F1 cars and V12 engines roared around the Paul Ricard circuit

While the Chinese Grand Prix was taking place in Shanghai this weekend, around forty Formula 1 cars competed at Le Castellet in southern France in the Historic French Grand Prix, which attracted many drivers, including Alain Prost.

The Paul Ricard circuit was transformed into a rolling museum this weekend, as the French Historic Grand Prix attracted more than 60,000 fans on Saturday alone to relive the golden age of Formula 1. The highlight of the event was a parade of legends spanning three generations, starting with four-time world champion Alain Prost at the wheel of the McLaren M29, the very first F1 car he drove in 1980. He was accompanied by other icons: Jacky Ickx in his 1972 Ferrari 312B2, René Arnoux at the wheel of a 1979 Renault RS10, and circuit president Jean Alesi in a 1994 Ferrari 412T. The nostalgic atmosphere was amplified by a crowd of the new generation, whose enthusiasm was captured by YouTubers Idreau, Etienne Moustache, and LucasParleF1, who broadcast the event live. A tribute to the late Ayrton Senna added a touch of emotion. Gerhard Berger drove the McLaren MP4/6, the car that helped Senna win his third world title in 1991, around the circuit, paying tribute to his former Brazilian teammate 30 years after his tragic death. An exhibition dedicated to Senna was held throughout the weekend, highlighting the theme of the event: shared passion and collective memory. The action on the track lived up to the historic hype. A record 40 single-seaters from the 1970s and early 1980s took part in the Masters Legends F1 race, the largest gathering of its kind in France. Ireland's Mike Cantillon took victory on Saturday in a 1982 Williams, while Britain's Oliver Webb won on Sunday in a Hesketh. Alesi, as spectacular as ever, alternated between his Ferrari 412T, a 312 “Spaghetti” and a Porsche 934, which won the 200 km endurance race with his teammates Philippe Gache and Jean-Pierre Richelmi.

The other categories also filled the podiums: the Peugeot 908s swept the Masters Endurance Legends, Germany's Wolfgang Kaufmann repeated his victory in F2 Classic, Dominique Vulliez dominated the Lotus Trophy, and Italy's Davide Leone took his revenge on Frédéric Rouvier in F3 Classic. For a privileged few, the “hot laps” organized by AGS offered a rare opportunity to drive an F1 car, with participants including former F2 driver and 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup France champion Dorian Boccolacci.

Beyond the races, the weekend was marked by intergenerational exchanges. Participants were able to meet the drivers during autograph sessions, see nearly 200 classic cars up close, and enjoy the circuit's leisure facilities and restaurants. “This huge public success is the icing on the cake,” said Alesi, reflecting on the program's ambition to reach a new milestone. Stéphane Clair, general manager of the circuit, echoed this sentiment: “Parents and grandparents saw these cars on the track back in the day, and they are happy to show them to their children and grandchildren.”