Location | Nogaro, Gers, France |
---|---|
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) CEST (DST) |
Coordinates | 43°46′5″N0°2′17″W / 43.76806°N 0.03806°W |
FIA Grade | 2 |
Opened | 3 October 1960 |
Major events | Current: Coupes de Pâques de Nogaro (1968–present) FFSA GT (1997–2011, 2014, 2016–present) Alpine Elf Europa 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 miles) |
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 miles) |
Turns | 11 |
Race lap record | 1:11.860 ( Ricardo Zunino, Arrows A1, 1979, F1) |
Original Circuit (1960–1973) | |
Length | 1.752 km (1.089 miles) |
Turns | 9 |
Race lap record | 0:51.700 ( Christian Ethuin, Martini MK12, 1973, F3) |
Circuit Paul Armagnac, also known as Circuit de Nogaro, is a motorsport race track located in the commune of Nogaro in the Gers department in southwestern France. The track is named in honor of Nogaro-born racing driver Paul Armagnac, who died in an accident during practice for the 1962 1000 km de Paris at the Montlhéry circuit. [1]
Motorsports racing events in Nogaro were first organized when racing driver Paul Armagnac and Robert Castagnon created the Association Sportive Automobile de l'Armagnac. In 1953, the Rallye de l'Armagnac was held on a street circuit using public roads around Nogaro. Public safety concerns after the 1955 Le Mans disaster caused the number of road 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 for Formula 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 hosted Formula Two championship races from 1975 to 1978. It also hosted the French motorcycle Grand Prix in 1978 and 1982. The Nogaro circuit also hosted the European 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 neighbouring Nogaro Aerodrome.
The official lap record for the current Grand Prix circuit layout is 1:20.160, set by Alessandro Zanardi during the 1991 Nogaro F3000 round, while the unofficial all-time track record is 1:17.342, set by Franck Lagorce in the qualifying of 1993 Nogaro F3000 round. [3] [6] As of June 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Circuit Paul Armagnac are listed as:
The Circuit Paul Ricard is a French motorsport race track built in 1969 at Le Castellet, Var, near Marseille, with finance from pastis magnate Paul Ricard. Ricard wanted to experience the challenge of building a racetrack. The circuit has hosted the FIA Formula One French Grand Prix intermittently from 1971 to 2022.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a 4.657 km (2.894 mi) motorsport race track in Montmeló, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. With long straights and a variety of corners, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is seen as an all-rounder circuit. The track has stands with a capacity of 140,700. The circuit has FIA Grade 1 license.
The Hungaroring is a 4.381 km (2.722 mi) motorsport racetrack in Mogyoród, Pest County, Hungary where the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix is held. In 1986, it became the location of the first Formula One Grand Prix behind the Iron Curtain. Bernie Ecclestone wanted a race in the USSR, but a Hungarian friend recommended Budapest. They wanted a street circuit similar to the Circuit de Monaco to be built in the Népliget – Budapest's largest park – but the government decided to build a new circuit just outside the city near a major highway. Construction works started on 1 October 1985. It was built in eight months, less time than any other Formula One circuit. The first race was held on 24 March 1986, in memory of János Drapál, the first Hungarian who won motorcycle Grand Prix races. According to a survey put together by the national tourism office of Hungary, Mogyoród ranks third among Hungarian destinations visited by tourists, behind the Danube Bend area and Lake Balaton, but ahead of Budapest. The circuit has FIA Grade 1 license.
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours is a 4.411 km (2.741 mi) motor racing circuit located in central France, near the towns of Magny-Cours and Nevers, some 250 km (160 mi) from Paris and 240 km (150 mi) from Lyon.
The Masaryk circuit or Masarykring, also referred to as the Brno Circuit, refers to two motorsport race tracks located in Brno, Czech Republic. The original street circuit was made up of public roads, and at its longest measured 29.194 km (18.140 mi). The track is named after the first president of Czechoslovakia, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. In 1949, events such as the Czechoslovakian Grand Prix attracted top teams and drivers. In 1987, the new (current) circuit was opened. The Brno Circuit is historically one of the oldest circuits, on the place were also held the most motorcycle championships in history after the TT Circuit Assen.
The Circuit Zolder, also known as Circuit Terlamen, is an undulating 4.011 km (2.492 mi) motorsport race track in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.
The Circuito do Estoril or Autódromo do Estoril, officially known as Autódromo Fernanda Pires da Silva, is a motorsport race track on the Portuguese Riviera, outside of Lisbon, owned by state-run holding management company Parpública. Its length is 4.182 km (2.599 mi). It was the home of the Formula One Portuguese Grand Prix from 1984 to 1996. The circuit has an FIA Grade 1 license.
Dijon-Prenois is a 3.801 km (2.362 mi) motor racing circuit located in Prenois, near Dijon, France. The undulating track is noted for its fast, sweeping bends.
The Circuito de Madrid Jarama - RACE, formerly known as Circuito del Jarama and Circuito Permanente del Jarama is a motorsport racetrack located in San Sebastián de los Reyes, 32 km (20 mi) north of Madrid. It was home to the Spanish Grand Prix nine times between 1968 and 1981, and the Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix 15 times between 1969 and 1988.
Anderstorp Raceway, previously known as Scandinavian Raceway, is a 4.025 km (2.501 mi) motorsport race track in Anderstorp, Sweden and the sole Nordic host of a Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, when the Swedish Grand Prix was held for six years between 1973 and 1978.
Circuit Ricardo Tormo, also known as Circuit de Valencia and officially named Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo, is a 4.005 km (2.489 mi) motorsport race track located in Cheste and built in 1999. The track is named after Spanish, two-time world champion Grand Prix motorcycle racer Ricardo Tormo (1952–1998), who died in 1998 of leukemia. It has a capacity of 165,000 and a main straight of 0.876 km (0.544 mi).
The Pau Grand Prix is a motor race held in Pau, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of southwestern France. The French Grand Prix was held at Pau in 1930, leading to the annual Pau Grand Prix being inaugurated in 1933. It was not run during World War II and in 2020–2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Misano World Circuit is a race track located next to the town of Misano Adriatico in the frazione of Santa Monica-Cella. Originally designed in 1969 as a length of 3.488 km (2.167 mi), it hosted its first event in 1972. In 1993, the track length was increased to 4.064 km (2.525 mi).
The Circuit d'Albi is a 3.565 km (2.215 mi) motorsport race track located in the French town of Le Sequestre near Albi, about 80 km (50 mi) northeast of Toulouse. Built to replace the nearby Circuit Les Planques public road circuit, Albi has 70 years of history in motor-racing, including the 1951 French motorcycle Grand Prix. It hosted the FFSA GT Championship in 1997, 2002, 2004–2011, and 2020–2022.
Circuit de Lédenon is a 3.151 km (1.958 mi) motor racing circuit located next to the town of Lédenon, Gard, France, about 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Nîmes. It hosts FFSA GT Championship and French F4 Championship.
The 2018 French F4 Championship was the eighth season to run under the guise of the French F4 Championship and the first season under the FIA Formula 4 regulations. The championship used Mygale M14-F4 chassis like in the F4 British Championship and Australian Formula 4 Championship. The engine was upgraded from 1.6 litre to 2.0 litre. The series began on 1 April at Nogaro and ended on 14 October at Le Castellet, after seven rounds and twenty one races.
The 2018 Championnat de France FFSA GT - French GT4 Cup was the twenty-first season of the French FFSA GT Championship and the first as the French GT4 Cup, a sports car championship created and organised by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation (SRO). The season began on 1 April in Nogaro and ended on 14 October at Paul Ricard.
The 2020 French F4 Championship was the tenth season to run under the guise of the French F4 Championship and the third under the FIA Formula 4 regulations. The championship used Mygale M14-F4 chassis. For 2020, the series used a new 1.3-liter turbocharged engine produced by Renault Sport, replacing the previously used 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine. The series began on 21 August at Circuit Paul Armagnac and ended on 22 November at Circuit Paul Ricard.
The 2021 French F4 Championship was the 11th season to run under the guise of the French F4 Championship and the fourth under the FIA Formula 4 regulations. The championship used Mygale M14-F4 chassis. The series began on 3 April at Circuit Paul Armagnac and ended on 24 October at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours.