The KENNOL Grand Prix de France Historique was a big hit last year, largely due to the presence of many major motorsport personalities. With its combination of historic singe seater races, including the Masters F1 series, Formula 2, Formula 3 and Formula Renault, interspersed with celebrity appearances and demos of rarely seen Formula cars, it attracted a record attendance of 106,000 spectators. The same excitement is expected on 8-10 May this year, with several Formula 1 drivers – including some still active – already confirming their attendance at the Paul Ricard circuit. Last year’s Group C race is back, and this year there will be a little added variety with a Masters Endurance Legends race for Le Mans Prototypes and GTs up to 2016 in an extended 100-minute endurance format with refuelling, while the traditional 90-minute 200km race remains on the programme, for Prototype, GT and Touring Cars up to 2001.

Photo Girardo & Co. Archive

Unsurpisingly the first special guest to announce his presence was President of the circuit, Jean Alesi, who will be reunited with the Ferrari 412 T2, the most defining car of his career, in which he took victory at the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix, marking the French driver’s only win from 32 podiums and 201 starts. Designed in England by John Barnard the Ferrari 412 T2 was the last F1 car from any manufacturer to be powered by a V12 engine: the 3-litre Tipo 044, a true engineering masterpiece, delivering 720hp at 14,500 rpm.

“I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of the Ferrari 412 T2, the best F1 car I’ve ever driven,” said Alesi. “It was fast and well balanced, but unfortunately fragile. Everyone remembers my victory in Montreal in 1995, but they often forget that I was also fighting for wins in Barcelona, Silverstone, Spa, Monza and Suzuka. In fact, the 1995 Japanese Grand Prix was probably the best race of my career. It had started badly, though, as I was penalised with a stop-and-go for jumping the start because of the downhill straight. Furious at this unfair decision, I charged back and caught Michael Schumacher’s Benetton in just six laps, before the differential failed. This car will always hold a special place in my heart.”