AtanariaThe final day of the 2026 Grand Prix Historique de France delivered the perfect conclusion to an unforgettable weekend at Circuit Paul Ricard. Sunday combined intense wheel-to-wheel racing, iconic Formula 1 demonstrations and emotional farewell moments as thousands of fans gathered one last time to celebrate motorsport history in full voice.
From the early-morning Group C thunder to the final Masters Racing Legends showdown, Day Three offered everything that makes historic racing magical: raw speed, unpredictable battles, mechanical drama and machinery pushed exactly as it was meant to be — absolutely flat out.
The atmosphere around the circuit felt different from the moment the gates opened. Sunday always carries a bittersweet energy at historic festivals. Drivers, teams and spectators know the end is near, which somehow pushes everyone to savour every final lap a little harder.
And Paul Ricard delivered one more masterpiece.
Group C Monsters Open the Final Day
Sunday morning began with the parade for sub-two-litre single-seaters before the terrifyingly fast Masters Group C machines returned for Race 2 at 9:00 a.m.
Once again, Ivan Vercoutere proved untouchable.
Driving his Porsche with supreme confidence, Vercoutere controlled the race from lights to flag, completing 18 laps and setting the fastest lap at 2:00.140. The Belgian pairing of Stéphane De Groodt finished second after a strong and consistent run, while Xavier Micheron completed the podium despite losing over two minutes across the race distance.
Jeremy Loisel narrowly missed the podium in fourth, with Jordan Grogor and former endurance ace Andy Soucek rounding out the classified finishers.
The race, however, was defined by attrition. Eric Rickenbacher retired after only six laps, while Jann Mardenborough’s race ended almost immediately after only two laps completed. Marco Bianchini failed to classify.
Top six results:
- Ivan Vercoutere
- Stéphane De Groodt
- Xavier Micheron
- Jeremy Loisel
- Jordan Grogor
- Andy Soucek
Even in retirement, the Group C cars remained one of the weekend’s biggest attractions, their savage acceleration and turbocharged brutality shaking the grandstands of Paul Ricard with every lap.
Formula Renault Classic Produces Tight Battle
The Formula Renault Classic pre-2010 field returned to action later in the morning and delivered one of the closest races of the weekend.
Thomas Clausi emerged victorious after a controlled performance, narrowly defeating Christian Vaglio-Giors by less than two seconds. Maxime Viriciel completed the podium after maintaining relentless pace throughout the ten-lap contest.
Théo Navarro finished fourth ahead of Eric Martin and Tony Rollet in an extremely competitive midfield battle where multiple drivers exchanged positions repeatedly across the race distance.
Ian Jacobs, David Genot and Stéphane Gosset also impressed, while several competitors further down the order struggled with reliability and tyre degradation.
Top ten classification:
- Thomas Clausi
- Christian Vaglio-Giors
- Maxime Viriciel
- Théo Navarro
- Eric Martin
- Tony Rollet
- Antoine Martin
- Ian Jacobs
- David Genot
- Stéphane Gosset
The Formula Renault field once again demonstrated why it remains one of the strongest categories in historic motorsport: close grids, highly competitive driving and accessible machinery producing genuine racing.
Pierre Gasly Creates the Emotional Moment of the Weekend
While the racing itself was spectacular, one of the defining memories of the entire Grand Prix Historique de France came away from the timing screens and podium ceremonies.
French Formula 1 star Pierre Gasly made a hugely appreciated appearance at Paul Ricard throughout the weekend, spending extensive time with fans in the paddock, signing autographs and interacting warmly with the thousands of French supporters who packed the circuit.
The queues around the Alpine driver stretched endlessly as fans of all ages waited patiently for a photo, a signature or simply a few seconds with one of France’s biggest current motorsport stars. Yet Gasly never appeared rushed. He embraced the atmosphere completely, understanding exactly what this event represents to French racing culture.
And then came the moment that left the entire circuit emotional.
Seeing Pierre Gasly climb aboard Jean-Pierre Jabouille’s legendary Renault Formula 1 car was far more than a demonstration run — it felt like a symbolic passing of the torch between generations of French Formula 1 history.
As the yellow Renault fired into life, the sound alone transported the crowd back to the late 1970s, to the pioneering turbocharged era that changed Formula 1 forever. Watching Gasly guide Jabouille’s iconic machine around Paul Ricard created a rare and deeply moving connection between past and present.
For older fans, it was a reminder of Renault’s revolutionary years and the glory days of French Formula 1. For younger spectators, it became a living history lesson delivered at full speed.
Few moments all weekend generated louder applause.
In a festival already overflowing with nostalgia and emotion, Gasly’s tribute run became one of the true highlights of the 2026 edition.
David Coulthard Ignites Paul Ricard in Red Bull Show
At 11:05, the entire circuit paused for another major attraction of the day.
David Coulthard took to the track for the Sunday Red Bull Racing Show, replacing Saturday’s Isack Hadjar demonstration with another unforgettable Formula 1 showcase.
The former Grand Prix winner attacked Paul Ricard with astonishing commitment, producing a spectacular 1:53.731 lap during his five-lap exhibition run.
Fans crowded every fence line and grandstand as the Red Bull Formula 1 car screamed through the circuit’s flowing corners. Flames erupted on downshifts, while Coulthard delighted spectators with smoky exits and aggressive acceleration runs down the Mistral straight.
Even among a weekend filled with legendary machinery, nothing matched the violence and precision of a modern Formula 1 car at full speed.
Kaufmann Takes Dramatic F2 Classic Victory
The F2 Classic Interseries race proved one of Sunday’s most dramatic encounters.
Wolfgang Kaufmann finally converted his pace into victory after narrowly defeating James Lay in a thrilling duel that lasted the entire race. At the finish line, only 0.103 seconds separated the two drivers after eleven laps of relentless pressure.
Kaufmann’s fastest lap of 2:05.337 ultimately proved decisive, while Lay pushed him every lap in one of the closest finishes of the entire event.
Brian Morris completed the podium after a lonely but consistent drive, while Oliver Chapman and Nicolas Maulini rounded out the top five.
Fabrice Lheritier once again showed impressive consistency in sixth, ahead of Sébastien Brisard and Paul Chateaux.
Several competitors endured difficult afternoons. Laurent Valléry-Masson lost multiple laps with issues, while Philippe Bonny, Mark Hazell and Carlo Maria Del Conte all failed to finish.
Top ten results:
- Wolfgang Kaufmann
- James Lay
- Brian Morris
- Oliver Chapman
- Nicolas Maulini
- Fabrice Lheritier
- Sébastien Brisard
- Paul Chateaux
- Martin Wood
- Stefano Rosina
The intensity of the Kaufmann-Lay battle brought spectators to their feet and perfectly captured the spirit of classic Formula 2 competition.
D’Ansembourg Completes Perfect Weekend in Masters Racing Legends
The Masters Racing Legends Race 2 became the headline contest of the day.
Werner D’Ansembourg completed a perfect weekend sweep by claiming his second consecutive victory in the pre-1986 Formula 1 category after another fierce battle with Yutaka Toriba.
This time the margin was even smaller.
Only 1.116 seconds separated the two drivers after thirteen laps, with D’Ansembourg setting the fastest lap of the race at 1:59.261.
Toriba again pushed relentlessly, while Dan Eagling secured another podium finish in third.
Mike Cantillon, Fabrice Lheritier and Jamie Constable completed the top six, while Christophe D’Ansembourg continued his strong weekend in seventh.
Further down the order, several drivers encountered major reliability problems. Marco Fumagalli retired after seven laps, while Osvaldo Gaio, Marco Bianchini and Andy Soucek failed to classify.
Top ten results:
- Werner D’Ansembourg
- Yutaka Toriba
- Dan Eagling
- Mike Cantillon
- Fabrice Lheritier
- Jamie Constable
- Christophe D’Ansembourg
- Warren Briggs
- Paul Lafargue
- James Hagan
The sight of screaming Cosworth-powered Formula 1 cars sliding through Paul Ricard’s fast corners became one of the defining images of the weekend.
Weiss Denies Boccolacci in F3 Classic Finale
The final competitive race of the weekend belonged to the F3 Classic Interseries category.
After winning Saturday’s race, Dorian Boccolacci entered Sunday as favourite, but Alexander Weiss produced a sensational drive to secure victory by just 1.626 seconds.
Weiss controlled the race from the front while Boccolacci pushed relentlessly in pursuit. Davide Leone completed the podium after another consistent performance.
Benjamin Monnay finished fourth ahead of Eric Martin and Fabrice Lheritier, who capped an incredibly busy weekend with yet another strong finish across multiple categories.
Further down the order, Pietro Vergnano, Maxime Lebreton and Xavier Michel rounded out the top ten.
Top ten classification:
- Alexander Weiss
- Dorian Boccolacci
- Davide Leone
- Benjamin Monnay
- Eric Martin
- Fabrice Lheritier
- Frédéric Lajoux
- Pietro Vergnano
- Maxime Lebreton
- Xavier Michel
The F3 cars once again showcased pure momentum racing at its finest, their lightweight chassis dancing through Paul Ricard’s sweeping corners with breathtaking precision.
A Perfect Ending to a Historic Weekend
As the final chequered flag waved over Circuit Paul Ricard, the atmosphere around the paddock became equal parts celebration and farewell.
Drivers embraced beside cooling engines. Mechanics packed away irreplaceable machinery. Fans lingered in the grandstands long after the circuit had fallen silent.
The 2026 Grand Prix Historique de France succeeded in delivering exactly what historic motorsport should be: not simply a museum of static cars, but a living, breathing celebration of racing at full intensity.
Across three extraordinary days, Paul Ricard hosted Group C monsters, screaming Formula 1 legends, Formula 2 classics, Formula 3 battles and endurance epics that reminded everyone why motorsport history still matters.
From David Coulthard’s Formula 1 demonstration to Pierre Gasly’s deeply emotional tribute to Jean-Pierre Jabouille, from Werner D’Ansembourg’s dominant Masters Racing Legends performances to Kaufmann’s dramatic F2 victory, the weekend provided unforgettable moments in every category.
The engines may now be silent in Le Castellet, but the echoes of the 2026 Grand Prix Historique de France will resonate for a very long time.
