Aurélien Panis: the great champion
After 35 years, the Trophée Andros has come to an end at Super-Besse, with Aurélien Panis the overall winner. Here's a look back at a final like no other.
After 35 years, the Trophée Andros has come to an end at Super-Besse. Despite extreme ice-free conditions, this final round of the 2023-2024 competition was a great success, with a huge turnout. As for the results of our partner Aurélien Panis, they couldn't have been better... Indeed, this final enabled him to be crowned Champion once again!
The end of the Andros Trophy
The ice racing competition drew to a close on Saturday January 27 in Super-Besse.
Max Mamers, French rallycross champion, and Frédéric Gervoson, president of the Andros company, launched the first edition of ice racing in Serre Chevalier in January 1990. It was the start of the Trophée Andros, a winter championship that would endure for 35 years. In 2019-2020, it is evolving with the times, becoming a 100% electric race too. It is renamed e-Trophée Andros.
But the championship is finally falling victim to global warming. There's less and less snow, and you have to climb higher and higher. As a symbol, the legendary race saw its last lap in a snow-free landscape. Aurelien Panis won his third title in the discipline, making him the ultimate champion.
Aurélien Panis, champion of the last e-Trophée Andros race
However, by the time Aurelien reached Super-Besse, all was still to play for, and the battle was fierce with Jean-Baptiste Dubourg. Although Dorian Boccolacci won this final race and the top step of the podium, ahead of Aurélien Panis and Théophile Naël, it was Aurélien who came out on top, retaining the title of champion. Behind him came Jean-Baptiste Dubourg in second place and Dorian Boccolacci in third.
The final word from Aurélien Panis
"Our aim, with my entire Sainteloc Racing team, was to win this final title. I'm proud and happy to have succeeded in this challenge. I'm closing the chapter of the Andros Trophy with three championship titles, in 2020, 2023 and 2024. It will undoubtedly remain an important period in my career, with unforgettable memories and great battles! I'd like to thank my Sainteloc Racing team, the Trophée Andros and all my partners, including Team Ameg Sport."
AMEG Group would also like to thank Aurélien Panis for taking us behind the scenes of this championship. We wish him every success in his new adventures.
Now it's time for his summer season, with the GT World Challenge Europe. As last year, he will represent the Belgian team, Boutsen VDS, on all European circuits. The first race takes place on April 6, on the French Paul Ricard circuit. Are you ready to follow him?