THE MAIN EVENT
Dijon to host FIA Masters Historic F1 Championship finale
Mention the Dijon-prenois circuit and most Formula 1 fans will immediately think of the 1979 French Grand Prix, when Gilles Villeneuve and René Arnoux battled for second place in one of the most spectacular conclusions to an F1 race ever seen. The Ferrari and Renault banged wheels several times before Villeneuve wrestled the Ferrari 312T4 to the flag 0.24s in front of the Renault RS10.
This October, period Formula 1 cars will return to the undulating and iconic French track for the final two races of the season for the FIA Masters Historic Formula 1 Championship.
Although it’s now 34 years since contemporary F1 appeared at Dijon, the recently refurbished track remains a popular destination for historic racing, and the annual Dijon Motors Cup in mid-october is a seasonal highlight.
This year the Masters organisation has chosen Dijon as the setting for the season finale for the Historic Formula One Championship, and the races form rounds 15 and 16 of the schedule. At the mid-point of the season Greg Thornton (Lotus 77 and March 761) and Nick Padmore (Williams FW07C) are leading the two divisions, but double-headers at the Nürburgring, Zandvoort and Spa will shape the situation before the deciding races at Dijon.
A full supporting programme also includes the final two races of the season for the Historic Formula 2 FIA International Series, when local racer Robert Simac will aim to secure a sixth straight title in his ex-jeanpierre Jaussaud March 712M.