Rouen circuitmap-1950's
Rouen GP Poster from 1966
Rouen-Les-Essarts was a 6.542 km (4.065 mile) race track in Grand-Couronne, near Rouen, Normandy, France.
Opened in 1950, Rouen-Les-Essarts was recognized as one of Europe’s finest circuits, with modern pits, a wide track, and spectator grandstands. The circuit (which ran on public roads) had a few medium straights, a cobbled hairpin turn (Nouveau Monde) at the southernmost tip, and a few blind corners through a wooded hillside The appeal was greatly enhanced by the climb from Nouveau Monde at 56 metres to Gresil at 149 metres.
Rouen hosted five Formula One French Grand Prix races, the last one in 1968 resulting in the tragic burning death of Jo Schlesser. The circuit continued to host major Formula 2 (F2) events until 1978, after which it was used for various French Championships.
The circuit had a number of different configurations. From its construction in 1950 until 1954 it was 5.1 km (3.169 miles) in length. In 1955 major works increased the circuit’s length to 6.542 km (4 miles), its most famous configuration. Construction of a new Autoroute across the circuit saw a new section of track built and the length of the circuit reduced to 5.543 km (3.444 miles). Finally, in 1974 a permanent chicane was built at Six Fréres and this part of the circuit was renamed Des Roches.
The circuit was closed down in 1994 due to economic and safety reasons. In 1999, following the circuit’s closure all evidence of area’s racing past was demolished, including grandstands, pits, Armco and track signs. The cobbled Nouveau Monde hairpin was also asphalted but it is still possible to drive around on the original circuit configuration.
- Caen Circuit 1950’s
Caen Poster
Caen Circuit pictured from the Caen Holiday Inn Hotel 2009
A Grand Prix for formula One (F1) and formula two (F2) cars was held at the circuit in Caen during the 1950’s, With great drivers such as Sir Stirling Moss and Jean Behra in cars like the 250F Maserati and the BRM 25 winning the event. Traces of the circuit can still be found around the outside of the horse track with tree lined avenues where the car would have once raced.
A good place to see the circuit is from the the Holiday Inn Caen City Centre. Which was used by the drivers and teams it is located right in the centre of town, directly in front of the racing grounds and very close to the centre “Expo-Congrès”. The hotel has 88 rooms (48 rooms with air-conditioning). All rooms are equipped with TV satellite & wireless internet access. The hotel bar and the restaurant “Bistrot Foch” are ideal places to relax after walking the route of the old circuit. For meetings and events, the hotel has 8 meeting rooms equipped for small meeting groups.
Information for Normandy, Brittany, and Pays de la Loire regions of France. a site for motorsport fans, food and drink lovers and travellers, or in my case all of them!
Our Store is now open here selling books, dvd’s guides, computer games and maps of the Normandy and Brittany area’s of France.
I have started a project to document disused motor racing circuits across Europe that can still be visited and have started to build a database of pictures, maps and details of the circuits. please add comments if you know of any that are of interest to you.
I will shortly be publishing pictures and the history of Aintree Grand Prix Circuit in Liverpool and the Caen Grand Prix Circuit in Normandy.
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