Nicolas Milan, the Pope of the Clio
“I will not do this ten more years”, warns the one who will celebrate his 42 years on May 7. Originally from Cenon (Gironde), Nicolas Milan could have had a completely different career. “When I was younger, I missed a few opportunities and I couldn’t reveal myself,” he confirms. I started with the Peugeot Sports Meetings and won my second class. This allowed me to be an official Peugeot driver and I took pole for my first race in Super Production. But I made a mistake in the race which cost me dearly. To the point of missing out on a career? “It’s complicated to be a professional driver, especially if you don’t bring any money. Or you have to be extraordinary, reveal yourself and meet the right people. »
The André Divies Prize
Nicolas Milan does not regret anything. “It pushed me to set up my own company, so I’m still a professional pilot since I make a living from my passion. And the advantage is that they won’t fire me tomorrow! Among the approximately 800 licensed car drivers at ASA Armagnac-Bigorre in Nogaro, the number 1 stuck to the body of his Clio fits him like a glove after his historic treble in 2021 (France, Spain and Europe). For this exploit, he received at the opening of these Easter Cups the André Diviès Prize, “builder” of the Nogaro circuit who died at the age of 88 last November, which rewards the best circuit and rally drivers of the Gers ASA according to their rankings. “It’s the privilege of having done a lot of races! »
“It’s complicated to be a professional driver, especially if you don’t bring any money”
Like the Marseillais with the Champions League, Nicolas Milan will be “forever the first” to have won this prize which this year replaced the Claude Fior Trophy, named after this engineer-designer of electric golf cars and the first Campuses, who was killed in 2001 in a plane crash near the Nogaro circuit. “It’s an honor to have won this André Diviès Prize, it’s a change from plastic cups! Father Diviès is still a monument to motorsport. He was a character, with his character, but attached. I had won one of my first races on this circuit, I was 20 years old, and he had defended me with the stewards in a dispute. He was an enthusiast who had the clout to do it. »
“Better, I could not! »
Passion is also what drives Nicolas Milan. He shares it thanks to his Milan Compétition team, which offers a turnkey formula for 50,000 euros per season of six meetings (12 courses in total). “Getting others rolling, accompanying them and making people progress is also driving. And now these pilots are faster than me! They are the ones who help me stay in the game. They are four to accompany him on the track during the meetings. “It allows us to take good care of each person. ” And the results are there. Of the five cars present this weekend at the Easter Cups, Milan Compétition placed four in the Top 8 of the first race this Sunday, including Marc Guillot on the podium (2and).
While Canal+ journalist Julien Fébreau ranked 19and (out of 27 runners), Nicolas Milan will be revengeful for the second race on Monday (12:40 p.m.) after having fought for the win before slipping to the 4and place in the last lap. “With Castrol as a partner, you have to win if I want them to help me again next year. The philosophy is the same for its drivers aged 19 to 70. “The interest of brand cuts is that there are bonuses from the manufacturer to reduce costs. I’ve always favored these courses which help finance the season”, specifies this father of three boys aged 6 to 14 who have already had a taste of karting, but whom he will not push towards motorsport.
On the circuit of his first laps, 80 km from his garage, the Pope of the Clio Cup is not satisfied after his full card in 2021: “Better, I won’t be able to! But I will try to repeat the same thing or make sure that a driver from my country wins. »
Here alongside journalist Julien Fébreau (n°100), Nicolas Milan wears n°1 on his Clio following his triple last season.
CF