Wheels & Waves: for those who Like a Faster Pace
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Racing the Charente Ramparts
There can be no finer sight for motor-sport enthusiasts than those charismatic vintage beauties gathered together each Autumn at the enigmatic ‘Circuit des Ramparts’. These angels of Angoulême, have been shining their light here for more than 70 years.
In today’s context, enthusiasts can swoon at the selection of Frazer Nash 1930 Jags, bright Bugattis, and magnificent Morgans. As if the colourful Charente countryside and it vineyards weren’t enough to fully stir and envelop the senses, the vision of those magnificent men and women in their driving machines really will set the pulse racing.
For €300 visitors can experience a ‘touristic’ rally through the prettiest parts of the Charente countryside. This motoring celebration takes place on the third Sunday in September at 2pm. It’s a joy to see morning practice, and of course a hearty lunch is tradition before the cars race around the narrow winding roads of this delightful town.
A Love Affair with Le Mans Circuit
Those heady days of drivers rushing to their cars, swooping for the ignition, reversing from the pit wall and powering off in search of a powerful start are gone. But the romance, sheer thrill and drama of Le Mans keeps bringing thousands of people back to compete in a race 18 times the length of an average formula one Grand Prix across 5,000 kilometres.
As day turns to night and back again in this 24-hour ‘Grand Prix of Endurance & Efficiency’, reputations can be both made and broken at blistering speeds of up to 205 mph. It’s organized by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and run on the Circuit de la Sarthe, through a potent combination of closed public roads and a specialist racing circuit.
Over the decades fans have drooled over the Ford Mark IV, the Ferrari 250 GTO, the Porsche 917 and the Chevrolet Corvette. The ultimate challenge of course is to balance speed with the cars’ ability to race for a full day without suffering mechanical damage, in the oldest, most famous endurance race in the world.
Life in the Nogaro Fast Lane
They say the racing is as exciting as the fabulous food and drink, in this major French motorsport centre. The Midi-Pyrénées is where you’ll see private planes, helicopters and even gliders landing at the town’s own airport, set right alongside a fascinating circuit.
Everyone’s a winner here with incredible views from the grandstands making this place a must see for petrol heads. Tight twisting corners and a very long straight, make car and motorbike racing here a wonderful experience at The Circuit Paul Armagnac. Four times winner of The French Grand Prix Alain Prost began his career at the track.
A New Start for Le Castellet
Fans and locals were raising a glass of regionally produced wine in a glorious haven north-west of Toulon, close to both La Cadière-d’Azur and Le Beausset back in December of 2016. An announcement regarding the return of the French Grand Prix in 2018, to ‘Circuit Paul Ricard’, triggered great celebrations.
For anyone visiting this vineyard dominated area, and part of the Côtes de Provence Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée of Bandol, it offers up the chance of seeing all the big names from Hamilton to Bottas, Vettel toVerstappen and so many more.
Marvellous & Twisty Monaco
It’s one of the most engrossing vistas in sport also known as part of motor racing’s triple crown. This exceptional location of glamour and prestige has been run since 1929, drawing the rich and famous. And that’s only the spectators.
Nelson Piquet has described the MonacoGP track as just like ‘riding a bicycle around your living room’. It’s narrow and dangerous with elevated twists and turns leaving little room for manoeuvre or error, taking six weeks to prepare and a further three to dismantle.
The famous tunnel, casino and harbour take on a whole new persona as the Ferraris and Mercedes scream around literally taking everyone’s breath away.
Jet Skiing Toys & Joys for the Boys
The sun beats down as fresh spray invigorates and excites, wave upon wave of crystal blue water delighting your senses. This is what it’s like to be jet skiing in one of the many leisure lakes scattered up and down the country, or anywhere on the French Riviera.
For the really adventurous, speeds of up to 80 kilometres an hour are possible as you power your way to fulfilment. You don’t have to be an expert – just put on the lifejacket and follow the advice of your jet ski instructor, who’ll be supervising from a designated area in front of the beach. Just who will the lucky passenger behind our friend Tony in the Loire?
Making Merry At Magny-Cours in Burgundy
This is the world of Chablis, Beaune, Macon and Nuits-Saint-Georges. Near perfect countryside greenery intermingles with historic towns and superb monuments. And of course, the Burgundy region in central-Eastern France between Auxerre and Macon, is also home to the Magny-Cours legendary Grand-Prix circuit, complete with dramatic chicanes and prominent curbs.
From the Touring Car Championship to the Superbike World Championship, The French Formula 1 Grand Prix to the Bol d’or, they’ve seen it all here. The circuit is a well-equipped site for business meetings, and is also open to the public. Revel in the racing vibe between eight in the morning and eight at night, seven days a week. And to top it all you can enjoy a restaurant and gift shop as you discover more about French racing history at the on-site museum.
The French certainly know a thing or two about enjoying their driving, ideal for any visitor who likes to take life at a slightly faster pace on those beautiful open spaces.
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