Abstract: The disclosure includes an ignition control circuit comprising a transformer having at its secondary side an operating winding, and at least one filament winding. In a pre-heating phase, only the filament winding, which is normally connected to the filaments of a lamp, is active. In this way, the filaments of the lamp are heated first. After a predetermined time, the secondary operating winding is switched on, by a triac. This triac is a compact component producing no or little heat. The invention provides a simple and economic ignition circuit for gas discharge lamps.