Johnny Rives: “My first Grand Prix, Monaco 1956, was a revelation. The absolute sting. »

A Honda Civic Type R! A nod to the world title acquired by the Japanese firm in F1 ?

Indeed, but not to that of Max Verstappen and even less to my career! If that had been the case, I would have chosen a machine equipped with a V12 instead. (Laughs) It’s a nod to Aurélie Litzler, head of the press and public relations department at Honda France for more than twenty years and who will soon retire.  

What would the journalist have written about this controversial Abu Dhabi final?

I saw a pilot (Lewis Hamilton. Editor's note) dominate a race for 57 of the 58 laps, and lose following an unfair action. It’s sad and unacceptable for a championship of this magnitude. I was just as shocked by the fiery speech of the two Canal+ commentators in this last outrageous turn. It was appalling and heartbreaking.

Where are you taking us?

On the Circuit des Îles d'Or, in Hyères, a 7 km triangle, a bit like Reims. You can still go all the way around it, except that there are now a few roundabouts.

Johnny Rives © Bernard Asset

Is this where you experienced your first automotive excitement?

In 1952, I was fifteen years old. I went with Antoine, a friend from the neighborhood where I lived in Toulon. We bought our tickets and the first car we saw was a DB Panhard, the sound of which haunted me for years! A terrible noise. It was a twin. I was not there out of curiosity, but out of passion. It was the 2nd edition of the 12 Hours of Hyères. The year before, I was too young to go alone. The departure