Less than a week away from the resumption of the Michelin 24H SERIES European Series in Italy, the Michelin 12H MISANO, organisers Creventic are also firmly pressing on with preparations for the subsequent event – July’s hotly anticipated summer sizzler, the Michelin 12H Paul Ricard.
The fourth event of the European Series season, taking place on Saturday, 5 July, will mark the first trip to the fabulous Circuit Paul Ricard for the Michelin 24H SERIES since 2021. Unsurprisingly, the excitement level is at fever-pitch as the category prepares for its long-awaited return to the south of France and to one of the most exceptional endurance racing venues in world motorsport.
Situated just a short distance from Marseille, and little more than an hour and a half by road from Saint-Tropez, the 5.8-kilometre, 15 turn Le Castellet track is famed as a tailor-made venue for top line endurance racing as well as a past venue for the FIA Formula One World Championship.
July’s Michelin 12H Paul Ricard will be the fifth time Creventic’s series has been hosted at the French circuit, although only the second time the race has been over a duration of 12 hours – the events in 2015, 2016 and 2017 were all 24-hour contests.
Of the previous winners at Circuit Paul Ricard, Herberth Motorsport has delivered victory for Porsche on no fewer than three occasions. Winning during the most recent visit in 2021, ahead of Ferrari and Audi entries, Herberth also won in 2017 and 2016. During the inaugural event in 2015, the German team was second to the victorious Mercedes-AMG of Ram Racing.
For this year’s race, an entry of around 40 cars is anticipated across the GT3, 992, GTX, GT4 and TCE-TCX classes. Aside from the intense competition for victory in the Michelin 12H Paul Ricard, the event carries huge importance in being the penultimate event of the current campaign.
From the perspective of the drivers, the challenge provided by the track is one of the very best offered in global car racing. Renowned for the long Mistral Straight, which was split-up by the introduction of a chicane in 1990 to somewhat tame the blindingly fast 1.8-kilometre drag, the track also has some great technical sections and a number of good overtaking opportunities.
When the race itself takes place in early July expect electrifying action into the first left-right chicane, which is a short distance from the start-line. It will be very busy indeed with a likely entry of 40 or so cars, all streaming through and charging onward to the Virage de L’Hotel and Virage du Camp section.
After blasting up the Mistral Straight, weaving through the chicane halfway along, the right into Courbe de Signes builds towards the final few turns where challenges can, and undoubtedly will, be made. Notably, the all-asphalt run-off areas – which were established in the early 2000s when the venue operated for a time as a test-only track facility – provide a high level of safety.
Where better for an endurance motor race? The glorious south of France, in the height of summer, it really is going to be one of the true blue riband meetings of the 2025 Michelin 24H SERIES European Series. We’ll see you there!
Competitors and teams will be first on track at Paul Ricard on Thursday, 3 July, with a brace of four-hour Creventic Track Day sessions. Additional testing and free practice will follow on Friday, 4 July, with qualifying then beginning from 15.30 local time. The Michelin 12H PAUL RICARD race will get underway at 10.00 local time on Saturday, 5 July, running through to its night-time finish at 22.00.