 Modern Circuit (1989–present) | |
 The original 8.055 km version of the track | |
| Location | Saint-Genès-Champanelle,Auvergne,France |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 45°44′50″N3°02′20″E / 45.74722°N 3.03889°E /45.74722; 3.03889 |
| Broke ground | May 1957; 68 years ago (1957-05) |
| Opened | 27 July 1958; 67 years ago (1958-07-27) |
| Major events | Former: Formula One French Grand Prix (1965, 1969–1970, 1972) Grand Prix motorcycle racing French motorcycle Grand Prix (1959–1964, 1966–1967, 1972, 1974) Sidecar World Championship (1959–1962, 1964, 1966–1967, 1972, 1974) World Sportscar Championship (1962–1963) FFSA GT Championship (1998) French Supertouring Championship (1990–1991, 1994–1996, 1998–1999) Formula 750 (1973) |
| Website | https://www.charade.fr/ |
| Modern Circuit (1989–present) | |
| Length | 3.975 km (2.470 mi) |
| Turns | 18 |
| Race lap record | 1:43.827 ( Sébastien Bourdais,Martini MK79,1999,F3) |
| Original Circuit (1958–1988) | |
| Length | 8.055 km (5.005 mi) |
| Turns | 48 |
| Race lap record | 2:53.900 ( Chris Amon,Matra MS120D,1972,F1) |
TheCircuit de Charade, also known asCircuit Louis Rosier andCircuit Clermont-Ferrand, is amotorsportrace track inSaint-Genès-Champanelle nearClermont-Ferrand in thePuy-de-Dômedepartment inAuvergne in centralFrance.[1][2] The circuit, built around the base of an extinct volcano, was known for its challenging layout which favored the most skillful drivers and motorcyclists.[1][2] It hosted theFrench Grand Prix four times and theFrench motorcycle Grand Prix ten times.
There had been local interest in motorsport racing beginning with proposals in 1908 for a race on astreet 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 racerLouis Rosier designed a course by adapting pre-existing roads around thePuy de Dôme, an extinctvolcano which dominated the city skyline.[1][3] Construction began in May 1957 and the first race was held in July 1958 when anendurance race was won byInnes Ireland in aLotus 1100, and aFormula Two race won byMaurice Trintignant in aCooper T43.[1]
Originally, the 8.055 km (5.005 mi) long circuit was described as an even twistier and faster version of theNürburgring.[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] Thesinuous track layout caused some drivers likeJochen Rindt in the1969 French Grand Prix to complain ofmotion sickness, and wore open face helmets just in case.[1][2] Despite the numerous curves, the track was relatively fast withChris Amon setting the lap record in aMatra MS120 with a 167 km/h (104 mph) average during the1972 French Grand Prix.[2][5]
In his 1969 bookMotor Cycle Racing, Peter Carrick wrote:
The French Grand Prix circuit at Clermont Ferrand was seen to be in complete contrast to the lap atMonza, 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 theFrench motorcycle Grand Prix in1959, won byJohn Surtees riding anMV Agusta.[1][7] The circuit would host the French motorcycle Grand Prix ten times between 1959 and1974.[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 the1955 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]
The1964 Trophées d'Auvergne Formula 2 race podium was a sign of things to come:Denny Hulme,Jackie Stewart andJochen Rindt showed their skill before the circuit hosted its firstFormula 1 race whenJim Clark won the1965 French Grand Prix forTeam Lotus.[9][10] In 1965,John Frankenheimer filmed a small part of his movieGrand Prix in front of 3,000 local inhabitants, who posed as race spectators watching actors likeYves Montand andFrançoise Hardy.[1][2] In total four Formula One French Grand Prix were held at Charade, in1965,1969,1970 and1972.
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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 routinely 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, includingChris 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 penetratingHelmut 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 saferun-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.[1] In 1971, the newly built and much saferCircuit Paul Ricard held the French Grand Prix for the first time, before becoming the event's permanent home from 1973 to 1990, alternating the French Grand Prix with the CircuitDijon-Prenois.[1][11] It continued to host smaller motorsports competitions such asFormula 3,sports car racing,touring car racing,rallying andhillclimbing as well as the Trophées d'Auverne.[1] In 1980, threetrack marshals were killed at a touring car race,[12] and in 1984 there was a drivers protest over track safety. Faced with increasing safety issues and with the natural topography preventing any chance of adding run-off areas, the final race on the original 8.055 km (5.005 mi) track was held on September 18, 1988.[1]
TheGeneral Council ofPuy-de-Dôme recognized the importance of the race track to the local economy and financed the building of a new 3.975 km (2.470 mi) circuit utilising only the southern portion of the original, with a new link road completing the circuit.[1][2][13] The new Circuit de Charade opened in 1989 hosting national championship races in the1994 French Supertouring Championship and the 1998FFSA GT Championship.
Currently, the venue holds events such astrack days, driving courses as well ashistoric motorsport events.[1][2] In 2000, the roads were closed to the public, with the track becoming a truly permanent facility with newpit 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] Part of the circuit was ridden by riders on stage 10 of2025 Tour de France.
As of June 1999, the fastest official race lap records at the Circuit de Charade are listed as:
