The Andros Trophy: an atypical race

The e-Trophée Andros is the world's largest ice car competition. Since 2020, this rallycross-type race has been contested by 100% electric vehicles with four-wheel drive and steering. Our partnership with the driver Aurélien Panis is an opportunity to follow him during his participation in the 33rd Andros Trophy and to go into more detail about this mythical championship.

The Andros Trophy: an atypical race

The Andros Trophy, a French car race on ice

Max Mamers, French rallycross champion, and Frédéric Gervoson, president of the Andros company, met in the 1980s. They exchanged views on their common passion, motor sport, and shared a rather crazy dream, that of setting up a new type of competition. In January 1990, they launched a series of races on ice which took place in Serre Chevalier. This was the beginning of the Trophée Andros, a winter championship held in French ski resorts. It became increasingly successful and grew over the years.

Great drivers from various backgrounds took part: endurance racers like Benoît Tréluyer and Erik Comas, rally, rallycross, hill-climbing, but also touring circuit racers like Yvan Muller and single-seater racers like Alain Prost (four times champion) and Olivier Panis, Aurélien's father.

All-electric competition from 2019

The 2019-2020 season will see the second special feature of the Andros Trophy. The biggest car competition on ice also becomes a 100% electric race. It is renamed e-Trophée Andros.

The year before, when the race was still mixed, the first two places at the Stade de France were won by two four-wheel drive and steering electric vehicles: Aurélien Panis accompanied by his father, and the team of Sébastien Loeb and Franck Lagorce. This was all it took for the other drivers and teams to be seduced by the electric competition cars. They are reliable, safe, efficient and more precise. With both hands on the wheel, drivers can control the car at all times.

Several manufacturers are represented, such as Audi, Renault, Peugeot, etc. This type of race is, in fact, the laboratory for innovations and new car technologies. The industry then adapts them to our everyday cars. AMEG Group, which specialises in environmental control and the development of energy efficiency and electric motors, had to follow the Andros Trophy closely. Being a partner of Aurélien Panis during this adventure makes sense.

Categories of the e-Trophée Andros

The Andros e-Trophy is divided into several categories.

Aurélien Panis is taking part in the original Elite Pro championship which brings together professional drivers and the best teams. He is entered in the Sainteloc Racing team in a 100% electric Audi A1. Aurélien's objective is to win a second title, after the one in 2019, even if the competition is tough against Jean-Baptiste Dubourg (title holder), Romain Grosjean (former F1 driver) and the other competitors.

The following categories are :

Elite, for hopefuls and amateurs (many celebrities participate);

  • The Women's Trophy ;
  • ENEDIS e-Trophée Andros guests ;
  • The AMV Cup, the motorbike race.

The championship rules

The Andros e-Trophy is held over six events from December to January in six of France's most beautiful ski resorts. In 2021-2022, Val Thorens, Andorra, Isola 2000, Serre Chevalier, Lans en Vercors and Super Besse will host stages of the championship. At the end of the last event, the title is awarded to the driver who has accumulated the most points.

Each meeting is divided into three phases: practice, qualifying rounds and finals. The "Super Final", held at the Stade de France, does not count for the championship and is a demonstration show.

During the practice sessions, the drivers can complete a maximum of three laps to work on their set-up. During qualifying, the times are timed and determine the starting grids for the finals. The finals are then contested for victory.

In December, Aurélien Panis started the championship by winning the second Super Final in Val Thorens. Ready to follow the adventure with AMEG Group?