Via Gallica Pre War
On the way to the “Circuit des Remparts” in Angoulême.
The Circuit des Remparts event has always attracted me. It is a race on a street-circuit that has been run since 1939. The ambiance is great with the old center being turned into a car event under the sun. However, Angoulême is too far from England and Holland to just go there for a week-end. This is why we organize a rally starting near Reims and bringing you all the way to Angoulême.
Our starting location is a beautiful castle at only 265 km from Calais. The 5-star hotel is set in a castle that dates back to 1206. Given the starting location we hope to welcome a great many participants from the United Kingdom.
France has a great many “drivers’ roads, roads curving over hills, between fields and from town to village. It is a beautiful drive to our next destination, another 5-star castle, set in a golf park.
The next day we have a visit to another castle. I am really excited; it is one of those crazy things that fits completely within the “rally with a smile” concept. Just crazy ! I keep it as a surprise.
Finding large enough accommodation, which is not part of a big chain, can be a challenge in France. For the third night I have to split the group up between two castles. Both are beautifully set and are full of charm.
We drive in the Auvergne and the landscape gets more rugged; gorges alternate with mountain passes as we arrive in a modern hotel in what seemingly is in the middle of nowhere.
The fourth driving day sees some extraordinary driving over some amazing mountain passes into the Limousin a region well known for its beautiful cows. After driving along the gorges of the Dordogne River we arrive at yet another castle.
The last day is a relatively short stretch to our hotel near Angouleme. We will provide you with a shuttle to the center of town where you can enjoy the concours d’elegance, stroll the streets where local clubs present their most special cars, or have a drink at one of the great many of bars. We all have dinner at the square where the Bugatti’s do assemble.
On Saturday we are invited to join the rally organized by the “Circuit des Remparts”. It is like a mini Mille Miglia, people cheer at every village where we pass and the reception at the finish is quite special, through the pedestrian zone of Angoulême.
On Sunday we get to drive into town and can leave our car on a guarded place and we can watch the races through town. I must say, it is quite spectacular with some very tight hairpins.
We choose for a nice starting location in the Champagne region. It is within easy driving distance from Calais and the low countries, so we are looking for a large contingent from across the channel.
The Château Fère dates back to 1206 and has been turned into a very stylish 5-star hotel. It will serve as the starting point of our rally.
We suggest you come a few days early and discover Reims and drive one of the six touristic routes set out in the Champagne region.
Reims has a great many historical monuments, animated streets, and above all 250 kilometers of champagne cellars under the ground. Certainly worth a visit.
The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Reims, was for a long time the stage of French kings’ coronation.
We leave one wine region for the other, in between the roads are made for driving, allowing us to make more kilometers than we normally do. The roads curve gently through the forested areas and over the lush fields.
Our destination is a luxurious castle with a swimming pool. The cars will be exhibited in the main court. Time to have a great time and go for a swim.
This will be a marvellous day. We have a small drive to a castle with an astonishing collection. I keep it as a surprise, but the owner must have been slightly crazy. That’s the way we like them at the Via Flaminia.
After another hour’s drive we arrive at our lunch place, and of course, it is yet another castle, set beautifully in the Morvan National Park.
After lunch we drive some more small roads in the national park before taking one of the many route nationales which takes us more quickly to our destination.
For this night I have to split the group over two different castles. Those who have opted for the “upgrade” option will get the most special accommodation.
Today is a relatively short day, we are in the middle of France, in the Auvergne, in the middle of nowhere. It is mostly as Asterix and Obelix must have seen it, some farming but a lot of nature.
We take some gorges and some minor cols, perfectly fitted for the pre-war cars. No hurry, we have vacation.
We rented the whole hotel for our rally. It is modern and for once not a castle. The surrounding nature apparently brings enough tourists and justifies the building of such a modern hotel.
Today will be a long but very beautiful day. We pass through a desolate region with just the minimum of infrastructure and no hotels big enough to accommodate the rally.
However, I did not want to deprive you from the great driving – at times – and demanding driving up some of the cols, at some other times. The scenery is definitely worth it. Make sure your car is up to the steep climb and tight hairpins.
In the afternoon we drive in the gorges along the Dordogne river. It can hardly be more French.
It might not come as a surprise, but I found another beautiful castle for the night.
Today will be a long day, but a short driving day. We bring you to a comfortable hotel just outside Angoulême, the only place being able to host our rally group.
The Circuits des Remparts event starts on Friday afternoon with a great many classic cars converging towards this ancient city. The evening sees the first real event, the concours d’elegance. We will bring you in town with a shuttle. Everything is within easy walking distance. You can hang out at the main square where the Bugatti’s congregate or walk the old town between the exhibitions of the local car clubs. And of course have a drink at one of the many bars.
We will be having dinner at the restaurant at the main square and bring you back to the hotel.
We will be joining the very relaxed rally organised by the “Circuit des Remparts”. A good way to enjoy this marvellous region and see it through the eyes of a local rally organiser. No competition involved just beautiful driving through the many country roads in the region and the occasional stop at a cognac distillery.
It is like a mini Mille Miglia with crowds sheering you up and traffic regulations not being applicable.
The finish is under an arc formed by the guns of tanks (see the picture on the left). Clearly the whole town of Angoulême joins in the festivities.
We return to the Domaine de Roullet for the closing dinner and the prize awarding ceremony.
This is the last night of the rally, but of course you are welcome to book another night since Sunday will see the actual races in Angoulême.
We can park our car in the center of Angoulême (where the concours d’Elegance was held two days before) and we are free to wonder around and mingle with the many car lovers from all over the world.
We are welcome in the paddock where the cars in the many classes stand waiting for the race.
A seat has been reserved on one of the best tribunes so that you can see all the action on this tight street circuit.
You are welcome to pick up your car and leave whenever you want. Or, you may spend another night in Angoulême.
For those who want their car being brought back to the Netherlands, a truck will be waiting. We can also arrange for transport to the UK.
Arthur Brouwer (NL)
Harry Koorstra (NL)
Andrew Mitchell (UK)
Susan Jane Mitchell (UK)
Andrew Davies (UK)
Anne Davies (UK)
Henk Olij (NL)
Ginem Olij (NL)
Bob Janssen (NL)
Wolter Lamberink (NL)
Erik Wilmink (NL)
Nicola Wilmink (NL)
Chris Kallis (UK)
Elli Kallis (UK)
Martin Aaldering (NL)
José Aaldering (NL)
Peter William Card (UK)
Ian Smith (UK)
David Feakes (UK)
Christine Feakes (UK)
Hansruedi Moser (CH)
Bea Moser (CH)
Donald Law (USA)
Sara Molyneaux (USA)
Paul Kok (NL)
Lindy Margadant (NL)
Nico Cortlever (NL)
Letty Cortlever (NL)
Richard Biddulph (UK)
Charess Biddulph (UK)
Herman Jacobs (NL)
Janneke Jacobs (NL)
Cees Willemse (NL)
Ingeborg van ‘t Hof (NL)
Wim Peters (B)
Nel Peters (B)
Kai Matthies (D)
Sigi Matthies (D)
Julius Lurvink (NL)
Marloes Lurvink (NL)
Dominic Manser (UK)
Jill Brum (UK)
Ronald Goedmakers (B)
Catharina Goedmakers-Cerfonteijn (B)
Roland van Pelt (NL)
Francis Driessen (NL)
Hubert Kranz (D)
Gudrun Kranz (NL)
Michel Vock (CH)
Corinna Vock Rigassi (CH)
Louisa van Beuningen (NL)
Rimmert Sluiter (NL)
Harm Altena (NL)
Gerja Rijnders (NL)
Berend van den Broek (NL)
Marina Thienpont (NL)
John Noble (UK)
Jean Noble (UK)
Rally Details
Start: Sunday, September 8, 2024
Château de Fère
Route de Fismes
02130 Fère-en-Tardenois
Finish: Sunday, September 15
Domaine de Roullet,
16 route de Mouthiers
16440 Roullet-Saint-Estèphe
Included
- A maximum of 30 crew.
- Entry to the Circuit des Remparts event and rally (13, 14, 15, sept)
- 7 nights in excellent hotels
- 7 dinners
- 5 lunches
- Technical assistance by Altena Classics
- Raildillon watch for the winners.
- Large commemorative book.
- Via Flaminia clothing
- Roadbooks, rallyshields etc
Entry fee
Booking: € 5.900, -. When down payment of € 1.500,- in before December 1st, 2023. The rest of the sum needs to be payed by May 2024.
Upgrade (you are on top of the list for the best rooms): € 490, –.
Transportation
We will be offering transportation for your car back from Angoulême. The price will be published in due time.
Total Kilometers
Total rally kilometers: 1.350
MAIN SPONSORS
PARTICIPATING SPONSORS
Initial sponsors
