Angoulême is a placid city, even with its fifty thousand or so inhabitants. But that all changes on the third weekend of September each year. The reason is one of the world's great classic car races - the Circuit des Rampart - held on a street circuit unchanged in layout since it first hosted the event on 2nd of July 1939. Apart from a break for the war, the race has been held ever since - the highlight of the program is a race devoted to Grand Prix Bugatti.
Situated some 70 miles to the north of Bordeaux, Angouleme is located in the heart of Charente district with an attractive town center and its cathedral occupying the high point in front of which lies the starting line for the racing.
The meeting takes the form of an entire week-end festival beginning with a Concours d'Elegance under floodlights in a natural amphitheatre alongside the rampart walls on the Friday evening. Saturday commences with a Rallye Touristique Internationnal and the the prize giving ceremony takes place at the Hôtel de Ville at 6pm. Drivers stay in town and merge into the crowd, joining them refreshing their thirst with a lot of well earned beer. The sounds of engines and exhausts are soon replaced by music and laughter.
The Mairie presents the prize to the winner of each group – the equivalent of his weight in Cognac - a highly cherished trophy! Yet again, this is cause to celebrate French style, and the celebrations start in earnest.
Sunday morning open with practice on the circuit for the afternoon's racing, and for new entrants it is the only opportunity to drive on the closed streets before being let loose in a race.
This is an event worth attending and we suggest you book accommodation early. Trains from Bordeaux are the best way of travelling if you want to enjoy the cognac!
Tags: Bordeaux, France, Wine, Travel Tourism
