In the last decade, Peter Auto has set the bar high when it comes to classic car racing. After the debut races in 2004, the Peter Auto events have never stopped growing. Last year was the first post-covid year and it was a blast. And 2024 promises to be even more intense, with some new events by Peter Auto. Just as tin he previous years, Peter Auto will visit legendary race tracks to offer both the competitors and the visitors some exclusive events. After 2 consecutive years of Le Mans Classic, there is a little break on that part. But that won’t spoil the fun. Take a look at the series and the events on the Peter Auto racing calendar of 2024.
The Peter Auto Series
The 2.0L Cup is the only single-make series of the Peter Auto series. It is reserved for Porsche 911 2-litre short wheelbase cars complying with pre-1966 FIA regulations. What makes the difference here is not the car since everybody has the same weapon but the driver.
Classic Endurance Racing 1 (CER 1) represents a great era of endurance racing (1966-1971), that of the Ford vs Ferrari and Ferrari vs Porsche duels. It echoes one of the most mythical periods in the history of the World Endurance Championship. The racing seasons culminating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans saw the legendary Ford GT40s take on the Ferrari 330 P4, then the Porsche 917s against the Ferrari 512. This was the great era of Sports Proto from 1966 to 1971.
Classic Endurance Racing 2 (CER 2) brings us back to the time of endurance racing of the “3 liter” barquettes (1972-1981) and the powerful group 5 GTs (1975-1981). Since 2004, Classic Endurance Racing echoes a period – 1972 to 1981 – when endurance racing ruled motorsport. Glorious times the drivers of the time: Jacky Ickx, Henri Pescarolo, Gérard Larrousse
The Endurance Racing Legends (ERL) is a series dedicated to the GTs and prototypes that raced in the most famous endurance events in the 1990s and 2000s. The most modern cars competing in circuit events organized by Peter Auto can be found in this series. It brings together machines that young spectators go wild about: GTs and prototypes from the 1990s and 2000s.
The Classic Touring Challenge is open to early models who took part in the various touring car championships before 1966. The Classic Touring Challenge is aimed at the first models having participated in the various touring car championships before 1966, starting with the British Saloon Car Championship, created in 1958, and the European Touring Car Championship in 1963. The slogan “race on Sunday, sell on Monday” featured in the marketing strategies of many large manufacturers of the time.
The Group C regulations, in force between 1982 and 1993, led to the production of legendary cars that wrote some of the most glorious pages in the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Sports Car World Endurance Championship. Early on, the Porsche 956s dominated despite stiff opposition from the Lancia LC2s, and then in 962 configuration came up against much tougher rivals with the arrival of Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Nissan and Mazda.
The Heritage Touring Cup (HTC) echoes the glory days of the European Touring Championship (ETCC), from 1966 to 1984. During this long era of touring car racing, a number of manufacturers won the event with their flagship makes. BMW was one of the most loyal participants as over three decades the Bavarian manufacturer entered a whole string of models ranging from the T1800 Ti in the 60s to the famous M3 in the 90s.
The Sixties’ Endurance offers a wide variety of challenges, both in terms of makes and displacement for pre-63 sports cars & pre-66 GTs. That gives the spectators a offers a wonderful occasion to admire all icons of the world championship at the time. It brings a strong endurance highlight in the events since these two-hour races put together a wide range of cars (E-Type Jaguars, Ferrari 250 GTs, Porsches 911) for both the period 1950 to 1965
The Gentlemen Challenge is open to the many cars that left their mark on the great endurance events of the 1950s and early 1960s. The series is open to all cars having marked the major endurance events of the 50’s and early 60’s. Respect and fair play being the keywords for these gentlemen drivers, this grid is one of the rare occasions to see back on track iconic GTs and prototypes from the golden age of many brands: Maserati 300S, Ferrari 250 GT SWB, Lister Jaguar, Lotus Elite, Porsche 550…
The Peter Auto Events
The Qatar 1812 Km is a brand new event on the Peter Auto Calendar. On June 10, the Qatar and International Automobile Federations unveiled the official name of the Tour of Qatar, the inaugural race of the FIA World Endurance Championship, which will start for the first time from the Lusail International Circuit. The race, named “Qatar 1812Km”, is the date of the National Day of the State of Qatar. It is one of the foundations of the State’s National Day celebrations, which are held every year on December 18. Only 2 of the regular Peter Auto series will kick of the season, the CER1 and CER2. Book your hotel in Doha now.
Competitors of the different series during Peter Auto events have the opportunity to test their cars on track on the weekend of March 21-22. The Series test days take place at Paul Ricard in Le Castellet (France). This will be the weekend the competitors can bring their race car on the track to have an ultimate test for the rest of the season. You can book your hotel near Paul Ricard now.
April 5 -7 2024 Mugello Classic. Quite some Italian classics (Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Lancia, …) will come in action in the Mugello Classic. The proximity of Florence adds touch of charm to this event giving it a touristic and cultural dimension Book your hotel in Mugello
22-27 April 2024 Tour Auto. Last year, Tour Auto Classic returned to its traditional dates, after a few years taking place in September. Starting in Paris, Tours (La Grange de Meslay), Limoges, Carcassonne, Pau and finally Biarritz will be the stage towns for each day from 22 to 27 April. Drivers will compete on the Le Mans, Val de Vienne, Nogaro and Pau Arnos circuits ! Book your hotel in Paris to witness the start of the Tour Auto.
17-19 May 2024 Spa-Classic. The last edition of Spa Classic was a big bang again. Spa Classic belongs to the most popular events in the Peter Auto Calendar and brought the last few editions close to 20.000 spectators to the legendary race track in the Belgian Ardennes. Book your hotel in Spa now.
25-30 May 2024 Rallye des Princesses Richard Mille. The Rallye des Princesses Richard Mille is a 100 % female event dedicated to women who are passionate lovers of collector cars and motorsports. The Richard Mille Princesses Rally will take competitors on the roads of the Principality of Andorra via Tours, Saint-Martin-de-Ré, Sarlat-la-Canéda, and Carcassonne.
7-9 June 2023 Grand Prix de l’Age d’Or Circuit Dijon Prenois. Peter Auto took over the event in 2014. And it immediately returned to the glamour and glory of the heydays of the track close to Dijon in France. Visit the event, and you’ll be addicted to the atmosphere at once, just as we still are after several visits. Book your hotel in Dijon now.
27-30 June 2024 Crowdstrike Spa 24 Hours. Another newcomer on the Peter Auto Calendar is the Crowdstrike Spa 24 Hours. Before making you too eager, the classic cars will not take a start in a 24H endurance race. But HTC and Endurance Racing Legends will have a support race. Book your hotel in Spa now.
27 – 30 JUNE 53E CIRCUITO INTERNACIONAL DE VILA REAL. This race is a newcomer too, and again Peter Auto brings some series as a support race to the main event. This weekend, the CER1 and CER2 will come into action. Book your hotel in Vila Real now.
12-15 September 2024 Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille. One of the driving ambitions behind Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille is to revive this glorious epoch by inviting car manufacturers and designers to unveil to the public their concept cars, interpretations of the future models of their make, by associating them with models in the most beautiful clothes from fashion houses in a unique parade very popular with the public. Book your hotel near Chantilly now.
22-27 September 2024 Rallye des Princesses Richard Mille USA. The Rallye des Princesses Richard Mille is four days of pure adrenaline packed with breathtaking landscapes. This isn’t your ordinary rally ladies, it’s a thrilling adventure that is necessary for any woman who loves sport, freedom, and refinement. This unusual rally is a clever mix of vintage cars and exceptional women who come to have fun on the most beautiful roads of California. The rally travels from the beautiful beaches in Santa Monica to the renowned Napa Valley in four days, spending the last stages enjoying the hidden roads, esteemed wineries, and outstanding views in Napa. We will enjoy stops in Los Olivos, Paso Robles, San Francisco, and more, with secret roads and charming drives the whole way.
4-6 October 2024 Estoril Classics The Autodromo di Estoril is about to become a usual classic on the Peter Auto calendar. The final of the Series by Peter Auto in Portugal, on a selective and geographically ideal circuit. On this Sunday, the champions of all the Series by Peter Auto will be known and celebrated! Book your hotel in Estoril now.
4-9 November 2024 Rally des Legendes Richard Mille. Ambition is to see the most beautiful wonders produced by the world’s motor car industry roaring along French roads again in an exceptional rally, thus reinforcing its role in celebrating the “art de vivre”. After Provence (2018), Andalusia (2019), the Basque Country (2021), Tuscany (2022), and Cote d’Azur last edition (2023), the destination of the 2024 Rally des Legendes will be announced later.
In case you are looking for pictures of one of the Peter Auto Events, we will be at Spa-Classic and Dijon. And we do have good relations with lots of photographers that will attend more races. So don’t hesitate to contact us and we will do our uttermost best to help you.
Source: Peter Auto events
Pictures courtesy Tim Havermans and Wilfried Geerts
