Charade Circuit

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Circuit Clermont Ferrand.png
Charade Circuit/Circuit Louis Rosier/Circuit Clermont-Ferrand
Location 22px-Flag of France.png Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne, France
Events Formula One (1965-1972)
Length km 8.055
Length mi 4.524
Turns ?
Record time 2'53.9 min. 166.751 km/h
Record driver Chris Amon
Record team ??
Record year 1972
File:Clermont-Ferrand1958-1988.gif
The original Charade Circuit that was used between 1958 and 1988.


The Charade Circuit (also known as Circuit Louis Rosier) is a motorsport road course in the Auvergne mountains in France near Clermont-Ferrand, the home of Michelin and Patrick Depailler.

Built in 1958 around the sides of an extinct volcano, the originally 8.055 km (5.005-mi) long Charade was described as an even twistier and faster version of the Nürburgring. Some drivers like Jochen Rindt in the 1969 French Grand Prix complained of motion sickness, and wore open face helmets, just in case.

The French Grand Prix motorcycle racing events were held at Charade from 1959 to 1967, and 1972 to 1974.

In 1964, the VI Trophée d'Auvergne Formula 2 race podium was a sign of things to come: Dennis Hulme, Jackie Stewart and Jochen Rindt showed their skill before the track hosted the 1965 French Grand Prix.

In 1966 John Frankenheimer made the "Grand Prix (film)" in front of 3000 locals who posed as race spectators watching actors like Yves Montand and Françoise Hardy.

In total four Formula One French Grands Prix were held at Charade: 1965, 1969, 1970 and 1972. Due to cutting the corners, a stone thrown from another car hit Helmut Marko in the eye during the 1972 French Grand Prix, ending his F1 career, as well as the one of the circuit. The stones also had caused ten deflated tyres, but luckily no big crashes. The French Grand Prix moved to the new Paul Ricard Circuit.

Formula 3, sports car racing, and touring car racing as when as Rallying and hillclimbing continued there until the 1980s when the original layout was criticized. Due to the layout on the side of a mountain it was not possible to build larger runoff areas, a similar problem as at the old Nürburgring. In 1980, three marshalls were killed, and in 1984 the pilots protested. The last race on the 8km track was held on September 18 1988.

A 3.86 km (2.4-mi) abbreviated version of the circuit is still in operation, hosting races like Formula 3.

Season Date Winning Driver Winning Team Report
1972 July 2 Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford Report
1970 July 5 Jochen Rindt Lotus-Ford Report
1969 July 6 Jackie Stewart Matra-Ford Report
1965 June 27 Jim Clark Lotus-Climax Report

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Formula One Circuits

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