A decor of stands, the roar of engines, announcements, and smells recreate the atmosphere of a circuit inside the racing area of the Cité de l'Automobile. Ancient racing car models by Panhard, Bugatti, Mercedes, Maserati, or Lotus are aligned on each side of a central alley, forming a prestigious starting line. They have thrilled thousands of spectators at their time and still entertain the museum's visitors. Some of these emblematic cars sometimes circle the rings of the nearby autodrome.