AN EXHIBITION CELEBRATING THE SYMBOL OF AUTOMOTIVE INNOVATION
Tucked away in the south of the Île-de-France region, the UTAC Linas-Montlhéry racetrack remains a symbol of French automobile history. With its decades of passion and feats, this iconic track and its speed ring were the backdrop for many records. For its centenary, Rétromobile will be hosting an exhibition taking its visitors on a captivating journey through the years, thus celebrating the life and times of this premier venue for automotive innovation.
Featuring steep banking angled at 54 degrees, the 2,500-metre speed ring built the reputation of the autodrome. Born out of the passion of Alexandre Lamblin in 1924, Montlhéry played host, over the years, to world-famous races and world record attempts, and saw the best drivers in the world do battle. While it is no longer used for motor racing owing to safety requirements, the UTAC Linas-Montlhéry Autodrome is still a test centre for manufacturers and remains a popular venue for the organisation of events dedicated to collector vehicles.
This witness to automotive history will be in the spotlight at Rétromobile through a 500-sqm exhibition organised in partnership with UTAC (the current owner of the track) and the society Vintage Revival Montlhéry. Visitors will be able to discover a selection of around 20 vehicles that left their mark on the history of the circuit, ranging from pre-war models such as the 1925 Bugatti Type 36/35A Grand-Prix and the 1928 AMILCAR MCO Grand-Prix, to more recent cars such as the record-breaking Peugeot 404, the McLaren F1 GTR or the BPR Global GT Ferrari F40.
“The UTAC Linas-Montlhéry autodrome remains a living witness of the history of the automobile: a place where passion, speed and innovation coalesced for a century. This racetrack furthermore brings back memories of my own childhood when, from the edge of the track, I would look out for my father who raced in the French super-touring car championship in the 1980s. For its 100th anniversary, joining forces with UTAC and Vintage Revival Montlhéry, we will take our visitors on a journey back through time. Rétromobile will be a truly vibrant tribute to this magical venue which continues to captivate enthusiasts from all over the world,” says Romain Grabowski, Exhibition Director at Rétromobile.
To discover the teaser video, click here.
