French Supertouring Championship

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)

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Champions

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Year Driver Car
1974   Jean-Claude Aubriet (Group 2) BMW 3.0 CSL
  Henri Greder (Group 1) Opel Commodore GSE
1975 Not held
1976   Jean-Pierre Beltoise BMW 3.0 CSi
1977   Jean-Pierre Beltoise BMW 530
1978   Lucien Guitteny Ford Capri 3.0 S
1979   Dany Snobeck Ford Capri 3.0 S
1980   Dany Snobeck Ford Escort RS 2000
1981   Jean-Pierre Malcher BMW 320i
1982   René Metge Rover 3500
1983   Alain Cudini Alfa Romeo GTV6
1984   Dany Snobeck Alfa Romeo GTV6
1985   Jean-Louis Schlesser Rover Vitesse
1986   Xavier Lapeyre Audi 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 Malcher BMW M3
1990   Jean-Pierre Malcher BMW M3
1991   Xavier Lapeyre Audi 80 quattro
1992   Marc Sourd Audi 80 quattro
1993   Frank Biela Audi 80 quattro
1994   Laurent Aïello Peugeot 405 Mi16
1995   Yvan Muller BMW 318i
1996   Éric Cayrolle BMW 320i
1997   Éric Cayrolle BMW 320i
1998   Éric Cayrolle BMW 320i
1999   William David Peugeot 406
2000   William David Peugeot 406
2001   Jean-Philippe Dayraut BMW M3 Silhouette
2002   Soheil Ayari Peugeot 406 Silhouette
2003   Christophe Bouchut SEAT Cordoba Silhouette
2004   Soheil Ayari Peugeot 406 Silhouette
2005   Soheil Ayari Peugeot 406 Silhouette

References

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  1. ^ "Rulesets: 1983 France Production".
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