Circuit feeling in Switzerland, that's possible! And real racing too! On 1 July, the organizers of the Lignières Historique announced that more than 200 racing drivers will provide spectacular historic motorsport at the event from 14 to 17 August.
Some racing drivers will only be doing demo runs - this was already the case last year for the 1st Lignières Historique - while others - including Audi works driver Marcel Fässler, three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2011, 2012 and 2014) - will be competing in real races with timekeeping! And that will be the big highlight of the second Lignières Historique.
The sensation couldn't be more perfect! Marcel Fässler, 2012 Endurance World Champion, will be at the start of the Lignières Historique from Friday to Sunday in a historic 1992 Van Diemen Ford from ACD-Motorsport. Charly Croset, ACD-Motorsport Team Manager, will be responsible for the historic Formula Ford races in Lignières.
His team successfully competes in the HistoRacing series in France, where more than 25 Kent Formula Fords take part in every race. However, the fact that Marcel Fässler will be driving a Formula Ford in Lignières is not just a good story. It also has historical significance. Marcel Fässler got into a Formula Ford Monoposto for the first time in 1992 - in Lignières. Photos confirm this.
Marcel Fässler is not the only motorsport great to have raced at Lignières in the past. The small race track in the canton of Neuchâtel has already welcomed F1 world champion Graham Hill, rally world champion Carlos Sainz - who drove the Repsol Brun Porsche 962 together with Walter Brun and Jesus Pareja in Lignières exactly 25 years ago in 1989 - Clay Regazzoni, Neel Jani, Sébastien Buemi and, of course, Jo Siffert.
At the press conference, Tony Staub, head of the Lignières Historique OC, showed a report filmed by Swiss television in Lignières in 1964 at the launch of Siffert's new F1 Brabham BT11-BRM.
This year's Lignières Historique will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the expansion of the race track. Following this expansion in 1964, Lignières developed into the Mecca of Swiss motorsport. Tens of thousands of spectators experienced racing "live" at the weekends, for once on a Swiss circuit.
Lignières Historique brings this feeling back to life - and tells a story or two about it. One of them is called Abarth. Carlo Abarth came to Lignières in person to present his Abarth prototypes in Switzerland.
The original Abarth 695 celebrated its world premiere at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show and today, 50 years later, its reinterpretation, the 695 Biposto, will have its Swiss premiere in Lignières from August 14 to 17. At least the driving Swiss premiere, as this fastest and most powerful Abarth 500 - 190 hp, 997 kg and 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds - was already presented as a world premiere at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.
"The 695 Biposto is currently the first road-legal vehicle in its segment to be fitted with a straight-cut gearbox and a self-locking differential from motor racing. However, we will not only be bringing the Abarth 695 Biposto to Lignières, but also five rare Abarths from Engelbert Möll's collection," explained Alex Orsi, Abarth Switzerland Brand Manager. Engelbert Möll from Solothurn is one of the largest Abarth collectors in the world. His collection includes over 30 Abarth rarities.
Tony Staub was particularly pleased that Abarth, after Goodwood and Le Mans Classic, will be doing this honor at the Lignières Historique. The Lignières Historique is selling itself as the "International Historic Racing Festival" from this year onwards and would like to become a small Goodwood Festival of Speed or a small Le Mans Classic.
"After organizing the first Lignières Historique from 5 to 7 July 2013, this year we chose the date of 14 to 17 August to avoid a clash with the Le Mans Classic, which takes place every two years.
The Lignières Historique should also attract international participants. And many Swiss people drive to the Le Mans Classic every year anyway.
Our event will therefore take place at the beginning of July again in 2015. Mid-August is also a fixed date for the popular historic Altbüron hill climb, which also takes place every two years.
After 2013, the Altbüron hill climb will once again be organized in mid-August in 2015. With our International Historic Racing Festival in Lignières, we want to fill one of these two gaps every year," Lignières OC boss Tony Staub told Zwischengas.com.
And one more thing: Lignières Historique is hosting the first Swiss Classic Jumble this year. Following the English model, a car, motorcycle and parts market for everyone will be held at the gates of the circuit. Private individuals can register as well as dealers, clubs and garages.
First, second and... third! An auction will be held at the race track on Saturday evening. The aim: a bargain, but at a high level! Some of the auction vehicles are already known, and some of them will even be seen racing on the track beforehand. An interesting detail: the auction "à la Lignières" is so uncomplicated that it is also of interest to private individuals. So if you have a vintage or classic car, a historic machine or valuable parts in your garage: The auction still has room for consignments.
Rolf Uhlmann, the person responsible for this auction - RT Auctions Switzerland www.rt-auctions.com - showed various cars that will be auctioned on August 16 at the Lignières Historique press conference on Tuesday, including a beautiful Aston Martin DB4.
For this press conference, Citroën specialist José Dula brought a very original 1964 Citroën DS 19 to Lignières. This goddess from the South of France, in exceptionally good condition, will also be auctioned at this Lignières Historique auction on August 16. If you have a car, a youngtimer or a classic car that you would like to sell, you can do so at the Lignières Racing Auction by RT Auctions - RT stands for Rolf (Uhlmann) and Tony (Staub).
The same applies to collections and automobilia, books, rare spare parts and accessories. The consigned vehicles and auction items will be exhibited on the race site during the Lignières Historique.
There are movies that you simply have to see - whether you're a racing driver or not. One of them is called "Rush". The story of Niki Lauda and James Hunt looks deep into the souls of two people who could not be more different. Lignières Historique will be showing the film "Rush" on Saturday evening in the unique setting of the only Swiss circuit!
The Bern Grand Prix is celebrating twice this year: the first circuit race took place in Bern in 1934. In 1954, exactly 20 years later, the cars drove through the Bremgartenwald for the last time in Grand Prix formation. On Saturday, August 16, an anniversary drive of around 50 classic cars will lead from Bern via Aarberg and Le Landeron to Lignières, where the vehicles will take part in two demo runs on Sunday.
A racing festival also includes a Concours d'Elégance. On Thursday, August 14, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., around 50 vehicles will gather around the Hotel Beau-Rivage in Neuchâtel to be admired by the public and judged by a panel of experts. A special feature: in the style of the Lignières Historique, a "historic racing cars" category has also been announced. Some special racing cars will be exhibited on Friday in Biel (Zentralplatz) and in Neuchâtel (Hotel Beau-Rivage). Some of the racing vehicles, machines and sidecars will also undergo technical scrutineering in the center of the two cities.
Anyone who buys their entry ticket for the historic Racing Festival today will benefit threefold: free parking, free program booklet and a drinks voucher. In addition, places can now be reserved in the "Racing Camping". The site for tents and camper vans is just a three-minute walk from the circuit. And more good news: TCS members will receive a consumption voucher worth CHF 5 on site.
Further information (including registration and orders) can be found on the event website.
Our report from the first Liginières Historique conveys the atmosphere and shows almost all the cars that started in 2013.
