Le Circuit des remparts
Riding around the ramparts

Have you a passion for sleek machines? This is the greatest show in the area!

Every year, Angoulême hosts the largest European gathering of classic collection cars and opens the city center to a mad … and totally safe auto race. This is the best occasion to rub up against Bugattis and other automotive bolides.

At every street corner you will admire elegant lines with their shimmering paint, polished interiors and revved-up engines.

2009 edition – September 18th through September 20th 

Programme

70 years gone by already!

Seven decades after the creation of the « Ramparts Grand Speedway Racing », the heart of Angouleme will, once again, be thrilled during the 3rd week-end of September by the roaring of the racing cars which are going to invade the city.

The Concours d’élégance opens the celebrations under floodligths on Friday September 18 (8.45 pm) on Champ de Mars square. Many prize winners will be awarded depending on their classes: Torpedo, Berline, Coupe & Cabriolet. Cars on show: Lorraine Dietrich, Delage, de Dion Bouton, Bugatti…

Saturday, September 19, the city dresses in the colours of the ancient cars with free access shows in the squares and pedestrian precincts, while the Rallye international de Charente will be covering some of the most exciting and picturesque roads in the département. 200 teams (among whom some 100 British ones) are expected to join in that discovery of the rich charentese heritage. Car on show: Tricycles cars, Amilcar, Bentley, Jaguar, Austin Healey… 

Sunday 20th September, the races re-actualize the speedway located in the heart of the town, running along the city walls over a distance of 1,279 km (0.8 miles). The original track has remained totally unchanged since 1939 making it utterly unique. 7 grids of 140 competitors will complete practise sessions of 20 minutes in the morning, their times determining the starting positions on the grids for the afternoon’s races. 

The grids : Historic epoch · The Three Wheeler grid : Darmon, Sandford, Morgan, JMB ; · The Vintage grid: Riley, Frazer Nash, MG, … · The Bugatti grid to celebrate the 100è anniversary of the make with the Bugatti Grand Prix.  / Modern epoch · The Alpine Berlinetta A110 Gr 4 of the 1973 world championship rally grid, driven by the pilots who built up its legend · The GT/GTS/GTP grid: Cobra 289, Porsche 911 RS, … · The Formule France grid.

Plus d'information…