Formula 2, which made a brief appearance in 1952-53, returned definitively to Pau in 1958. The contest also changed dates at this time, shared between the weekends of Easter and Whitsuntide.

After a hesitant transition, confirmation that this formula was well adapted to the Pau track soon came, especially as drivers from Formula 1 didn't hesitate to pit themselves against the young blades of Formula 2.

Legendary racing drivers such as Jim Clark, 4 times winner at Pau, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, and even Jack Brabham, driver and constructor, came for a return match after a weekend of Formula One Grand Prix.

This period also saw the revival of French motor sport with the arrival of Matra Sport and drivers such as Jean Pierre Beltoise, Henri Pescarolo, Jonny Servoz-Gavin, and the greatly missed François Cevert.

The increased power of the cars, the appearance of aerofoils and spoilers, and of advertising on the side of the single seaters, all marked a real turning point at the end of the sixties, and the end of an era: that of the Gentleman Driver.

JMC.
Translation by M. Hargreaves.