47,000 people at the 1st round of the FFSA French Truck Championship - MAY 25&26, 2024

The Circuit Paul Ricard's competition season continues apace: this weekend, the public were treated to the impressive opening truck races of the FFSA French Truck Championship. To celebrate 40 years of truck racing at Le Castellet, a rich program of sporting events and entertainment attracted 47,000 visitors over the two days.    

Over the weekend, some thirty trucks put on a great show on the 3.8 km track of the Circuit Paul Ricard. These 30-minute sprint races always amaze fans with the suspense of the first bend: launched at 160km/h (the maximum speed allowed by the regulations), the drivers demonstrate remarkable skill to clear a path for their 1000hp behemoths and take the lead. It's worth noting that since 2022, the regulations have required racing trucks to run exclusively on renewable biofuel.

The weekend's big winner was Lionel Montagne (#4, Aravi Racing, Renault): who hadn't won since 2022, masterfully won Race 3. He is ahead of reigning champion Téo Calvet (#20, Buggyra Racing, Freightliner), who scored 3 podium finishes at Le Castellet, and Jonathan André (#44, Lion Truck Racing, MAN), who won the 4th race on Sunday.

Caterham and Sprint Cup by Funyo were also on track this weekend. In the Caterham category, 129 British cars competed in the 340R and 420R classes, and for the first time at Le Castellet, the Spanish and Portuguese of Caterham Motorsport Iberia took part.

200 trucks were brought together by the unmissable Truck Show, where the machines were decked out in their finest colors for the occasion.

To celebrate 40 years of truck racing at the Circuit Paul Ricard, some fifteen drivers who have left their mark on the history of the discipline were present on the starting grids and at an autograph session.

Visitors were also able to take advantage of the many events on offer alongside the competitions. A fan zone featured a funfair, a job fair, a concert and fireworks; the partners' village was enlivened by musical games; the Xtrem Park offered quad rides, karting sessions and driving simulators... and the official Circuit Paul Ricard shop was packed with fans who came to buy the essential bobs and caps in the circuit's colors.

Finally, the FFSA Women's Commission relaunched its "Trainees for a Day" operation to coincide with the first round: on Saturday, seven young women discovered the championship, circuit organization and motor sport professions, and met race director Pauline Schoofs.

Photos credits : Morgan Mathurin - Alexandre Montesinos