New Time Attack competition for 1990s F1 cars launched by AGS successor

AGS Formule 1, which now runs a driving faculty and expertise occasions, has launched the F1 ’90s Time Assault Mediterranean Problem for F1 vehicles constructed between 1986 and 2000 and 1985-2000 Method 3000 equipment.

4 rounds are deliberate, beginning this weekend on the Historic French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard.

The entry for Ricard consists of two AGS chassis, a 1989 JH24 and a 1991 JH25, pushed respectively by Le Mans 24 Hours winner Eric Helary and former British Method Ford frontrunner Geoffroy Horion.

Ex-F3000 and IndyCar racer Laurent Redon, whose LRS organisation runs F1 driving experiences, will participate in a Jordan 197.

Later equipment within the 11-car discipline features a pair of Prost AP02s and an Arrows A20, all of 1999 classic.

Invitational entries embrace a number of BOSS GP champion Klaas Zwart in a Jaguar R5 from 2004 and a 2005 Dallara T05 Method-Renault 3.5 one-make racer.

A rarity within the discipline is a 1989 Rial ARC2 3.5-litre F1 automotive.

The entry for the Time Assault contest will develop for subsequent occasions, AGS occasions supervisor Cedric Laurent instructed Autosport.

He defined {that a} minimal of 16 vehicles are anticipated for spherical two on the Charade circuit in France in July and as many as 20 for the finale in November on the Morocco Historic GP on the Circuit Sidi Daoui, which might be co-organised by AGS.

“We solely introduced our sequence in February at Retromobile in Paris [the classic car show], so time was quick and a few vehicles weren’t prepared in time for Paul Ricard,” he defined.

Potential entries for later within the season embrace the Leyton Home CG901 owned by Richard Hope, which was demonstrated eventually 12 months’s Goodwood Pageant of Velocity.

Additionally due out within the sequence is the Peugeot-engined Jordan 195 that Steve Griffiths ran on the Goodwood circuit within the F1 demo in 2022.

AGS, which additionally restores and runs historic vehicles together with the JH24 and JH25 competing at Ricard, has launched F1 ’90s in response to demand from its clients, based on Laurent.

“There have been demos for these vehicles,” stated Laurent in reference to the occasions placed on by Peter Auto, Masters Historic Racing and the Officina Caira.

Gabriele Tarquini, AGS JH24 Ford

Picture by: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Pictures

“However a few of our purchasers have been asking us if there was wherever they might compete of their vehicles reasonably than simply doing demos.

“They weren’t eager on racing, as a result of there’s at all times a threat, so we began considering of another form of competitors and got here up with the thought of Time Assault.

“The nice factor is that these vehicles are again out on observe competing, which I feel individuals need to see.”

Laurent didn’t rule out working races for the vehicles sooner or later, nevertheless.

“We’ll ask our rivals what they need to do: do they need to proceed with Time Assault or do they need races?” he stated. “We’ll observe what they need to do.”

Factors might be scored for each thousandth of a second a driver improves a three-lap common between qualifying and the Time Assault closing.

The distinction between the occasions within the qualifying session and the ultimate can’t be greater than 103-110% relying on the circuit.

“We knew we didn’t need to have individuals sand-bagging after which we remembered that the 107% qualifying rule was launched within the Nineties,” stated Laurent.