The French Historic GP: a cluster of enthusiasts!

You had to see it to believe it. Saturday at Le Castellet was the most beautiful of the three days of the event. Firstly, because the sunny weather made life sweeter, and secondly, because the popular enthusiasm was unparalleled. The paddock was packed from morning to night, bathed in a joyful effervescence. Walking among the crowd was heartening: certainly, it was as cramped as the Paris metro at rush hour, but the general good humor was contagious. Almost all the spectators were beaming; the most athletic ones ran across, notebook and pen in hand, ready to draw as a driver passed by.

The presence of Charles Leclerc, long hidden away in the boxes, created an impressive crowd effect. Wherever the Monegasque appeared, even furtively, a swarm of fans moved at lightning speed to try to catch a glimpse of him or take a selfie with him. The driver Ferrari was certainly the most courted, but each of the most famous drivers was entitled to hundreds of photos, dozens of autographs and at least as many discussions with speed lovers.

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This communion was all the more beautiful because it brought together an audience to whom the term "7 to 77 years old" would apply, usually reserved for board games. The spectators were as numerous as they were varied, some coming as families with young children. Jessy and Élodie, a couple based in Écully, made the trip with Julie, their 6-year-old granddaughter. For Jessy, Netflix rekindled the flame of F1 which animated him in his youth. "I returned to F1 and motorsport by extension thanks to the series Drive to Survive on Netflix. It rekindled the flame. Travel, accommodation, ticket prices… the cost of a modern GP for a spectator has exploded, and we weren't ready to make such a sacrifice. The quality/price ratio is the big advantage of this historic Grand Prix. There's also this proximity to the cars that Grand Prix races don't offer. I also had this desire to get close to the cars that had made me dream when I was a kid in the 90s. We were able to talk with the mechanics, with the drivers, in an exceptional setting," rejoices this enthusiast.

Men, women, and children driven by the same passion as Jessy—there were thousands of them at the Paul Ricard circuit. We could talk about this father and his 26-year-old son, who took a motorcycle road trip to come and camp in Signes, or Baudouin, this amazing young boy who dreams of becoming a sports journalist and who, at only 15, doesn't hesitate to go and interview Zak Brown and Jacques Villeneuve for his Instagram account... Life stories are legion at the Grand Prix de France Historique, and there's little more beautiful than the childlike looks that even the older ones have. A couple in their sixties were strolling through the paddock, the man as happy as a child, the woman content with her husband's happiness. "Before coming, we went to Six-Fours-les-Pins and Sanary... Each to their own pleasure, so it balances things out!" she jokes.

Paradoxically, the event and all the joy it brings also bring back a feeling of bitterness at the loss of the F1 French Grand Prix, which is so missed by its fans. When we witness so much fervor for an event that is simply historic, we are entitled to say that these fans deserve better. It's not certain that with them, the stands would remain deserted on Fridays during free practice, like in Las Vegas or elsewhere. In fact, after attending this weekend, we're even rather sure of the opposite.