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.

This weekend will go down in Motor Racing Legends history as the first event organised outside Great Britain. Since 1984, MRL’s various grids have frequently competed across Europe, but always as support races to major international events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans or, more recently, the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa with GT3 Legends. Never had the organisation staged its own standalone meeting on the continent, as it does each year at Donington, Brands Hatch or Silverstone. That has now been achieved with this weekend’s Trophées d’Auvergne.

The name of the event is not, however, a Motor Racing Legends invention, far from it: the Trophées d’Auvergne were created in 1958 alongside the Charade circuit, which they inaugurated. For two decades, they welcomed some of the finest endurance drivers and teams each year. Several cars that left their mark on this competition were on track this weekend, notably the Lola T292 chassis HU40 and the Chevron B23 chassis 73-8. These two cars finished 1st and 3rd in 1973, in the hands of Guy Edwards and John Burton respectively. The Lola repeated its success in 2026, claiming 2-Litre Sportscars victory in the hands of Chris Ward and Jan Magnussen.

60 Years of the Film Grand Prix

In total, more than 150 cars were in action over the weekend, ranging from pre-war machines to 2-litre sports prototypes of the 1970s. With around fifty Formula 1 cars on track, the Trophées d’Auvergne also marked the 60th anniversary of the filming of Grand Prix in July 1966. That summer, more than 3,000 locals were recruited by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as extras alongside James Garner, Yves Montand and Françoise Hardy. Cinema, certainly, but close to reality: four Formula 1 Grands Prix were held at Charade between 1965 and 1972.

At the time, races were run on an 8 km track, longer than today’s, and described as a “little Nürburgring” by Henri Pescarolo. On Friday evening, the drivers and mechanics competing in the Trophées d’Auvergne explored the full circuit during a guided tour led by Jean‑Paul Taillandier and Guy Lemaitre of the Agissons pour Charade association. Along the way, anecdotes shared by the two circuit historians brought to life the track’s iconic sections, including the Manson curve, the Belvédère hairpin, Les Jumeaux and the Gravenoire banking.

Tribute to Louis Rosier

Tributes to the circuit’s history were numerous throughout the weekend. On Saturday morning, the paddock marked the 70th anniversary of the accidental death of Louis Rosier, who was killed in 1956 at the Montlhéry autodrome. On this occasion, Élodie Rosier laid a wreath at the memorial dedicated to her grandfather – a driver, resistance member and a key figure in the creation of the Charade circuit, inaugurated in 1958.

Next, in two weeks’ time (24–26 July), comes the first edition of the BRDC Classic, a major celebration of the history of motor racing at the Silverstone circuit.

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 characterise 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!”

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