 | |
| Location | Nogaro,Gers,France |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°46′5″N0°2′17″W / 43.76806°N 0.03806°W /43.76806; -0.03806 |
| FIA Grade | 2 |
| Opened | 3 October 1960; 65 years ago (1960-10-03) |
| Major events | Current: Coupes de Pâques de Nogaro [fr] (1968–present) FFSA GT (1997–2011, 2014, 2016–present) Alpine Elf Cup (2019–present) Former: Grand Prix motorcycle racing French motorcycle Grand Prix (1978, 1982) European Truck Racing Championship (1994–2016) Blancpain Sprint Series (2013–2015) NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (2009–2013) FIA GT (2007–2008) FIA Sportscar Championship (2003) BPR GT (1995–1996) F3000 (1990–1993) ETCC (1985–1988) Formula 750 (1976, 1979) Sidecar World Championship (1978) |
| Website | http://www.circuit-nogaro.com/ |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1989–present)[a] | |
| Length | 3.636 km (2.259 mi) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Race lap record | 1:20.160 ( Alessandro Zanardi,Reynard 91D,1991,F3000) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1973–1988) | |
| Length | 3.120 km (1.939 mi) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:11.860 ( Ricardo Zunino,Arrows A1,1979,F1) |
| Original Circuit (1960–1973) | |
| Length | 1.752 km (1.089 mi) |
| Turns | 9 |
| Race lap record | 0:51.700 ( Christian Ethuin [pl],Martini MK12,1973,F3) |
Circuit Paul Armagnac, also known asCircuit de Nogaro, is amotorsportrace track located in thecommune ofNogaro in theGersdepartment in southwestern France. The track is named in honor of Nogaro-born racing driver Paul Armagnac, who died in an accident during practice for the1962 1000 km de Paris at theMontlhéry circuit.[1]
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Motorsports racing events in Nogaro were first organized when racing driver Paul Armagnac andRobert Castagnon created the Association Sportive Automobile de l'Armagnac. In 1953, the Rallye de l'Armagnac was held on astreet circuit using public roads around Nogaro. Public safety concerns after the1955 Le Mans disaster caused the number ofroad racing events on public roads in Europe to decrease. Plans were made to create a permanent race circuit and construction began in 1959 at a site near the Nogaro airport.[citation needed]
The race circuit opened on 3 October 1960 as the first purpose-built race circuit in France.[2][3][4] The first race held at the new circuit was the Nogaro Grand Prix forFormula Junior cars, won by Bruno Basini.[2] Initially 1.752 km (1.089 mi) long, it was expanded in 1973 and 1989 to its current 3.636 km (2.259 mi) length. In 2007 the circuit was modernized including a new control tower, a new pitlane and widening the track to 12 m (39 ft).[citation needed]
The venue hostedFormula Two championship races from1975 to1978. It also hosted theFrench motorcycle Grand Prix in1978 and1982; the 1982 race saw a boycott from major teams and riders over safety concerns, resulting in the now-MotoGP leaving the track permanently at the end of the season.[5][6] The Nogaro circuit also hosted theEuropean Touring Car Championship from 1985 to 1988.[citation needed]
The track is relatively flat, with 6 m (20 ft) difference in elevation between its highest and lowest points. It is raced clockwise and consists of two long straights, the 0.950 km (0.590 mi) long start-finish straight named after Nogaro-born motorcycle constructor Claude Fior and the almost parallel aerodrome straight, linked by sections of several slow corners. The aerodrome straight passes alongside the neighbouringNogaro Aerodrome.
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Current
The official lap record for the current Grand Prix circuit layout is 1:20.160, set byAlessandro Zanardi during the1991 Nogaro F3000 round, while the unofficial all-time track record is 1:17.342, set byFranck Lagorce in the qualifying of1993 Nogaro F3000 round.[3][8] As of April 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Circuit Paul Armagnac are listed as: