The Grand Prix de Pau Historique is one of France's premier events and an opportunity for drivers and pushers to enjoy the delights of a world class street circuit, set in the beautiful and historic town of Pau in south-western France.

The first time the Pau Grand Prix took place in the heart of this Béarnaise city was in February 1933. The first Pau Grand Prix had actually been held in 1930, but this was on a 16 kms track in the surrounding countryside. The circuit only took the shape that we know it today, skirting the Parc Beaumont and passing by the Foch Statue, in 1935. Since then, over sixty races for modern an historic cars have been held on this beautiful circuit.

The Grand Prix de Pau Historique is promoted by Eric Hélaine of Rayon d'Action and features a great field of racing cars including Formula 1 cars from the 1960s, Formula Junior, sports and GT cars from the '60s and '70. All the reports suggest that it is a most enjoyable event and a highly anglophile part of France. The 2007 event is scheduled for the 25th to 27th May and race entry fees are £260.

More details of the event are available at www.grandprixhistorique.com and www.pau.fr

The Chairman says:

This is a terrific opportunity for us to drive the Pau circuit and have another cracking weekend!

We had a total of 17 entries prior to the AGM in November and a total of 25 afterwards. We also have pledges from America, Sweden and France and we really need a grid of 30 cars. It looks likely that National licences are sufficient. There will be two practice sessions on Friday and a 20 minute race on the Saturday. There is also a formal dinner on the Saturday night and a 500 Dinner planned for Sunday."

Nigel Challis.

A map of the centre of Pau, showing the circuit layout and paddock :

There are several possible ways ranging from:

A Dover - Calais both ways

B Portsmouth - Bilbao out, Calais - Dover return

C Plymouth - Santanderre out, Calais - Dover return

Approximate costs based on 2 people and car and trailer of £200 for A, £410 for B, including overnight cabins and £490 for C including overnight cabins. Time - leave Tuesday and return the following Tuesday

When fuel (allow £175) and tolls (allow £75) are taken into account, B & C are quite attractive and stress free.

The RAC Route planner calculates the distance from Calais to Pau as 657 miles and recommends the most direct route as:

A16/A28 via Rouen and Le Mans (no interest there then) to Tours. Then the A10 via Poiters to Bordeaux (awful place, full of wine and seafood) then the A62 direct to Pau.

Or you could slum it by going via Paris which is only slightly longer at 662 miles.

You can play with other routes on their interactive map at  www.rac.co.uk/web/routeplanner.

Flights

Air France: London - Toulouse, London Bordeaux but via Paris.

BMI Baby: Manchester - Toulouse, Manchester - Bordeaux, Manchester - Toulouse - www.bmibaby.com

British Airways: London Gatwick - Bordeaux, London Gatwick - Toulouse - www.ba.com

Easyjet: London Luton - Bordeaux, London Gatwick - Toulouse - www.easyjet.com

Ryanair: London Stanstead - Biarritz, London - Stanstead - Pau - www.ryanair.com

Some hotels which you may wish to consider, all are within walking distance of the paddock but Caveat Emptor! If any has actually stayed at one, please let the web editor know..

Hôtel Kyriad, 80 rue Emile Garet Centre Bosquet, Pau 64000   Tel: +33 5 59 82 58 00 Email: kyriad.pau-centre@wandoo.fr www.kyriad-pau-centre.federal-hotel.com  3 stars, 70 rooms, free private garage, circa Euro 75 per night for a double room

Best Western Continental, 2, rue Marechal Foch Pau 64000    Tel: +33 5 59 27 69 31  2 Stars, 75 rooms, free parking

Citotel Roncevaux, 25, rue Louis Barthou, Pau 64000    Tel: +33 5 59 27 08 44 Email: contact@hotel-roncevaux.com www.hotel-roncevaux.com 40 rooms, private car park, circa Euro 70 per night for a double room

Inter Hôtel de Gramont, 3, place Gramont, Pau 64000    Tel: +33 5 59 27 84 04 Email: dg6403@inter-hotel.com  www.inter-hotel.fr/ars/site/fiche/TFicheHotel.jsp?hotel_id=6403&ptn=0505125FN&lg=fr    3 Stars, public parking only, circa 85 Euro per night for a double room

Ibis Pau Centre, 26, rue Samonzet, Pau 64000   Tel: +33 5 59 83 82 51 www.ibishotel.com/ibis/fichehotel/gb/ibi/1398/fiche_hotel.shtml  60 rooms, covered parking, circa Euro 50 per night for a double room

Hôtel Parc Beaumont,  4 Stars 1 avenue Edouard VII BP 118 - 64000 Pau    Tel +33 5 81 189 002 www.hotel-parc-beaumont.com/home.html 80 rooms, car park, circa Euro 190 per night for a double room

Hôtel Corona, 71 Avenue General Leclerc  64000 Pau    Tel + 33 5 59 30 64 77 www.corona-hotel.com   2 stars, 18 rooms, public parking only

Hôtel Le Bourbon, 12 Place Georges Clemenceau 64000 Pau     Tel +33 5 81 189 002  2 stars, 33 rooms, public parking only, circa Euro 56 per night for double room

Hôtel Central, 15 Rue Léon Daran, Pau, 64000    Tel: +33 5 59 27 72 75  Email: contact@hotelcentralpau.com    www.hotelcentralpau.com  2 stars, public circa Euro 60 per night for a double room,

Brit Hôtel Bosquet, 11 Rue Valérie Meunier, Pau, 64000     Tel +33 5 5911 50 11 Email:  welcome@hotel-bosquet.com www.hotel-bosquet.com 2 stars, 29 rooms, circa Euro 60 per night for a double room

Hôtel Montpensier, 36, Rue Montpensier, Pau, 64000    Tel: +33 5 59 27 42 72 email: hotel.montpensier-pau@wanadoo.fr   www.hotel-montpensier-pau.federal-hotel.com  3 stars, 22 rooms, free parking, circa Euro 70 per night for a double room

Villa Navarre, 59, Avenue Trespoey, Pau 64000,    Tel +33 5 59 14 65 65 Email: H5677@accor.com www.villanavarre.fr   4 stars, 30 rooms, circa Euro 105 per night for a double room

Hôtel le Matisse, 17, rue Mathieu Lalanne 64000 Pau    Tel : +33 5 59 27 73 80 http://www.pau-pyrenees.com/syndication/syndication_detail.php?module=hotels&id=HOTAQU064018AS3U&objet=HOT  1 star, circa Euro 38 per night for a double room

Hôtel Bristol, 3, rue Gambetta – Pau      Tel: +33 5 59 27 72 98  Email: bristol-hotel@wanadoo.fr www.hotelbristol-pau.com  3 stars, 24 rooms, circa 80 Euro per night for a double room

Grand Hôtel du Commerce, 9, rue du Maréchal Joffre 64000 Pau   Tel : +33 5 59 27 24 40 Email:  hotel.commerce.pau@wanadoo.fr  http://en.federal-hotel.com/hotel_grand-hotel-du-commerce-pau_16633.htm  2 stars, circa Euro 60 per night for a double room

Hôtel Le Postillon,  10, cours Camou 64000 Pau   Tel : +33 5 59 72 83 00 Email: hotel.lepostillon@wanadoo.fr www.hotel-le-postillon.fr 2 stars, free parking, circa 46 Euro per night for a double room

Hôtel de la Pomme d'Or, 11, rue Maréchal Foch 64000 Pau   Tel : +33 5 59 11 23 23  1 star, circa Euro 40 per night for a double room

Hôtel Adour, 10 rue Valery Meunier 64000 Pau   Tel : +33 5 59 27 47 41 Email: contact@hotel-adour-pau.com   www.Hotel-Adour-Pau.com  2 stars, 15 rooms, circa 46 Euro per night for a double room

Hôtel Régina, 18 rue Gassion 64000 Pau,   Tel : +33 5 59 27 29 19 Email: hotel.regina@free.fr 2 stars, circa 60 Euro per night for a double room

Hôtel - restaurant Le Funiculaire, 2 avenue Jean Biray 64000 Pau     Tel: +33 5 59 27 01 40 http://grizzli.beat.free.fr/fer/urbain/pau.htm 1 star, 8 rooms, circa 47 Euro per night for a double room, interesting location!

Hôtel Carnot, 13, rue Carnot 64000 Pau    Tel: +33 5 59 27 88 70   http://en.federal-hotel.com/hotel_hotel-carnot-pau_16644.htm no stars....

A map showing hotel locations.

Please note, an International Race Licence is not required. Also, at this time we believe that the "new" FIA papers (HTP) will not be required, provided you have 500 Owners Association VIF.