The 52nd edition of the Circuit des Remparts takes place in Angoulême until September 15. In addition to the rallies on Saturday, the traditional races on Sunday on the historic circuit, many activities are offered, including exhibitions. This year, several Dakar vehicles are presented.
Among the Dakar vehicles on display in Angoulême this year, a Renault 20. But not just any car. It was with this car that Claude Marreau won the Dakar in 1982.
The Renault 20 with which Claude Marreau won the Dakar 1982
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© Ruohan Chen – France Télévisions
It was an aging Renault 20 and it had to be made into a competitive vehicle for the Dakar.
Claude MarreauWinner of the 1982 Paris-Dakar
The driver is on site in Angoulême and it is with emotion that he gets behind the wheel: « There are some feelings that come back, we would like to put it in the sand, it would be more fun ! It was a Renault 20 which was aging and it was necessary to enhance the silhouette, there was a turbo engine which was a prototype and with all that, it was necessary to make a competitive vehicle for the Dakar. That was the challenge and finally the victory at the end, says Claude Marreau, winner of the 1982 Paris-Dakar.
Claude Marreau next to the Renault 20 with which he won the Paris-Dakar in 1982
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© Ruohan Chen – France Télévisions
The Dakar has made many people dream and it still makes many dream.
Pierre TroussardMember of the Circuit des Remparts association
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Pierre Troussard is part of the Circuit des Remparts association. He also remembers this victory of a French car in 1982 at the “ Paris-Dakar ” at the time : « The Dakar made a lot of people dream and it still makes people dream. When you see a Renault 20 winning in 1982, what was a Renault doing? 20 in the sand at 200 km/hour ? »
A Dakar support truck on display at the Angoulême Ramparts Circuit
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© Ruohan Chen – France Télévisions
And like every year, car enthusiasts gather in the streets of Angoulême to admire these ancient treasures: « Seeing all these Dakar vehicles again is good for the public and it’s good for us. It’s the memory of French motorsport that lives on and I hope that many young people will be able to discover what these adventurers from the Dakar era were like,” confirms Daniel, a visitor to the exhibition.
Dakar vehicles on display for this 52nd Circuit des remparts d’Angoulême
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© Ruohan Chen – France Télévisions
One of the vehicles exhibited during the Angoulême Ramparts Circuit
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© Ruohan Chen – France Télévisions
One of the vehicles exhibited during the Angoulême Ramparts Circuit
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© Ruohan Chen – France Télévisions
The Circuit des Remparts continues on Saturday with three rallies with different routes on the roads of Charente and then on Sunday, the historic center of Angoulême will host demonstrations and numerous races from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
