Circuit des Remparts Angoulême

Each year on the third weekend in September, a classic cars race takes place in the French town of Angouleme on a street circuit unchanged in layout since it first hosted an event in 1939, the high spot of the program is a race devoted to Grand Prix Bugatti.

Situated some 70 miles to the north of Bordeaux, Angouleme is located in the heart of Charente district with an attractive town center and its catedral occupying the high point in front of which lies the start line for the racing.

The meeting takes the form of an entire week-end festival beginning with a Concours d'Elegance under floodlights in a natural amphitheatre alongside the rampart walls on the Friday evening. Saturday commences with a Rallye Touristique Internationnal ; late afternoon sees a Concours d'Etat on the lawns around the Hôtel de Ville in the centre of town before adjourning to a buffet supper where the winner of the Concours d'Etat is awarded with his or her height in bottles of Cognac.

Sunday morning open with practice on the circuit for the afternoon's racing, and for new entrants it is the only opportunity to drive on the closed streets before being let loose in a race.