Charade, the long-awaited! Both feared and adored. Known as the French Nürburgring, it is one of the seven French circuits that have hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Four times, to be exact. A track stretching 8,055 meters, where legendary battles unfolded, crowning the greatest champions: Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, and Jean-Pierre Jabouille. It was a golden age for French motorsport, which saw significant changes in 1989 when the circuit was shortened to 3,975 meters to meet the essential safety standards, ensuring the longevity of this temple of automotive passion.
Here we are, 35 years later, on the track where our idols once competed. For this edition, 31 cars arrived on Friday for the free practice sessions of the Trophée des Volcans. As has been the case this year, the weather is more than uncertain. But no matter! Our drivers and their "frogs" are used to it, and a few drops of rain won't make them timid. Spirits are high. The drivers have been waiting 40 days to unleash their energy over the course of a weekend. The morning of this first day is dedicated to setting up the competitors, giving our drivers a chance to explore the circuit. They get to enjoy the large climbs and descents of these rollercoaster-like hills while we meet a newcomer, Patrice Wadley, and his very surprising turbo-equipped Porsche 914, bored out for extra power. It’s not an unfamiliar car, having previously raced in the Ferdinand Cup with Yves Le Tilly until 2021. Hats off to our gentleman driver for taking on his first-ever circuit race with a recently purchased and modified car. On the Charade circuit, that’s a bold move!
Introductions complete, it's time to dust off the tires! A quick check-up of our magnificent cars by the technical inspectors, and the vehicles head out for the 2:40 PM practice session. The drivers regain their confidence, and the engines begin to roar through the Auvergne mountains. We keep a close eye on the clouds and weather apps—the air is heavy, but conditions seem to hold. So, we take full advantage of the second session at 5:00 PM to push the limits a bit more! The smiles on the drivers' faces as they exit their cars say it all. This event provides a thrilling uniqueness that we hope to maintain for as long as possible.
With the cars safely sheltered under their tents, a heavy downpour, seemingly held off just long enough for us to finish driving, suddenly falls on the circuit. It feels like a repeat of last year's event—what luck! Once the rain passes, a brief calm gives us enough time to pop a few bottles of champagne and toast to Christophe Feret, celebrating his birthday. A big thanks to Sophie and the family for this wonderful moment!
It's time for everyone to head back to their quarters and rest up for Saturday and all it has in store. Everyone? Not quite... One indomitable Belgian resists any mechanical failure! After an explosion of the starter ring gear during the race on car number 69 of the Spaenjers father and son team, our mechanical virtuoso, Mike Van Dingenen, performed an express gearbox swap. A feat that seemed impossible after seeing the hole in the small 2.3L caused by a piece of the ring gear that was hurled into the cabin. Well done.
Saturday, 10:10 AM—We have to hold back the drivers from launching onto the track before the green flag. The excitement is palpable, and everyone knows that securing a good spot on the grid is crucial on a narrow and winding circuit like Charade. The track opens, and engines roar at the foot of the Puy de Dôme. Christophe Terriou, back in top form with his car looking brand new, sets a blazing lap time just 1.37 seconds behind Gillian Garret. The Yahn Heurlin / Jérôme Haslin duo secures third on the grid, closely followed by Cyrille Prevel. In FC2, the battle is set to be intense. Fred Ramousse is 100 milliseconds behind our driving instructor Stephan Ehrhardt, with the Moussion team just 8 tiny hundredths behind! Gaps worthy of Formula 1. Over in FC3, Samuel Serres continues to demonstrate his dominance by leading the pack, while the JS Speed Shop drivers, Jérôme Salva and Stéphane Morisset, along with Luc Deslaurier / Eric Matter, are lying in wait, ready to seize any opportunity.
It's snack time! A Mars bar and off we go again! At 5:00 PM, the lights go out for the first race of the weekend. We’re in for an hour of intense racing, testing both drivers and machines to their limits. The track is slick, and remnants of oil from another championship car, which tore off its oil pan on a curb, have coated parts of the track. But our gladiators take to the asphalt, ready to battle! Unfortunately, a small collision between car #24 and #19 on the very first lap sets the tone. A few laps later, Sophie Feret, driving the 968, spins out during acceleration, sliding onto the wet grass and being unable to recover the car before hitting the wall. The same fate befalls Fred Ramousse a few laps later. The result: lots of bent metal and two unlucky drivers. Both Sophie and Fred are loyal members of our championship, and we hope they'll be well-supported in finding the right parts to get back on the track for the next race. As for the standings? In FC1, no surprises—the results reflect the qualifying positions. In FC2, however, everything was turned upside down due to the tricky conditions and Ehrhardt’s engine failure. The big winner? Gilles Boyer, who arrived by road on old tires, yet showed no signs of being slowed down. Behind him, Stéphane Duverne secured a brilliant second place, marking his first podium in the Ferdinand Cup—congratulations! The Christophe Decultot / Dominique Mathon duo took third place, earning valuable points as they consistently do in every race. In FC3, the grid order was also confirmed, with the drivers maintaining their qualifying positions.
On Sunday, the race doesn't start until the afternoon. So, with the morning reserved for some much-needed rest, why not make the most of Saturday night and celebrate? And when it comes to throwing a party, Ferdinand Cup organizer Stéphane Enout knows how to do it, hosting the awards ceremony for the 2023 season. Surrounded by a traditional Greek meal, guests had the pleasure of congratulating the season's champions amid joy, humor, smiles, tears, and friendly embraces. These are moments that are hard to put into words because they are so enjoyable to experience, and we invite you to come and share them with us! Just be careful with those pistachio pastries—don’t want to weigh down the car too much for Sunday’s race!
Indeed, Race 2 was unforgiving for the remaining competitors on the track. Delayed multiple times due to fog, there was no doubt that this round would be held on rain tires. The drivers set off once again for a one-hour race, with the rain continuously pouring down. Yet, despite the challenging conditions, the skill was undeniable, and the battle raged on. Christophe Terriou secured a double victory, earning valuable points for the championship. Gillian Garret remained consistent, keeping his second position. Behind them, a fantastic podium finish for Yahn Heurlin and Jérôme Haslin, achieving their first FC podium in their fierce 993. In FC2, we witnessed yet another dramatic turn of events! After losing power steering, a battle between Benjamin Moussion and an angle grinder ended with several stitches to his finger. His partner Maeva was forced to take the wheel alone, without power steering, in freezing rain. Despite the challenge, she rose to the occasion, claiming victory while even battling with some FC1 cars! Maeva became the first woman to win a Ferdinand Cup race—hats off to her! Best wishes to Benjamin for a speedy recovery as he trains hard to keep up with his teammate. The podium was rounded out by Stéphane Duverne, who repeated his strong performance from Race 1, and the ever-consistent Christophe Decultot and Dominique Mathon. In FC3, Serres and the JS Speed Shop team continued to dominate the top two spots, while Bastien Mathieu made a bold move to take third place, overtaking Luc Deslaurier and Eric Matter.
A weekend full of excitement and heavy with twists and turns on a circuit that promised nothing less.
A legend among legends, one of the craziest circuits traversed by the most high-performance cars in the history of motorsport. This place is a slice of paradise, nestled at the foot of Puy de Dôme, that has stood the test of time and continues to reinvent itself, passing on the passion to curious visitors from all walks of life. A monarch that knows how to adapt to the ever-changing world it finds itself in. We hope Guerlain Chicherit and his team receive public support to keep this iconic location alive, allowing us to enjoy this automotive pantheon for many more years to come.
Complete results are HERE
News written by Nico Ferdier