Historic racing at Circuit de la Sarthe

The Classique du Mans 24h is a four-day spectacular that pays tribute to the classic racing cars that made history throughout the years of the le Mans 24h endurance race.

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Held in alternate years, the 2025 event follows on from the centenary of the main le Mans 24h Endurance Race which was commemorated in 2024. From this year however, la Classique has proved so popular amongst historic racers and classic car enthusiasts that is is to become an annual event.

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The 24h Classique takes place over four days of car carnival in early July. It comprises a series of races, concours events, exhibitions, parades and displays of world-renowned car collections all focused on the evolution of this astonishing, racing-car event, held almost every year since its inception in 1924. This year it didn't disappoint with literally thousands of cars on show, with examples of 80 marques and over 200 car clubs represented.

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My ticket was to attend the event on Friday 4th July, which is a day for parades and exhibitions; and on the circuit, for testing and qualifying for the races scheduled to take place on Saturday through to Sunday.

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Comfortable and very reasonably priced ccommodation had been reserved in central le Mans - at the Auberge de Jeunesse - for two nights Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th. Originally, plans were to head home on the final day in France , Saturday 5th July, heading to the Channel coast and  the seaside resort of Saint-Valery-en-Caux, close to Dieppe, for Saturday night's accommodation at a charming Boutique Hotel on the beach.

Perhaps it will be just this brief visit next year, but for this, in 2025, the TT headed south on Saturday for a long haul to Toulon on the Mediterranean coast, albeit with an overnight stop at Le Puy en Velay in French Volcania, just south of Clermont Ferrand. The intention was to give the car some exercise in the sunshine for a few days ahead of an equally long haul home to Dieppe and the ferry back to the UK

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