Franck Montagny will drive an Ensign N180B F1 car at the Kennol Historic French Grand Prix

Last year, the Kennol Grand Prix de France Historique had started perfectly for Franck Montagny, who was very moved to be back in the Renault The R25, world champion in 2005, which he drove so much when he was a test driver for Renault. But the story ended less happily with a mechanical failure that forced the Canal+ commentator to retire during his second run.

No matter: Franck Montagny won't be staying away from the Paul Ricard circuit (Var), as he will be back at Le Castellet for the 2026 Kennol Historic French Grand Prix (May 8-10). The Feurs native will be driving an Ensign N180B. Formula 1 during the +2L single-seater parades, on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th May. He will be driving a car hired by the modest Ensign Racing team during the 1981 season.

It was initially the Swiss driver Marc Surer who contested the first six rounds at the wheel of the N180B, culminating in a superb 4th place finish at the 1981 Brazilian Grand Prix, won by Carlos Reutemann in his Williams Ford-Cosworth. At Jacarepagua that day, Marc Surer achieved his best Formula 1 result while also delivering Ensign Racing's one and only fastest lap in a race. The Swiss driver finished in the top 10 twice more, at Imola (9th) and Monaco (6th), before being replaced—due to a lack of sponsors despite his impressive results—by Chilean driver Eliseo Salazar.

He competed in eight Grands Prix driving the Ensign N180B, finishing only one race: a respectable 6th place in the Netherlands. He was replaced by Roberto Guerrero for the 1982 season, this time with the N181, which also failed to achieve significant results until the team folded after the Italian Grand Prix.

So it is with this 45-year-old single-seater that Franck Montagny will make the Ford-Cosworth V8 roar in May, in front of thousands of fans who came to attend the Kennol Grand Prix de France Historique.

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