A highlight on the agenda of any car enthusiast, the particular annual weekend from the «  Circuit dieses Remparts  » celebrated its 50 ^th edition, which took place from September 16 to 18. Steeped in Angouleme’s historic heritage, this superb event sees exceptional cars spanning a century associated with motoring history race down the ancient, winding roads of this particular pretty hilltop town.

The Circuit des Remparts is an unmissable event on the calendar of vintage car enthusiasts. The competition was imagined in 1938 and its project developed inside 1938 and 1939 by the Automobile Club of Deux-Sèvres, Charente and Vendée (ACDSCV) under the name of   » Circuit of the Ramparts “. Disputed for the first time in 1939, this urban speed test, vehicle and motorcycle (sometimes supplemented by a bicycle test), was interrupted simply by the 39-45 war. It resumed inside 1947 plus acquired a strong notoriety as soon as it was relaunched thanks to the particular presence upon the starting line associated with the best drivers of the time (Fangio and Trintignant in particular).

Relaunched in 1978, the Circuit des Remparts is gradually becoming an international class automobile occasion, bringing together historical cars through all eras competing either on the circuit, or during elegance and restoration competitions, or throughout numerous exhibitions in the city and by several tourist rallies of historic vehicles within the Charente countryside. It has been held every year since, and has the distinction of being the last such race, with only Monaco and Pau offering high-speed street racing in French cities.

The year 2022 saw the particular 50 ^e version of the famous Signal des Remparts weekend in Angoulême. This is not just a historic race, but also a celebration along with contests, the scenic classic car race through the particular Charente countryside, as well as a full day of vintage plus classic car racing around the historical circuit associated with Angoulême. The particular organizers have done everything possible to transform the town center of Angoulême into a circuit with a demanding layout that has remained unchanged since 1939, and this 50 ^e edition of the Circuit kklk Remparts continues to tell this particular story, demonstrating human genius and mechanical performance over nearly a century of technological design.

Angoulême is the vertical citadel crowned like a diadem by the Romanesque cathedral, and corseted with ramparts connected to the west by a 1, 279-metre lace, forming the original route from the Routine des Murs. The course itself will be very demanding, winding around the city walls and featuring two right angle bends and three hairpins. A colorful collection of historic cars enlivened the streets plus driveways of the city, and as with many historic motorsport events, participants and spectators had to dress accordingly.

Friday, Concours d’Elegance

The festivities kicked off on Friday with the ‘Elegance Parade’, where owners had the opportunity to show off their gleaming vehicles; prizes were awarded to the best presented car and driver. The cars parked all over the city center and it was a great opportunity to get up close and talk to the owners before the particular more tense race day.

For nearly two hours associated with uninterrupted spectacle, 33 vehicles and their own uniformed crews from fifteen different countries came to present nearly the century of automobile industry from 1902 to 1984. Under the eyes associated with 2, 000 spectators, time spun… driven by specimens unique in the world such as the impressive Nerd from 1920, resembling a cigar on wheels, which raced inside the Indianapolis 500. She won the particular Excellence Award. And other beautiful sedans with spare wheels glued towards the door like in the comics. The red convertible Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider 1961, belonging to 2 young people from Angoumois, obtained the particular support of the jury in its category.

Saturday, International Rally associated with the Charente

The particular highlight from the weekend for many spectators, Saturday is the unmissable day time of the Rallye international de la Charente, a health walk within which some 300 cars take part, including more than 100 racing vehicles. For this year, the particular rally has been divided into 4 lines per era… the Deans for cars before 1914, legends for cars up in order to 1949, plus the international rally which usually includes vehicles after 1959.

The itinerary was communicated a few days in advance and includes a stop for a hearty lunch at one of the tourist sites in the particular region. Basically returned to Angoulême at the end of the afternoon and excellent picnic stops were set up along the way to the delight from the spectators. At the height of the weekend, 11, 000 individuals breathed within the smoke from the hydrocarbons and shivered at the explosions from the engines.

Three itineraries adapted to each category criss-cross the south-west from Chabanais to Segonzac. The trick allows in order to attract a lot more pre-war cars and to bring fluidity by taking into account the skill constraints of each category. To fill this particular timeless void, the rally club also traces the route with modern vehicles: Jaguar, Porsche among other vintage vehicles complete the tour of this mobile open-air museum.

Sunday, competition day – Circuit des Remparts

Although Rallye international sobre la Charente is adored with its 300 cars parading through the streets for the vistors to see, the particular real highlight was on Sunday, race day at the famous Circuit dieses Remparts, the former circuit of street around the particular fortified town of Angoulême. Each year the races include a variety of classes and automobiles, including historical F1 plus GT sports cars.

Organized by the ASA des Murs (automotive sports activities association), the particular races take place all day under the aegis of the FFSA (French Motor Sport Federation). The morning is reserved for the particular tests, the afternoon with regard to the competition. The competitors, spread more than 9 competition and demonstration grids, experience the circuit regarding 20 minutes, which will determine their particular position upon the beginning grid for any 20-minute competitors.

This year, a few demo sets came to put on a show with champions from your 70s and 80s, invited intended for the fifty ^electronic . Among them: Ari Vatanen (multi-world move champion nicknamed the “Flying Finn”), Jean-Pierre Larier (winner of 134 Grands Prix), Jean Ragnotti (the rally driver nicknamed “the Acrobat”) and Pierre Petit (French Formula 3 champion driver).

At 1 p. m., the stands are full. Honor towards the centenarians of the Austin Seven who paved the particular way. The popular British released like a swarm associated with buzzing bees delivered the great showdown with a duel less than the second apart in the finish. The Bugatti , still spectacular pre-war machines, fought hard. Among the rivals, husband and wife compete in sportsmanship at the wheel of their race car. Single-brand calenders, including the R5 Turbo heat the asphalt and some colorful grilles through the biggest manufacturers associated with the 20 ^e century literally slide on this infernal merry-go-round: Porsche, Jaguar, Lotus, Austin tx Healey, Alpine, Chevrolet, Citroën, Peugeot, Renault, Lancia, Mazda, Audi, Lada, Opel, Talbot, but furthermore Riley, BMW, Amilcar, Audi, MG …

At 6: 32 p. m., validation of the times, the FFSA closes the times. The spectacle is held in suspense until the particular apotheosis associated with the last GT/GTS race, with demonic energy. When the announcer announces a stabilized classification several laps in the finish, the future champion that dominates on the wheel of his Lotus as powerful as it is light is locked up by a latecomer. Despite his impeccable driving, the victory went to Damien Kohler. The child from the country wins here his 10 ^electronic trophy, which he dedicates to Just Jaeckin, who died this year, through whom he had bought the Porsche Diva .

Conferences and displays

The excitement has also invested public places in a permanent display. This 12 months, Heritage Days coincided with the festival. Exhibitions, conferences, competitions, master classes… The teeming program of events with free access testifies that background has talent. Among these events, Completely RIDICULOUS », an exhibition of paintings suspended between buildings, notably rue Hergé. Goofy, the particular poster artist also hosted 2 master classes and a drawing contest to share the secrets of his work.

Other exhibitions had been held, including the   » one hundred ^e anniversary of the first crossing of the Sahara » at the Angoulême museum plus in the courtyard, or even an open-air exhibition around the plateau from the city associated with around twenty Jaguar and a concentration for that centenary of the Austin Seven . Citroen also offered a lecture entitled “ Citroën expeditions: memories and heritage in the collections of the particular Quai Branly museum « . Finally, a number of photo exhibitions embellished the weekend, retracing some historic nuggets, this kind of as the particular photo exhibit   » Battlements » by Philippe B – Biscuiterie Lolmède, that of O. Zwilling entitled « Flying car in the Golf d’Angoulême, or that of the forecourt of Angoulême Cathedral.

Teddy Sarou