Beautiful cars met at Magny-Cours for the Classic Days
This weekend, the Nevers Magny-Cours circuit hosted the 14th edition of the Classic Days. On this occasion, the Nivernais track welcomed some of the most beautiful cars and single-seaters in history.
On the occasion of the 14th edition of the Classic Days, several hundred vintage cars gathered at the Nevers Magny-Cours circuit. The paddock of the Nièvre track was invaded by some of the most beautiful cars in history. For this 2021 edition, the event organizers celebrated the 30th anniversary of the first F1 Grand Prix in Magny-Cours and the 130 years of Panhard.
30 years of Formula 1 in Nièvre
This weekend, Formula 1 cars were in the spotlight in Nièvre. The Classic Days celebrated the 30th anniversary of the first French Grand Prix at the Magny-Cours circuit. To make the party even more beautiful, the event organizers invited the winner of the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix, Olivier Panis. To the delight of the spectators, the Frenchman was able to take to the track again behind the wheel of the Prost Grand Prix AP04 for a demonstration. The former driver got back behind the wheel of an F1 car for the first time in 15 years.
The event organizers had also brought Alain Prost’s Williams with which he won the world championship in 1993, Schumacher’s 1995 Benetton, or René Arnoux’s Ligier from 1988.
Throughout the weekend, the French single-seater conservatory was open to the public free of charge. Visitors, who came in large numbers, were able to observe some of the most iconic cars in French sport. Spectators were notably able to admire Alain Prost’s Renault from the 1981 season. A little further in the museum, motor sport enthusiasts could admire all the Ligier and Prost Grand Prix cars.
The luckiest ones will also have met Jacques Laffite and Jean-Pierre Jarrier in the stands of the Magny-Cours circuit.
Exceptional cars
This weekend, some collector’s items were brought together during the Classic Days. To mark the 130th anniversary of Panhard, the organizers brought some of the most iconic cars of the French brand. It was possible to admire the P2C dating from 1892, the 1908 two-seater or the 35 hp record car from 1926, in the exhibition area dedicated to the 130 years of Panhard.
Also present was the Alpine A442, the winner at Le Mans in 1978. The yellow car, which has participated three times in the world’s most prestigious endurance race, took to the Magny-Cours circuit track for just two short laps, with Alain Serpaggi at the wheel.
The participants also arrived with exceptional cars. In the paddock, it was possible to be amazed by Ford GT40s, AC Cobras, many Ford Mustangs, or a beautiful 1968 Dodge Charger 426 and many others.
Most of the cars took to the Grand Prix circuit and showed that they had not lost any of their charm or performance, and for some, the beautiful noise they produce. The V8 engines of the Mustang, GT40, or Cobra turned all heads with each passing.
A weekend ending beautifully
To conclude this event as it should, nearly 500 cars gathered, despite the rain, for a parade and a group photo on the circuit. Unfortunately, this year the record from 2017 with no less than 956 cars was not surpassed.
The nice gesture of the weekend comes from Autosur Classic, which has committed to donate €10 per car participating in the parade, in support of the Institute of the Brain and the Spinal Cord (ICM).
