Angoulême: Back to old time car racing glamour

If you are a vintage car enthusiast and speak English, you are extremely welcome to volunteer in Angoulême this September, says Jean-Marc Laffont, president of the Association du Circuit des Remparts d’Angoulême. The association already has 110 volunteers who help stage the event, which runs from September 18–20. However, because it attracts so many entrants and visitors from the UK, additional English-speaking volunteers are always more than welcome. (Contact via the website).

The weekend meeting was established in 1939 and has become iconic for vintage car lovers. Each year, a different make of car takes centre stage and, in 2026, it will be Lorraine-Dietrich, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1926. Thanks to the Lorraine-Dietrich Club and the Musée National de l’Automobile in Mulhouse, there will be around 15 models on display, including the cars that won Le Mans in 1925 and those that finished first, second and third the following year. There will also be an exhibition about the manufacturer, opening on September 17 and running until November 29, 2026.

“They were a French car manufacturer operating before the Second World War, and there are only around 30 original models left worldwide, so they are incredibly rare,” says Jean-Marc Laffont. “We hope to have half of them at the rally, with owners coming from Switzerland, Belgium and across France.

“Lorraine-Dietrich made cars and aircraft engines from 1896 to 1935, and were consistent race winners during that time. From 1935 to 1939, they concentrated on producing military vehicles such as the Lorraine 37L armoured carrier, and the final part of the company was bought by the US company General Trailers in 1950.”

As every year, Friday, September 18, sees the Concours d’Élégance at 20:30 on the Esplanade du Champ-de-Mars, with drivers dressing in vintage outfits and showing off their cars. It is free for spectators and is mainly a celebration of these marvellous vehicles. It is also a chance to see the cars up close and perhaps even chat with the drivers.

Saturday is devoted to a rally through the countryside outside Angoulême,
but is no less interesting for spectators, as many cars remain on display in the
city centre. There is also the Concours d’État et de Restauration, a competition for the best restoration.

Sunday sees the real racing, which takes place on the traditional 1,279-metre-long route through the city. There are also demonstration runs, during which certain extremely rare and valuable cars drive around the circuit without competing. Spectators need a ticket for one of the grandstands to watch these events.

“I have loved old cars since childhood,” says Jean-Marc Laffont, who also owns a few. “Driving them is different. You don’t have synchromesh gears, which automatically match the speed of the cogs as you change gear. You have to keep an eye on the revs and the oil temperature. They don’t stick to the road, and many are open-topped. You have to drive more slowly and carefully, so you see more and enjoy the journey more.”

As well as the Lorraine-Dietrich models, the association is expecting 800 other vintage cars from across Europe. The town becomes busy for the weekend, with around 12,000 people buying grandstand tickets for the races on Sunday. Although there will be up to 14 different nationalities among the drivers, the majority will be British. Some bring their cars from the UK for the event, while others already live in France.