Image: Jacques Letihon
To make the Spanish celebration complete, three support races will be in action at Navarra, in addition to the 8-hour V de V Sports endurance race.
ASAVE, the founding association of competitions for Historic Competition Vehicles (VHC) in France, will be present with two series.
ASAVE Racing 65 bringing together touring cars, GT and prototypes pre-1966.
ASAVE Racing 76 for touring and GT cars from 1966 to 1976 and production touring cars (Group 1) up to 1981.
The two 45-minute races for each category will once again prove that it is possible to keep history running.
The Lotus Trophy will also be joining us for the weekend. It is a single-model championship dedicated to Lotus Sevens: 140 hp for around 500 kg, Colin Chapman's “light is right” formula for equal performance.
Affordability and excitement are the key words for this trophy, the oldest in French history and one of the few to use a single-class formula! For this championship, it will be the very first incursion into Spanish territory!
Spotlight on the BMW 635 CSi
The BMW 635 CSi's competitive career spanned almost 10 years. It began even before the Group A era. Approved in Group 2 in 1980 as a replacement for the venerable CSL (E9), it quickly made its mark on European circuits. Even today, this elegant and sporty sedan remains a weapon of choice in historic racing!
The Group 2 era, then Group A
In 1980, BMW Italia funded the Racing Corporation Vienna team, which entered a 635 CSi in the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC). Harald Neger, Heribert Werginz, and Umberto Grano won four races. The following year, success came with the Eggenberger Motorsport team, with Helmut Kelleners and Umberto Grano winning the ETCC title with five wins out of a possible eight.
BMW's transition to Group A was successful. When the FIA changed the regulations in 1982—Group 2 required 1,000 production models, while Group A required 5,000 units produced in twelve months—BMW continued to develop its 635 CSi. Alpina and Burkhard Bovensiepen prepared the 3.5-liter M30 six-cylinder engine, which now developed 290 to 310 horsepower.
The success was immediate. In 1983, Dieter Quester won the ETCC title. That same year marked the first of three victories for the model at the 24 Hours of Spa (1983, 1985, 1986). The 635 CSi became legendary.
A perfect choice for historical competitions
Today, 635 CSi's are regular stars of historic racing events. This is the case in V de V Sports, with the model entered by Châteaux Sport Auto. A 1979 version, which received Group 2 preparation, and which managed to win overall at the 6 Hours of Barcelona V de V Sports in 2023!
What are the strengths of this “gentleman racer coupe”? “It’s a car that’s not as physically demanding to drive as it might seem, explains Matthieu Châteaux. It’s powerful but relatively easy to handle. We opted for Group 2 preparation for our model, as this allows more freedom than Group A homologation.”
The widened wheel arches are evidence of this, allowing the German car to stand out slightly from the standard model. “It's not just about aesthetics, it also allows for higher cornering speeds.”
The car that will compete in the 1,000 km of Navarra and the 2 Tours d'Horloge 2026 is dedicated to endurance racing. "Since 2020, we have been entering it exclusively in endurance races. We have strengthened some components and optimised others. The wheel mounting system has been changed to a single central bolt, and the lubrication and cooling of the gearbox and rear axle have been redesigned for endurance racing." With an rpm range set before each race to get the most out of the 3.5-liter 6-cylinder engine, the 635 CSi is the perfect car, combining power, torque, reliability... and fun!
Three questions for Romain Belleteste
As a long-time contender in V de V Sports, Romain Belleteste (Atlantic Racing) knows the Navarra circuit well. He won there in 2024 with a Chevron B16 twin-rotor, paired with Christophe Gadais. He reflects on that victory and tells us about his eagerness to return to Spain.
Navarra is the first event on the 2026 calendar. I imagine you're looking to defend your title there?
Romain Belleteste: Yes, it's pretty nice. However, I don't intend to make the bold claim that we're going to win again! We had an exciting race, and particularly memorable battles with Matthieu Châteaux (Chevron B16 from the Châteaux Sport Auto team). The race was far from predictable! We changed positions at least 15 times, and at the end, I almost ran out of fuel. After 6 hours, we won by only 20 seconds.
I understand that you also used some strategy to win?
The endurance-based V de V racing series allows for some strategic moves, something that is impossible in 40 or 45-minute races. So we tried to optimize everything, sometimes taking advantage of safety car periods. Everyone gave 2000%! It's also a technical track, where you improve as the weekend goes on. With a lot of track time, you can really build up your pace gradually.
Does a first race in Spain provide extra motivation for a driver?
I love going to Spain. Traveling there in April is a great choice because the weather is generally good, and once you're outside the circuit, you can walk around the streets and eat outside. It feels almost like an early holiday! I remember leaving home in the rain and arriving in San Sebastián when the sun was shining. I hope you've booked it again for this year!
