A star theme and two prestigious patrons!
The automotive theme of the Saint-Saturnin Classic British Welcome has been revealed! The marque in the limelight on Friday 14 June will be Mercedes! Norman drivers Jean-Luc Chéreau and Pierre Yver have agreed to sponsor the 2024 edition!
There have been Jaguars, Bentleys, Aston Martins, MGs, Marcos, Lotuses, Morgans… but also Porsches, Ferraris, BMWs, Alpines… The automotive theme for the 2024 edition of the Classic British Welcome is a new one: the event, held north of Le Mans, has chosen MERCEDES!
“The history of Mercedes at Le Mans is a special one,’ admits Jean-Christophe Mazel, the new President of Classic British Welcome. ‘But the fact remains that Mercedes is undoubtedly one of the brands, if not the most widely distributed brand in the world! Mercedes also knows how to make GT3s, in reference to the new GT category of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We have a hunch that, in the not too distant future, one or more teams will enter the FIA WEC and the Le Mans 24 Hours with a Mercedes!”
Another reason behind this choice, which is unprecedented since 2001, the year the Saint-Saturnin Classic British Welcome was created, is that 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the launch of the legendary 300 SL model! ‘Its unchanging lines and butterfly doors set it apart from the rest,’ explains Jean-Christophe Mazel. ‘The feedback we’ve had from contacts with clubs and Mercedes owners has been extremely positive. We’re delighted with this automotive theme, and we can’t wait to share this enthusiasm with the thousands of visitors who flock here every year, just 1 day before the Le Mans 24 Hours!
Jean-Luc Chéreau and Pierre Yver
Saint-Saturnin Classic British Welcome was the first town in the Sarthe region to organise a motoring festival recognised by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest in 2001, and very early on in its young history it sought the symbolic patronage of Le Mans 24 Hours drivers. The first was Jan Lammers, the Dutchman who won Le Mans with Jaguar in 1988! Then came Derek Bell, Johnny Herbert, Stirling Moss, Paul Frère, Jean-Pierre Jabouille, Henri Pescarolo, Gérard Larousse and even Jean-Pierre Pernot, among other illustrious references!
June 2024: a duo has agreed to sponsor the event. Among other things, they share Norman roots and an unwavering passion for the Le Mans 24 Hours. The names of these heroes are Jean-Luc Chéreau and Pierre Yver!
Jean-Luc CHEREAU has a name that you might read on your road trips: CHEREAU semi-trailers, that’s him! The company was founded by his father, and this great entrepreneur has developed it to the point of creating the Chéreau Sport entity in the 90s. Jean-Luc has 9 participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, all in Porsches prepared by Jack Leconte’s Larbre Compétition team.
As for Pierre YVER he has 22 participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, from 1978 to 1999! After starting out in Lola small cars, Pierre Yver was lucky enough to work alongside Jean Rondeau and to contest the race on 4 occasions in a… Rondeau! The turning point came in 1986 when Pierre Yver, with the help of Primagaz, had the privilege of driving the famous Porsche 962! And it was at the wheel of this car that he scored his best result in the Sarthe, with a 2nd place finish in the 1987 event!
Jean-Luc Chéreau and Pierre Yver have promised to be at Saint-Saturnin on Friday 14 June.
An essential reminder: whatever the chosen motoring theme, Mercedes in this case for June 2024, the Saint-Saturnin Classic British Welcome remains open to all visitors, with a large surface area set aside to welcome as many sports cars, prestige cars, character cars, historic or contemporary cars, right-hand drive or left-hand drive, all makes included!
EVERY YEAR A THEME AND A SPECIAL GUEST
Right from the start, the Saint-Saturnin Classic British Welcome made its mark on the 24 hour weekend, attracting interest from manufacturer’s clubs and key figures in the world of endurance racing. The event has a different theme and a special guest each year.
This year, our guests will be Pierre YVER and Jean Luc CHEREAU!
PREVIOUS EVENTS
2022
Dr Wolfgang Ullrich
2019 Morgan
Jacques Nicolet
2018 BMW
Jan Lammers, Dutch driver, winner of Le Mans 24 hours
2017 Marcos
Frédéric Sausset, Christophe Tinseau, Jean-Bernard Bouvet
2016 Alpine
Mauro Bianchi, Jean-Pierre Jaussaud
2015 MG
Tom Kristensen, record number of Le Mans victories
2014 Porsche
Jürgen Barth, German driver, winner of Le Mans 24 hours.
2013 90th anniversary of the Le Mans 24 Hours
Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Le Mans 24 Hours and the major British marques who have made their stamp on the history of the
2012 Triumph
Derek Bell, British driver, winner of Le Mans 24 hours
2011 Jaguar E Type
Henri Pescarolo, French driver, winner of Le Mans 24 hours. Andy Wallace, British driver, winner of Le Mans 24 hours
2010 Corvette
Doug Fehan, Program Manager at Corvette Racing
2009 Morgan
Jean-Pierre Jabouille, French Formula 1 and Le Mans 24 hours driver
2008 Ferrari
Phil Hill, American driver, winner of Le Mans 24 hours
2007 Austin Healey
Yves Courage, French driver and designer of prototype cars for Le Mans 24 hours.
2006 Aston Martin
Paul Frère, Belgian driver, winner of Le Mans 24 hours before becoming a journalist.
2005 Lotus
Johnny Herbert, British driver, winner of Le Mans 24 hours. (Sir Stirling Moss attended the event)
2004 Porsche
Derek Bell, British driver, winner of Le Mans 24 hours
2003 Jaguar
Jan Lammers, Dutch driver, winner of Le Mans 24 hours
