In this edition of our Driver Stories, we chat with Le Mans prototype enthusiast and Ascott Collection owner Xavier Micheron about his route into racing and how he loves a good battle to reach the steps of the podium!

Xavier Micheron turning heads in Masters Endurance Legends

With an enviable lineup of recent Le Mans prototypes, Xavier Micheron has been turning heads in the Masters Endurance Legends grid since his debut in 2021. Now, he's cranking it up a notch by joining the new Masters Group C grid, too. A proper sportscar obsessive, Xavier doesn't just race them—he restores, curates, and lives them through his Ascott Collection, home to an incredible range of LMP and GT icons. But his love for endurance racing didn't start with slick carbon fibre—it was lit by something much wilder: the turbine-powered Howmet TX, a rare beast he still proudly owns. We caught up with Xavier during the Grand Prix de France Historique at Paul Ricard to talk passion, prototypes, and a touch of turbine madness.

How did you get involved in historic motor racing?

XM: Everything started a long time ago, because we kept asking my father to bring my brother and me to Le Mans. Every year, as a child, I was praying to be at Le Mans! But my own competitive drives began with a Jaguar E-type. I was doing rallies like the Tour Auto, but some 23 years ago, I decided I wanted to focus on circuit racing. At that time, I was working in investment banking, so it was all really a hobby. I admit that the Howmet TX was a very exotic choice for my first prototype, and in fact, I was looking for a Porsche 906 or 910. But then I saw an advert in the USA. I really loved the shape of the car, and I thought it would be a crazy idea to own a car powered by a helicopter turbine. So I went to see the car in the US and bought it! It has been quite a difficult project because the modifications inside the engine were lost over time. For instance, there is a wastegate system which makes it possible to decrease the lag and overcome the inertia when you want to accelerate because the gas generator is turning at 57,000 revs per minute! It took two years for me to collect the information and to have the engine restored. After that, I initially moved to older cars like the Lister-Jaguar, the Lotus 15 and then Group A touring cars and Group C sports cars. But then I raced a Lola B98/10 at Daytona, an LMP900 car of the time, and I was really impressed with it. That got me interested in more modern cars.

So was it still just a hobby at this stage?

XM: I launched Ascott Collection in 2014, first because I wanted to create a collection—hence the name. So the business started because I wanted a change in life. Friends said, you could also sell our cars, so then I started a bit of brokerage. That's where it all started. I don't have a workshop of my own, so I work with restorers such as Scott Sport. I like working with Aaron  Scott, we have a great relationship. But it's sometimes confusing to people because of our names—Ascott and A Scott!

What was your first Masters weekend?

XM: That was Portimão in 2021, in the Masters Endurance Legends with the Elan-powered Riley & Scott MkIIIC. I remember we had a very wet weekend. I did P2 in the first race, so that was good. And then I spun in the second race, so that was not so good! But I loved the atmosphere and Masters were very friendly organisers.

Are you in it to win it? Or is it just for fun?

XM: I try to win, for sure, but I also like having fun. The first battle is against myself because I always try to improve my driving and the car, and then, if we can have a good result, that's fine. I prefer to have fun in a car and finish P4, instead of P1 and not having fun. It's nice to have battles with other drivers and to have a car with a good setup.

Your best day in motor racing?

XM: There are so many! I think Portimão with Masters was very good, because I didn't know the track, we had wet conditions and I had a very good feeling in the car. And finishing P2 knowing that there were more modern cars against me… Also, my first podium in Group C2 with a Tiga. And I love the days when we first test a car after it has been restored. Recently, we completed the DBA 03S, an LMP1 with a Zytek engine that only weighs 715 kg. Nic Minassian told me it was his favourite car. So when I tested the car for the first time after the restoration had been a lot of hard work, I was quite emotional.

And your worst day?

XM: That was the Le Mans Classic with the Lotus 15. Every time I was trying to take the start, the car stopped on the first lap! I lost the brakes, the engine blew up—it was a complete disaster!

The best car you've ever driven?

XM: I think that has to be the DBA now. It has a lot of aero and is very light. The 3.4-litre Zytek engine is very modern and fantastic to drive. And apart from that Le Mans weekend, I really loved the Lotus 15. Compared to the Lister Knobbly and Lister Costin I had before, it was like driving a prototype. And to be honest, I like also driving the Howmet. There is the noise of the turbine, and the car is going very fast on the straights. No engine braking, so you just have to push the brakes! I have lots of braking power on the rear… And now I'm starting to drive the Nissan R90CP. We still have to make some improvements on the setup, because managing the turbo is something new for me. And finally, I would say that the Riley & Scott is like a very good friend. We took many podiums, it's very reliable and cost-effective to run, and still very fast.

And your worst car?

XM: That's a Mini. Maybe because of the front-wheel drive, but I also didn't like the position of the steering wheel. Not for me.

Your favourite circuit?

XM: Le Mans, of course! I raced at Portimão only once, but I really loved it, because it was up and down. And for sure, Spa is also great, especially because I'm not too bad in wet conditions.

Who is the rival that you fear or respect the most?

XM: I must mention Christophe d'Ansembourg and his son Antoine, and then also Marco Werner and Keith Frieser. Especially Keith—we had some good fights on several occasions. They all race more modern cars, so that adds a challenge.

And who's your best mate in the paddock?

XM: I would say Christophe again, and also Jamie Constable and Mike Cantillon, because they have raced in Masters Endurance Legends apart from their Formula One programme. Jamie now has the Zytek 04S that I sold him, and Mike used to have a Pescarolo LMP1. We all love the same cars. I'm really happy to have decided to also do some races with Masters, because I love the British atmosphere and the level of the drivers is very high. The Masters team is very professional and friendly, with excellent communication. It also helps that Scott Sport's workshop is in Britain! With Fred, there's an added French touch now, and that's great. I love how they've done everything to create a great experience not just for myself, but also for my wife Sophie. The fact that Fred launched the Group C series is another good reason, because it gives more opportunity to race a Group C car, at other tracks like Silverstone or the Nürburgring. I think it's a good sign for the market. I hope we will see more Group Cs entered, because they are extraordinary cars to watch and drive. These cars fascinate the public because they bear witness to a period when manufacturers were developing increasingly competitive cars that differed from one brand to another. Their shapes and engines were very different. In short, it's a significant chapter in the history of endurance racing! And if we get a good field of Group C machines, it's the best there is, isn't it? It's very similar to F1, as a homogenous series instead of a combination of prototypes and GTs—and I think that's very cool.