After years of absence, the Trophées d’Auvergne returned this weekend at Charade. It marked a historic moment for the circuit and for Motor Racing Legends, which was staging its first event outside Great Britain.
The return of the Trophées d’Auvergne to the Charade Circuit marked a milestone not only for the historic French venue but also for Motor Racing Legends, which staged its first standalone event outside Great Britain. Since its founding in 1984, Motor Racing Legends has regularly brought its grids to continental Europe, but only as part of major international race weekends, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and, more recently, the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa with GT3 Legends. Until now, the organization had never promoted its own race meeting outside the UK, where it annually hosts events at Donington Park, Brands Hatch, and Silverstone. That changed with the revival of the Trophées d’Auvergne.
Far from being a new creation, the Trophées d’Auvergne traces its origins to 1958, when it was established alongside the opening of the Charade Circuit. Over the following two decades, the event attracted many of the world’s leading endurance drivers and teams. Several cars that helped define its history returned to the track this weekend, including the Lola T292 chassis HU40 and Chevron B23 chassis 73-8. The pair finished first and third, respectively, in the 1973 edition, driven by Guy Edwards and John Burton. More than 50 years later, the Lola repeated its success by winning the 2-Litre Sportscars race with Chris Ward and Jan Magnussen behind the wheel.
60 Years of the Film Grand Prix
More than 150 historic race cars took to the track over the weekend, spanning everything from pre-war machinery to 1970s 2-liter sports prototypes. The event also celebrated the 60th anniversary of the filming of Grand Prix, with approximately 50 Formula 1 cars participating in tribute to the iconic 1966 production.
During filming in July 1966, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer recruited more than 3,000 local residents as extras alongside stars James Garner, Yves Montand, and Françoise Hardy. While the film was fictional, its setting reflected Charade’s place in Formula 1 history, as the circuit hosted four French Grands Prix between 1965 and 1972.
At the time, competitors raced on Charade’s original 8-kilometer layout, a longer and more demanding version of today’s circuit that Henri Pescarolofamously described as “a little Nürburgring.” On Friday evening, drivers and mechanics competing in the Trophées d’Auvergne toured the original course during a guided visit led by Jean-Paul Taillandier and Guy Lemaitre of the Agissons pour Charade association. Along the route, the two circuit historians shared stories that brought legendary sections of the old track—including Manson Corner, the Belvédère Hairpin, Les Jumeaux, and the Gravenoire banking—to life.
Tribute to Louis Rosier
The weekend also featured several tributes to Charade’s rich heritage. On Saturday morning, the paddock commemorated the 70th anniversary of the death of Louis Rosier, who was killed in 1956 at the Montlhéry Autodrome.
As part of the ceremony, Élodie Rosier laid a wreath at the memorial honoring her grandfather, whose legacy extends beyond his achievements as a racing driver. A member of the French Resistance during World War II, Rosier also played a pivotal role in the creation of the Charade Circuit, which opened in 1958.
Motor Racing Legends now turns its attention to the inaugural BRDC Classic, scheduled for July 24–26 at Silverstone, where the organization will celebrate the history of British motorsport.
Pierre-Antoine Lecoutour, Managing Director of Motor Racing Legends: “Our competitors know the British circuits inside out. We were keen to introduce them to Charade, which Stirling Moss himself described as the most beautiful circuit in the world. We also wanted to give French drivers and spectators the chance to experience the passion and friendliness that characterize a British event. We would like to thank the ASA Club d’Auvergne for allowing us to revive the prestigious Trophées d’Auvergne, as well as the Charade staff for the fantastic welcome they gave us. This incredible circuit has not finished making us dream. We will be back!”
Race 1
| Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy,Stirling Moss Trophy,HMRN Pre ‘63 GT | Circuit Charade (3.975 km) | |||
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Best lap |
| 1 | 2 | Stuart Morley | Lister | 02:18.354 |
| 2 | 16 | Niklas Halusa | Ferrari | 02:20.271 |
| 3 | 23 | Gary Pearson | Lister | 02:19.854 |
| 4 | 29 | James Bellinger | Lola | 02:20.873 |
| 5 | 59 | Michael O’Brien | Lotus | 02:15.115 |
| 6 | 20 | Rudi Friedrichs | Jaguar | 02:24.313 |
| 7 | 21 | Jonathan Bailey | Jaguar | 02:23.016 |
| 8 | 9 | Shaun Lynn | Lister | 02:23.515 |
| 9 | 18 | Kane Tilley | Lotus | 02:23.896 |
| 10 | 144 | Graham Moss | Jaguar | 02:25.985 |
| 11 | 309 | Lawrence De bruyne | Lotus | 02:25.254 |
| 12 | 55 | Patrick Watts | Cooper | 02:28.788 |
| 13 | 35 | Antoine Darley | Lister | 02:25.733 |
| 14 | 14 | Andreas Halusa | Jaguar | 02:30.305 |
| 15 | 85 | Cliff Gray | Lister | 02:36.203 |
| 16 | 19 | Pierre-emmanuel Champailler | Lola | 02:40.802 |
| 17 | 4 | Olivier Huez | Connaught | 02:44.658 |
| 18 | 231 | Scott Renner | Jowett | 02:44.900 |
| 19 | 3 | Maxwell Lynn | Lister | 02:17.503 |
| 20 | 223 | Mark Daniell | Cooper | 02:17.767 |
Race 2
| Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy | Circuit Charade (3.975 km) | |||||
| Pos | No | Driver 1 | Driver 2 | Mark | Model | Best lap |
| 1 | 59 | Michael O’Brien | – | Lotus | XI S2 Le Mans | 02:18.061 |
| 2 | 223 | Tom Dark | Mark Daniell | Cooper | Monaco T49 | 02:17.926 |
| 3 | 16 | Niklas Halusa | – | Ferrari | 250 GT ‘Breadvan’ | 02:19.788 |
| 4 | 2 | Stuart Morley | – | Lister | Chevrolet Knobbly | 02:21.558 |
| 5 | 31 | Michael Gans | Horatio Fitz-Simon | Lotus | Elite | 02:21.723 |
| 6 | 29 | Keith Ahlers | James Bellinger | Lola | MK1 PROTOTYPE | 02:20.633 |
| 7 | 20 | Rudi Friedrichs | – | Jaguar | C-Type | 02:24.084 |
| 8 | 21 | Jonathan Bailey | – | Jaguar | D-Type Shortnose | 02:24.827 |
| 9 | 144 | Paul Pochciol | Graham Moss | Jaguar | D-Type | 02:26.715 |
| 10 | 55 | Malcolm Harrison | Patrick Watts | Cooper | Bristol T25 | 02:27.817 |
| 11 | 35 | Christophe Germain | Antoine Darley | Lister | Jaguar Knobbly | 02:28.077 |
| 12 | 14 | Martin Halusa | Andreas Halusa | Jaguar | D-Type Shortnose | 02:31.359 |
| 13 | 85 | Stephen Bond | Cliff Gray | Lister | Bristol | 02:36.465 |
| 14 | 4 | Olivier Huez | – | Connaught | ALSR | 02:42.339 |
| 15 | 231 | Chris Bates | Scott Renner | Jowett | Jupiter | 02:41.950 |
| 16 | 19 | Pierre-Emmanuel Champailler | – | Lola | MK 1 | 02:42.354 |
| 17 | 9 | Shaun Lynn | – | Lister | Jaguar Knobbly | 02:25.075 |
| 18 | 18 | Kyle Tilley | Kane Tilley | Lotus | Elite | 02:25.326 |
| 19 | 309 | Tom De Gres | Lawrence De bruyne | Lotus | XI S2 Le Mans | – |
Gallery
Above contents © 2026 Motor Racing Legends, reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee , @rexmcafee 🏁
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