Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry

Autodrome de Montlhéry (established 4 October 1924) is a motor racing circuit, officially called L’autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry, owned by Utac, located south-west of the small town of Montlhéry about 30 km (19 mi) south of Paris.

Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry

Map of the entire autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry Map of the speed ring of the autodrome
Location	Montlhéry, France
Time zone	CET (UTC+1) CEST (DST)
Coordinates	48.622187°N 2.235546°E / 48.622187; 2.235546
Owner	Utac
Opened	4 October 1924; 100 years ago (1924-10-04)
Architect	Raymond Jamin
Former names	Autodrome Parisien
Major events	1000 km of Paris (Intermittently 1956–1995) French Grand Prix (1925, 1927, 1931, 1933–1937) FIM EWC (1960, 1963, 1970)
Oval Circuit
Length	2.548 km (1.584 miles)
Banking	52° (maximal value in corners)
Full Circuit
Length	12.500 km (7.767 miles)
Race lap record	5:06.000 ( Louis Chiron, Alfa Romeo P3, 1934, GP)
Circuit 1 (Speed Ring)
Length	3.405 km (2.116 miles)
Race lap record	1:21.750 ( Bruno Sotty, Osella PA8, 1985, S2000)
Circuit 2
Length	5.000 km (3.107 miles)
Circuit 3
Length	6.283 km (3.905 miles)
Race lap record	2:17.900 ( Johnny Servoz-Gavin, Matra MS630, 1968, Group 5)
Circuit 4
Length	7.784 km (4.837 miles)
Race lap record	2:30.500 ( Helmut Marko, Porsche 917 Spyder, 1971, Group 5)
Circuit Routier 1
Length	7.500 km (4.660 miles)
Circuit Routier 2
Length	9.181 km (5.705 miles)
Race lap record	2:35.300 ( Henri Pescarolo, Matra-Simca MS660, 1970, Group 6)
Circuit Routier
Length	6.530 km (4.058 miles)

History

L’autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry year 1923

Industrialist Alexandre Lamblin hired René Jamin to design the 2.548 km (1.583 mi) oval shaped track for up to 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) vehicles at 220 km/h (140 mph). It was initially called Autodrome Parisien, and had especially high banking. A road circuit was added in 1925.

The first race there, the 1925 French Grand Prix, was held on 26 July 1925 and organised by The Automobile Club de France. It was a race in which Robert Benoist in a Delage won; Antonio Ascari died in an Alfa Romeo P2. The Grand Prix revisited the track in 1927 and each year between 1931 and 1937.

In 1939 the track was sold to the government, which deprived it of maintenance during the war. In December 1946, it was again sold to Union technique de l’automobile et du cycle (UTAC).

The last certification for racing was gained in 2001.

Motorcar races

The first race, the 1925 French Grand Prix, was held on 26 July 1925 and organised by the Automobile Club de France. Robert Benoist in a Delage won; but Antonio Ascari died in a crash of his Alfa Romeo P2.

In July 1926 Violette Cordery lead a team that averaged 113.8 km/h (70.7 mph) for 8,047 km (5,000 miles) driving an Invicta, and became the first woman to be awarded the Dewar Trophy by the Royal Automobile Club.^[1]

The Grand Prix revisited the track in 1927.

In 1929, Hellé Nice drove an Oméga-Six to victory in the all-female Grand Prix of the third Journée Feminine at the Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry.^[2]

The Grand Prix revisited the track each year between 1931 and 1937.

The "Coupe du Salon", "Grand Prix de l'Age d'Or" and the "1000 km" were arranged irregularly since then, as the track has had several high-speed problems.

Motorcycle races

The Grand Prix de France (UMF French Federation) was organized in Linas-Montlhéry in 1925, 1931, 1935 and 1937 with the best worldwide racers.

A competitor Grand Prix de France (MCF Club) was also organized from 1924 to 1937 with the best French and British racers.

The Bol d'or, the well-known French motorcycle endurance race of 24 hours, was held in Linas-Montlhéry before the Second War from 1937 to 1939, and after the Second War in 1949, in 1950, from 1952 to 1960, in 1969 and in 1970. British motorcycles were victorious usually from 1931 to 1959, (Velocette, Norton or Triumph); American Harley-Davidson, French Motobécane, German BMW, Italian Moto Guzzi, Austrian Puch and Czechoslovakian Jawa won only once. A legendary French racer, Gustave Lefèvre (Norton Manx) is always the record holder with 7 victories despite riding alone during 24 hours : his average speed was 107 kilometres per hour (66 mph) in 1953. The year after, two riders were allowed. In 1969, a Japanese bike, Honda Four, wins for the first time. In 1970, a British one, Triumph Trident, wins for the last time.^[3]

Another race open the year in France, the Côte Lapize, climbing around the hill of Saint-Eutrope : the new engines confidentially prepared during the winter months were shown. In early 1950s, Pierre Monneret riding the famous Gilera Four, 500 cc, sent by the official Italian team, was one of them.

Some races were open to production motorcycles like the Coupe du Salon (morning for motorcycles, afternoon for motorcars) or the Coupes Eugène Mauve.

Fatal accidents at Autodrome de Montlhéry include Benoît Nicolas Musy (1956), and the one in which Peter Lindner, Franco Patria and three flag marshals died in 1964.

Other events

In 1933 the circuit hosted the UCI Road World Championships for cycling.

In 2010 the Speed Ring played host to Ken Block's Gymkhana Three video, an advertisement for his company, DC Shoes.^[4]

Layout configurations

• 
  Entire map of the Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry - 12.500 km (7.767 mi)
• 
  Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry - Circuit 1 - 3.333 km (2.071 mi)
• 
  Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry - Circuit 2 - 5.000 km (3.107 mi)
• 
  Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry - Circuit 3 - 6.283 km (3.904 mi)
• 
  Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry - Circuit 4 - 7.784 km (4.837 mi)
• 
  Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry - Circuit Routier 1 - 7.500 km (4.660 mi)
• 
  Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry - Circuit Routier 2 - 9.181 km (5.705 mi)
• 
  Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry - Circuit Routier - 6.530 km (4.058 mi)

Lap records

As of May 1995, the fastest official race lap records at Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry are listed as:

Category	Time	Driver	Vehicle	Event
Full Circuit: 12.500 km[5]
GP	5:06.000	Louis Chiron	Alfa Romeo P3	1934 French Grand Prix
Circuit 1 (Speed Ring): 3.405 km[5]
Sports 2000	1:21.750[6]	Bruno Sotty	Osella PA8	1985 Coupe D'Automne
GT1	1:21.990[7]	Bob Wollek	Porsche 911 Bi-Turbo	1995 1000 km de Paris
Formula Three	1:22.230[8]	Christian Vidal	Dallara F389	1989 Montlhery French F3 round
Formula Two	1:23.600[9]	Maurice Trintignant	Cooper T45	1960 Montlhery F2 round
Group 4	1:23.600[10]	Gijs van Lennep	Porsche 906	1966 Paris Grand Prix
Group 6	1:27.900[11]	Gérard Larrousse	Porsche 908/02	1970 Coupe du Salon
Group 3	1:29.100[12]	Franco Patria [it]	Abarth Simca 2000	1964 Coupe de Paris
Formula Renault 2.0	1:29.600[13]	Roger Dubos [de]	Tecno FP120	1971 2nd Montlhéry French Formula Renault round
Group A	1:30.990[14]	Jean-Pierre Jarier	Holden VL Commodore SS Group A	1987 Monthlhéry French Supertouring Group A round
Group 5	1:48.500[15]	Jean Mazzanti[a] Bernard Consten [fr][a]	Fiat-Abarth 1000[a] Alfa Romeo GTA[a]	1965 Coupe de Paris
Circuit 3: 6.283 km[5]
Group 5	2:17.900[16]	Johnny Servoz-Gavin	Matra MS630	1968 Paris Grand Prix
Formula One	2:20.300[17]	Raymond Sommer	Talbot Lago T26C	1950 Paris Grand Prix
Formula Two	2:21.200	Piero Taruffi	Ferrari Tipo 500	1952 Paris Grand Prix
Group 4	2:26.500[18]	Jean-Michel Giorgi	Lola T70 Mk.3 GT	1968 Coupe de Paris
Voiturette	2:37.600[19]	Maurice Trintignant	Simca-Gordini 11	1948 Montlhery Voiturette round
Circuit 4: 7.784 km[5]
Group 5	2:30.500[20]	Helmut Marko	Porsche 917 Spyder	1971 1000 km of Paris
Group 6	2:40.100[21]	Jean-Pierre Beltoise	Matra MS650	1969 1000 km of Paris
Group 3	2:45.100[22]	Jackie Stewart	Ferrari 250 LM	1964 1000 km de Paris
Formula Two	2:50.700[23]	Jack Brabham[b] Jim Clark[b]	Brabham BT21[b] Lotus 44[b]	1966 Grand Prix de L'île de France
Circuit Routier 2: 9.181 km[5]
Group 6	2:35.300[24]	Henri Pescarolo	Matra MS660	1970 1000 km de Paris

Further reading

• William Boddy, Montlhéry, the story of the Paris autodrome ISBN 1-84584-052-6

Notes

1. Both drivers took the same lap time independently.
2. Both drivers took the same lap time independently.

References

1. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Violette Cordery
2. Resteck, Hilary; Schuster, Casey. "Hélène Mariette Delangle (Hellé Nice)" (PDF). Women in the Winners Circle. Henry Ford Foundation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2015.
3. The winners of Bol d’or.
4. AUSmotive.com - Ken Block: Gymkhana Three
5. "Montlhéry - Motorsport Magazine". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
6. "Championnat de France des Circuits Groupe 6 Montlhéry 1985". 13 October 1985. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
7. "Paris 1000 Kilometres 1995". 14 May 1995. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
8. "1989 Montlhery French F3". Motor Sport Magazine. 28 May 1989. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
9. "1960 Montlhery F2 - Round 9". Motor Sport Magazine. 15 May 1960. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
10. "GP Paris [SP] 1966". 15 May 1966. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
11. "1970 Coupe du Salon". 3 October 1970. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
12. "Coupes de Paris [SP2.0/GT+1.6] 1964". 20 September 1964. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
13. "1971 Critérium de Formule Renault Montlhéry 2". 10 June 1990. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
14. "1987 Monthlhéry French Supertouring Group A Race Result". 17 May 1987. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
15. "Coupes de Paris [T+1.3/GT1.0/GT3.0 OHV] 1965". 19 September 1965. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
16. "GP Paris [SP] 1968". 12 May 1968. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
17. "1950 Paris Grand Prix". Motor Sport Magazine. 30 April 1950. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
18. "Coupes de Paris 1968". 22 September 1968. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
19. "1948 Montlhery Voiturette". Motor Sport Magazine. 30 May 1948. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
20. "Paris 1000 Kilometres 1971". 17 October 1971. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
21. "Paris 1000 Kilometres 1969". 12 October 1969. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
22. "Paris 1000 Kilometres 1964". 11 October 1964. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
23. "III Grand Prix de Ille de France". 9 September 1966. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
24. "Paris 1000 Kilometres 1970". 18 October 1970. Retrieved 5 August 2022.

External links

• Montlhery.com Website about Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry
• Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry on Stades Mythiques
• Paris Autodrome News
• Association pour le soutien de l'autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry
• Historic Purpose Built Grand Prix Circuits on Google Maps