The Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet was opened in 1970 and has the longest straight in Formula 1 history with the 1.6-kilometre-long Mistral Straight. After the last race for the time being in the 1990 season, Formula 1 did not return to the south of France until 2018, but the long straight, which was once famous for its slipstream duels, was interrupted with chicanes for the modern racing cars. The track also caused a stir visually after Bernie Ecclestone took over. The many blue and red stripes in the run-off zones make the track look rather confusing for many drivers and also make it difficult to find the Easter eggs.
This year, Formula 1 is once again not making a guest appearance in France, which is why the fifth "Grand Prix de France Historique" for historic formula cars took place on the Easter weekend, together with a six-hour race for sports cars and plenty of French motorsport celebrities. First and foremost René Arnoux, who won the 1982 Grand Prix on this circuit ahead of Alain Prost (both Renault Turbo) and Didier Pironi (Ferrari). They were joined by Jean Alesi, Jean-Pierre Jarier, Yannick Dallas, Franck Montagny and Eric Helary. Alesi started the six-hour race in a Lotus Elan 26R as the newly crowned "Paul Ricard Circuit President".
The big single-seaters
Around 52,000 spectators attended over the three days of Easter. In the BOSS GP series, the Formula 1 cars ("Big Open Single-Seater") from the years 1990 to 2000 were shown to the public. With their high-revving V8 and V10 engines, the Benetton, Jaguar and Toro Rosso also spoiled their ears. However, the fastest car in the field was the Dallara T12 with Antonio Pizzonia at the wheel, who won both races.
This was joined by the second field of the "HVM Racing Category" with cars from the '70s and '80s, where Formula 1 cars from Williams, Tyrrell, Ligier and Ensign were used with a few Formula 2 racers. Here, the first two places were in firm hands. Victory in both races went to Michael Cantillon, who drove a 1981 Williams FW07C. Jamie Constable crossed the finish line behind him both times in the 1982 Tyrrell 011.
Formula 3 and Formula Ford
The "FIA Historic Formula 3 European Cup pre 85" also found its way to the south of France, as did a whole field of Formula Ford racing cars from 1967 to 1992. These small monopostos with 1600cc engines produced a number of later Formula 1 world champions such as Emerson Fittipaldi, James Hunt, Jody Scheckter and Jensen Button. In the Ford-powered single-seaters, Arnaud Dousse in the Van Diemen RF90 was able to hold his own against Xavier Michel with the same material in the first race. In the second race, Gislain Genecand then moved ahead of the two to take first place, also in a Van Diemen.
In the Formula 3 races, too, the drivers on the podium only swapped positions. Frédéric Rouvier in a March 783 secured victory in the first race ahead of Patrick Andriessen in a Ralt RT3 and Davide Leone in another March 783. Leone came out on top in the second race, relegating Rouvier and Andriessen to second and third place.
Six hours for sports cars
The six-hour race for touring cars went to the three-man Palmyr team, who completed 132 laps in the allotted time with their Tiga SC 79. Less than two minutes behind and the only team still on the same lap as the winners was the team from "Châteaux Sport Auto" in the BMW 635 CSi. Jean Alesi's election as track president did not bring him any luck. He and his "SMC Challenge" were only able to complete 48 laps after technical problems with their Lotus Elan 26R and only finished in 20th place out of 21.
