Previewing the Grand Prix de l’Age d’Or at Dijon including Formula 1 cars from 1987-1994

By Marcel Hundscheid / Speed-O-Graphica

During the first weekend of June, Peter Auto will host the Grand Prix de l’Age d’or 2022 on the iconic Dijon-Prenois race track. Last year Motorsport Retro was present for the very first time and we are very pleased that we have the opportunity to attend again in 2022.

The 3.8 km track is situated in Prenois nearby Dijon and just 60 kms away from the Swiss border. In the past the old school track was used five times for the French Grand Prix and twice for the Swiss Grand Prix. The last Grand Prix was held in 1984 won by the late Niki Lauda.

This year’s edition of the Grand Prix de l’Age d’Or will host eight different Peter Auto series including the Greatest Trophy, Classic Endurance Racing 1 & 2, Fifties Legends, Heritage Touring cup, 2.0 liter Cup, 60s Endurance and for the very first time Formula Legends 3.5

The Greatests Trophy (formerly known as Trofeo Nastro Rosso) is open to the exceptional cars that marked the major endurance events of the ’50s and ’60s. It welcomes cars like the Ferrari 250 and 275, Maserati 300, Alfa Romeo TZ, Mercedes Benz 300 SL, Porsche 550 etc.

Fans of historic sports cars and GTs are treated with a wide variety gathered into Classic Endurance Racing.  For prototypes Classic Endurance Racing 2 is open to cars from 1966 to 1971 such as the Ford GT40, Lola T70, Porsche 917 and Ferrari 512. In the GT division, cars like the Porsche 935, BMW M1 and Ferrari 512 BBLM battle against each other.

The success of Classic Endurance Racing and fields of around 50 cars led to the division of the event into two parts: Classic Endurance Racing 1 and Classic Endurance Racing 2.

If you fancy saloons from the mid ’60s until 1984 you have to watch and hear the cars from the Heritage Touring Cup. Highlight of the European Touring Car championship in that particular era was the annual Spa 24 Hours. Big fields consisting of BMW CSLs, BMW 635s, BMW 2002s, Ford Capris, Ford Escorts and Ford Mustangs are a real treat.

Back in 2020 Peter Auto created the Fifties Legends, a series that is aimed at cars from the ’50s and early ’60s. Cars that participated in the World Championship for Makes in 1953 and later can be seen from manufacturers like Alfa Romeo, Austin, Chevrolet, Jaguar, Lotus, MG, Morgan, Porsche, Triumph, TVR and others.

Unique in every way is Peter Auto’s only single-make of series known as the 2.0 L Cup, open for 2 liter short wheelbase early Porsche 911s prepared in accordance with FIA pre-66 regulations.

Over the weekend Peter Auto will bring together a Formula 1 field for the first time in its history, baptized Formula Legends 3.5. These demonstrations will bring together Formula 1 cars with a 3.5 liter naturally aspirated engine from 1987-1994.

Tickets for this not to be missed event on one of the great old school tracks in Europe can be found online here. We’re looking forward to covering the action, and will be back with full coverage of the event in the days following.