Circuit de Charade
The original 8.055 km version of the track The modern 3.975 km circuit, first used in 1989 | |
Location | F1 ) |
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The Circuit de Charade, also known as Circuit Louis Rosier and Circuit Clermont-Ferrand, is a
Circuit history
There had been local interest in motorsport racing beginning with proposals in 1908 for a race on a street circuit, although the proposals were never enacted.[1] Efforts were renewed after the Second World War when the President of the Sports Association of the Automobile Club of Auvergne, Jean Auchatraire, and accomplished racer Louis Rosier designed a course by adapting pre-existing roads around the Puy de Dôme, an extinct volcano which dominated the city skyline.[1][3] Construction began in May 1957 and the first race was held in July 1958 when an endurance race was won by Innes Ireland in a Lotus 1100, and a Formula Two race won by Maurice Trintignant in a Cooper T43.[1]
Originally, the 8.055 km (5.005 mi) long circuit was described as an even twistier and faster version of the Nürburgring.[2][4] With a relentless number of sharp curves and elevation changes and with almost no discernible straights, the circuit was both feared and respected by competitors.[2][4] The sinuous track layout caused some drivers like Jochen Rindt in the 1969 French Grand Prix to complain of motion sickness, and wore open face helmets just in case.[1][2] Despite the numerous curves, the track was relatively fast with Chris Amon setting the lap record in a Matra MS120 with a 167 km/h (104 mph) average during the 1972 French Grand Prix.[2][5]
In his 1969 book Motor Cycle Racing, Peter Carrick wrote:
The French Grand Prix circuit at Clermont Ferrand was seen to be in complete contrast to the lap at
Monza, when it was first used in 1959: the longest straight was 590 m (650 yd) and a variety of really tight corners quickly demonstrated—or exposed—a rider's skill![6]
The venue first gained international prominence when it hosted the French motorcycle Grand Prix in 1959, won by John Surtees riding an MV Agusta.[1][7] The circuit would host the French motorcycle Grand Prix ten times between 1959 and 1974.[1] In 1959, Stirling Moss competed on the track for the first time and declared: "I don't know a more wonderful track than Charade".[3] Also in 1959, Ivor Bueb winner of the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, died following a crash at the Charade Circuit.[3] The death would mark the only driver fatality at the circuit.[3] The only motorcyclist fatality occurred when Marcelin Herranz was killed on June 1, 1963 during the 250cc race of the French motorcycle Grand Prix.[8]
The
While the circuit's natural setting created conditions for a sinuous, challenging race course, it also created safety concerns due to the dark, volcanic rocks which fell from the mountain onto both sides of the track.[1] The rocks posed a perennial hazard at the Charade Circuit, as was shown during the 1972 French Grand Prix when ten drivers, including Chris Amon, suffered tire punctures.[1][2] Drivers who skirted the track edge would send rocks flying in the middle of the road and into the path of pursuing competitors. One particular incident at the 1972 French Grand Prix involved a rock penetrating Helmut Marko's helmet visor after being kicked up from ahead of him, cutting his racing career short as his left eye was subsequently blinded.[1][2] The mountainous topography also left no room to provide safe run-off areas in the event of competitors losing control of their vehicles and unintentionally leaving the race course.[1][2]
The venue became increasingly shunned by international racing series as concerns about the public roads' dangerous nature rose.
Modernization
The
Currently, the venue holds events such as track days, driving courses as well as historic motorsport events.[1][2] In 2000, the roads were closed to the public, with the track becoming a truly permanent facility with new pit garages and a widened pit lane.[1][2] The original sections of the 8.055 km (5.005 mi) street circuit are still in use as public roadways.[1][2]
Lap records
The fastest official race lap records at the Circuit de Charade are listed as:
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Charade". racingcircuits.info. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "The Volcanic Rush of Clermont Ferrand". speedhunters.com. August 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d "A Brief History of Charade". theracingline.net. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Circuit Charade". espn.co.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ^ "1972 French Grand Prix fastest laps". formula1.com. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ISBN 0 600 02506 3Accessed 2013-07-30
- ^ "1959 French motorcycle Grand Prix". motogp.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ^ "French Cycle Racer Killed in Crash". The Washington Post. June 2, 1963. p. C4.
- ^ "GP d'Auvergne". Formula 2. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
- ^ "1965 French Grand Prix". formula1.com. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ^ "Paul Ricard Circuit History". www.circuitpaulricard.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
- ^ "Car and truck fatalities by circuit". Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved 2012-05-28.
- ^ "Circuit". Circuit de Charade. Conseil départemental du Puy-de-Dôme. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
- ^ "1999 French Formula 3 Trophée d´Auvergne (Race 1)". Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ "FFSA GT Championship Charade 1998". Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ "Trophée d'Auvergne 1974". Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ "Trophée d'Auvergne 1971". Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ "1973 French Formula 3 XV Trophée de Auvergne". Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ "1964 Clermont-Ferrand F2". Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ "V Trophée d´Auvergne Formula Junior". Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ "Trophée d'Auvergne 1963". Retrieved 16 June 2022.
External links
- Official site (in French)
- Official association site to save circuit (in French)
- Satellite picture by Google Maps (present layout; zoom out to see the old circuit)