great how these people keep the brand's sporting history alive. I myself have great memories of my time with Citroën. I got into motorsport via the 2CV-Cross and then competed in rallies with a GS. Citroën then signed me up for a few works events, but the orders always came from rally to rally, there was no fixed season program. So I didn't become a professional driver, I made a living as an engineer and was happy to get the opportunity to drive."
Lapie considers his victory in the highly competitive "Mille Pistes" in 1981 to be his greatest success. The Frenchman still has a talent for fast driving. He demonstrates this after organizer Bruno Jammes gives him the use of his Visa Chrono for a few laps of the race track. Lapie gets out again with a broad grin. "You never forget something like that," says Lapie.
After his stint, he seems to have acquired a taste for it. "Maybe I should keep an eye out for a classic Citroën rally car," he says. "Then maybe I'll drive one myself next year." Where the tenth edition of the "Citroracing Historique" will take place in 2015 is still open. "There may be a big surprise," announces organizer Bruno Jammes, "otherwise we're in pretty good hands here at the Circuit du Bourbonnais."
