Angoulême Ramparts Circuit: ask for the program

Neither quite the same nor quite different, the Angoulême event once again retains its inimitable spirit and character this year: a friendly, rural atmosphere, a historic setting and a delicious cocktail of mechanics from all eras. Along with Monaco and Pau, the Charente city remains one of the last to welcome racing cars into the city centre. Hearing the roaring engines resonating in the alleyways is enough to make the spectacle. The city is also full of entertainment, with the presence of many personalities from the automobile and motorsport worlds.

The 52nd edition will delight fans of beautiful bodywork. There are many reasons to visit. The Bugatti grid, named after Marc Nicolosi, the founder of the Rétromobile show who was behind the revival of the Remparts event in 1978, takes on a special significance this year with the 100th anniversary of the famous Type 35, the two-seater grand prix crowned with more than 2,000 victories. Angoulême this year is also a grid dedicated to Renault 4CVs and its derivatives. The Paris-Dakar adventure will also be in the spotlight with the presence of many drivers who distinguished themselves in Africa and vehicles including the Marreau brothers’ Renault 20s, the Toyota BJ number 200 from the 1979 Dakar, which was none other than Thierry Sabine’s organisation vehicle, the Mitsubishi PX33, a unique example from the 1989 Dakar driven by Jean Pierre Jaussaud among others, the Citroën ZX Rallye Raid Usine 1991 ex-Timo Salonen and the Schlesser Buggy, winner of the 2000 Dakar.

Venturi a vedette

Another reason to go to Angoulême, the Circuit des Remparts celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Venturi brand. It was during the 1984 edition of the Paris Motor Show that Claude Poiraud and the stylist Gérard Godfroy presented a prototype of a sports berlinetta called Ventury. Based near Bressuire, in Deux-Sèvres, the company called MVS for Manufacture de Voitures de Sport was going to stand out by carrying the ambition of renewing ties with the French sports car. The adventure would last a few years.

Angoulême also allows for many meetings. This year, several drivers who shone at the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be present: Jürgen Barth, Romain Dumas and Nicolas Prost in particular.

The 2024 edition is marked by some new features. The state competition includes a motorcycle category for the first time.

Finally, philatelists have not been forgotten. The Circuit des Remparts d’Angoulême has renewed its partnership with La Poste to offer a new, unique booklet of eight collector’s stamps. Called “Discovering the Circuit des Remparts”, this unique collector’s item has been celebrating the Circuit since its creation in 1939. Made up of eight self-adhesive stamps with permanent validity, this booklet has been on sale in offices in Angoulême and the surrounding area since August 26.