Andros Trophy 2016
Expect top class action from the “Formula One of snow”
The 26th season of the high octane action Trophee Andros makes its much anticipated return to Alpe d’Huez next weekend. Racing will take place on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th December at the ice racing track, which is situated behind the leisure centre in the centre of town.
Alpe d’Huez is race 3 in the 7 race series, which also sees action taking place in Val Thorens, Andorra, Isola 2000, Serre Chevalier, Lans En Vercors and Super Besse.
This year’s series started in Val Thorens on the 3rd December and culminates in Super Besse on Saturday 28th January 2017. Big name drivers taking part include former F1 star Olivier Panis and Nicolas Prost, son of 4 time F1 World Champion Alain Prost. Prost is one on the top names in recently launched Formula E, electric car series.
Tickets can be purchased in advance for 16€ per day or on the day for €20. A two day pass is available for €40 which includes paddock and grandstand access. The daily tickets include access to the track and viewing points at far side of the track on the banking towards the L’Eclose area of town. With a track length of only 820 metres the action is always fast and furious, and never too far away, so a greet view of the action is always guaranteed.
In addition to the high speed action on the track there are plenty of things to do and see. The tented village at the front of the leisure centre is in effect the “pit lane” and you can see up close all the work that goes in preparing these racing machines for the vigour’s of ice track racing and the drivers are also available for autographs and photographs during a couple of afternoon signing sessions.
The Trophee Andros series is made up of three categories – the Elite series for up and coming drivers, the Enedis Trophee for electric cars and the Elite Pro series for the big guns.
The action gets underway on Friday afternoon with preliminary testing between 3.50pm and 5.15pm, which is followed by first qualifying between 5.15pm and 8.25pm. The first day action culminates with a series of finals between 8.40pm and 10pm. The podium presentations will follow the finals at 10.15pm.
Day two gets underway with warm-ups from 3.45pm and 5.05pm, with second day qualifying between 5.10pm and 8.15pm. The finals for day two run between 8.30pm and 10pm, with the podium presentations following on at 10.15pm.
After race 2 in Andorra the Elite Pro Series is led by French driver Jean-Philippe Dayraut (BMW M2) who has a narrow one-point lead over compatriot Jean-Baptiste Dubourg (Renault Clio 3), meanwhile former F1 superstar Olivier Panis (Audi A1 Quattro) currently sits 4th, only 20 points off the top spot. Meanwhile Nicolas Prost (Rebellion) occupies 5th spot in electric car rankings, some 38 points behind fellow Frenchman Christophe Ferrier (Nice Metropole).
We'll see you there!
