“everyone appreciates this circuit!”, the fond memories of a racing driver
The Dijon-Prenois circuit is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. Admired by motor sports enthusiasts for its atypical side, with its hilly aspect and its long straight line, the Burgundian circuit has managed to make a name for itself among the renowned motor racing circuits. Who better to talk about it than a driver from Dijon?
Bruno Mottez, 70, is from Dijon and a racing car driver. His favorite playground: the Dijon-Prenois circuit. This circuit, he saw it born. In 1972, 20 years ago, the circuit was under construction and witnessed what was to become a hotspot for French car racing.
This circuit, everyone appreciates it
Bruno Mottez knows this circuit by heart. His first lap was in 1976, during the French Formula Renault Championship. During a round of this championship, he had the honor of rubbing shoulders with Alain Prost. An amateur driver, he participated in many races on the Dijon circuit at the wheel of single-seaters, GTs or sedans. Swallowing laps on Dijon-Prenois is always a pleasure. ” Dijon-Prenois is a circuit of great scale, hilly, with an atypical layout. This circuit, everyone appreciates it! Here, we link the turns in support at fast speed, in complete safety… It’s really happiness! “
Winning a title at Prenois would have been my dream!
In 1983, Bruno Mottez was on the starting line of a race in which he had every chance: the Coupe de l’Avenir. It’s a prototype race and his car has everything to allow the Dijonnais to win a victory. Unfortunately for him, fate decides otherwise. A belt problem on his car deprived him of a podium and prevented him from shining in front of his public.
In 2018, he did the math: he will have participated in more than thirty meetings on the Dijon-Prenois circuit. His best performance: 2th of the Formula Renault Classic trophy in 2018 and 2020. A great source of pride, despite everything.
READ ALSO: From Formula 1 to historic cars, the Dijon-Prenois circuit celebrates its 50th anniversary
Since its creation, the Burgundian circuit has been overhauled and brought up to the highest European standards. In 1977, its runway was lengthened by a parabolic. The circuit reaches 3,801 km, more than enough to satisfy the best drivers, with the straight line among the fastest of all the French circuits, on which the cars can reach 300 km/h. Today, the circuit is celebrating its 50th birthday and the work on the track and on the infrastructure carried out in recent years has enabled it to rise to the level of the best European standards in terms of motor racing.
The Dijon-Prenois circuit a known fantastic story
Yannick Morizot, president of the Dijon-Prenois circuit
For its president, Yannick Morizot, Dijon-Prenois is a fantastic story. The circuit hosted some of the most beautiful Grand Prix of the golden age of Formula 1 with, as a high point, the fabulous fight between René Arnoux and Gilles Villeneuve during the Grand-Prix de France in 1979. Dijon- Prenois was also the circuit on which the Renault Turbo won the first victory in its history.
For Laurent Vallery-Masson, president of HVM Racing and organizer of the Dijon Motors Cup, this circuit is full of advantages: “This is a fun circuit that has had so many adventures on it!… It is located at the crossroads of Europe and easily holds the Germans, Swiss and Belgians, not to mention the English, who love the area ! “
France 3 Bourgogne will be live from the Dijon-Prenois circuit this Wednesday, October 11, in our 12 p.m. news