French Supertouring Championship Explained

The Championnat de France de Supertourisme (English: '''French Supertouring Championship''') was a touring car racing championship organised by the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile between 1976 and 2005.

The championship was contested on several circuits around France, with points awarded for driver classification. The winning driver was the one with the most points at the end of the season.

A national title was given in 1974, but a proper touring car championship only started in 1976. The cars were run to Group 2 specification, and the championship was called the Championnat Français de Voiture de Tourisme (French Touring Car Championship). From 1982, Group A rules were adopted to replace the outgoing Group 2, but in 1983 the FFSA modified them to be loosely based on Group A, evolving into the 1987 and 1988 seasons, where Group B type machines, called "Superproduction," were allowed to run alongside Group A, dominating the series.[1] The championship changed its name to Super Tourisme in 1989, when Group A cars were allowed technical evolutions to keep up with the faster Superproduction cars.

A major change happened in 1991, when the FFSA adopted a set of regulations similar to the British Touring Car Championship, with a maximum engine displacement of 2000 cm3. In 1993, these regulations were formally codified by the FIA as Supertouring D2 Class. All works teams abandoned the championship at the end of 1995 but the series soldiered on with privateers. To make up the numbers, rally kitcars were allowed on the grid.

In 2001, Supertouring cars were replaced in the series by silhouette cars. Despite the change of class, the series retained its name. The final season was held in 2005, when because of rising costs the championship was cancelled. Since then, the most prestigious French circuit championship has been the FFSA GT Championship.

Circuits (1976–2005)

Champions

YearDriverCar
1974 Jean-Claude Aubriet (Group 2)BMW 3.0 CSL
Henri Greder (Group 1)Opel Commodore GSE
1975Not held
1976 Jean-Pierre BeltoiseBMW 3.0 CSi
1977 Jean-Pierre BeltoiseBMW 530
1978 Lucien GuittenyFord Capri 3.0 S
1979 Dany SnobeckFord Capri 3.0 S
1980 Dany SnobeckFord Escort RS 2000
1981 Jean-Pierre MalcherBMW 320i
1982 René MetgeRover 3500
1983 Alain CudiniAlfa Romeo GTV6
1984 Dany SnobeckAlfa Romeo GTV6
1985 Jean-Louis SchlesserRover Vitesse
1986 Xavier LapeyreAudi Quattro
1987 Érik Comas (Superprod.)Renault 5 Maxi Turbo
Fabien Giroix (Group A)BMW M3
1988 Jean Ragnotti (Superprod.)Renault 21 Turbo
Jean-Pierre Malcher (Group A)BMW M3
1989 Jean-Pierre MalcherBMW M3
1990 Jean-Pierre MalcherBMW M3
1991 Xavier LapeyreAudi 80 quattro
1992 Marc SourdAudi 80 quattro
1993 Frank BielaAudi 80 quattro
1994 Laurent AïelloPeugeot 405 Mi16
1995 Yvan MullerBMW 318i
1996 Éric CayrolleBMW 320i
1997 Éric CayrolleBMW 320i
1998 Éric CayrolleBMW 320i
1999 William DavidPeugeot 406
2000 William DavidPeugeot 406
2001 Jean-Philippe DayrautBMW M3 Silhouette
2002 Soheil AyariPeugeot 406 Silhouette
2003 Christophe BouchutSEAT Cordoba Silhouette
2004 Soheil AyariPeugeot 406 Silhouette
2005 Soheil AyariPeugeot 406 Silhouette

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rulesets: 1983 France Production.