Circuit Paul Ricard

French race track From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Circuit Paul Ricardmap

The Circuit Paul Ricard (French pronunciation: [siʁkɥi pɔl ʁikaʁ]) 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.

Quick Facts Location, Time zone ...
Circuit Paul Ricard
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All layouts of Circuit Paul Ricard after 2019 pitlane extension
LocationLe Castellet, Var, France
Time zoneCET (UTC+1)
CEST (DST)
Coordinates43°15′2″N 5°47′30″E
Capacity90,000
FIA Grade1 (1C-V2)
Broke groundJune 1969; 55 years ago (1969-06)
Opened19 April 1970; 54 years ago (1970-04-19)
Major eventsCurrent:
ELMS 4 Hours of Castellet
(2010–present)
GT World Challenge Europe
3 Hours of Paul Ricard (2012–present)
FIM EWC Bol d'Or (1978–1999, 2015–2019, 2021–present)
Ferrari Challenge Europe (2006–2010, 2015, 2017, 2022, 2024)
FFSA GT (1997, 2009, 2011–2015, 2017–present)
Former:
Formula One
French Grand Prix (Intermittently 1971–1990, 2018–2019, 2021–2022)
FIA Motorsport Games (2022)
WTCC Race of France (2014–2016)
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
French motorcycle Grand Prix
(Intermittently, 1973–1999)
FIA GT (2006, 2009)
Websitehttps://www.circuitpaulricard.com
Current layout with Mistral chicane (1C-V2)
(2005–present)
Length5.842 km (3.630 miles)
Turns15
Race lap record1:32.740 ( Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF90, 2019, F1)
Current layout without Mistral chicane (1A-V2)
(2005–present)
Length5.770 km (3.586 miles)
Turns13
Race lap record1:40.139 ( Nyck de Vries, Aurus 01, 2020, LMP2)
Short Circuit with Mistral chicane (3C)
(2002–present)
Length3.841 km (2.387 miles)
Turns11
Race lap record1:18.347 ( Kimiya Sato, Lola B05/52, 2014, Auto GP)
Short Grand Prix Circuit (1986–2001)
Length3.812 km (2.369 miles)
Turns9
Race lap record1:08.012 ( Nigel Mansell, Ferrari 641, 1990, F1)
Original Grand Prix Circuit (1970–2001)
Length5.809 km (3.610 miles)
Turns14
Race lap record1:39.914 ( Keke Rosberg, Williams FW10, 1985, F1)
Original National Circuit (1970–2001)
Length3.263 km (2.028 miles)
Turns9
Race lap record1:15.800 ( Jean-Pierre Jabouille, Alpine A441, 1974, Group 5)
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History

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First years (1970–1990)

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Satellite view of the circuit in April 2018

Opened on 19 April 1970,[1] the circuit's innovative facilities made it one of the safest motor racing circuits in the world at the time of its opening. The circuit had three track layout permutations, a large industrial park and an airstrip. The combination of modern facilities, mild winter weather and an airstrip made it popular amongst racing teams for car testing during the annual winter off-season.[2]

The original track was dominated by the 1.8 km (1.1 mi) long Mistral Straight that is followed by the high-speed right hand Signes corner. The long main straight and other fast sections made the track very hard on engines as they ran at full revs for extended spells. Engine failures were common, such as Ayrton Senna's huge crash during the 1985 French Grand Prix after the Renault engine in his Lotus failed and he went off backwards at Signes on his own oil and crashed heavily, with only light bruising to the driver. Nigel Mansell crashed at the same place in the same weekend during practice and suffered a concussion which kept him out of the race. Mansell's crash was the result of a slow puncture in his left rear tyre causing it to explode at over 320 km/h (200 mph), which detached his Williams FW10's rear wing. The Honda powered FW10 holds the race lap record for the original circuit when Mansell's teammate Keke Rosberg recorded a time of 1:39.914 during the 1985 French Grand Prix. During qualifying for the 1985 race, Swiss driver Marc Surer clocked what was at the time the highest speed recorded by a Formula One car on the Mistral when he pushed his turbocharged, 1,000 bhp (746 kW; 1,014 PS) Brabham-BMW to 335 km/h (208 mph). This compared to the slowest car in the race, the 550 bhp (410 kW; 558 PS) naturally aspirated Tyrrell-Ford V8 of Stefan Bellof which could only manage 277 km/h (172 mph). Bellof qualified 9 seconds slower than Surer and 12 seconds slower than pole winner Rosberg.

Paul Ricard was inaugurated with a 2-litre sports car race;[3] during the 1970s and the 1980s the track developed some of the best French drivers of the time including four time World Drivers' Champion Alain Prost who won the French Grand Prix at the circuit in 1983, 1988, 1989 and 1990. The circuit hosted the Formula One French Grand Prix on many occasions, the first of which was the 1971 French Grand Prix.

The circuit was also extensively used for testing, especially in Formula One. In 1986, Brabham Formula One driver Elio de Angelis was killed in a testing accident at the fast first turn after the rear wing of his Brabham BT55 had broken off. Although the circuit was not the cause of the crash, it was modified in order to make it safer. The length of the Mistral Straight was reduced from 1.8 km (1.1 mi) in length to just over 1.0 km (0.62 mi), and the fast sweeping Verrerie curves where de Angelis had crashed were bypassed. Effectively, after the start, instead of heading into the left hand Verrerie sweeper, cars now braked hard and turned sharp right into a short run that connected the pit straight to the Mistral. This changed the circuit length for a Grand Prix from 5.809 km (3.610 mi) to just 3.812 km (2.369 mi). This also had the effect of cutting lap times from Keke Rosberg's 1985 pole time of 1:32.462 in his Williams-Honda turbo, to Nigel Mansell's 1990 pole time of 1:04.402 in his V12 Ferrari.

From 1990 the French Grand Prix was moved to Magny-Cours where it ran until 2008. Paul Ricard hosted the French Grand Prix on 14 occasions between 1971 and 1990. The Long Circuit was used from 1971 to 1985, with the Club Circuit used from 1986 to 1990. On six occasions (1971, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980 and 1989) the winner at Paul Ricard went on to win the World Championship in the same year. Ronnie Peterson (1973 and 1974) and René Arnoux (1982) are the only Ricard winners who never won the championship.

Recent times (1990–present)

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United Autosports Audi at the 2010 FIA GT3 European Championship Paul Ricard round
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Daniel Ricciardo at Paul Ricard during the 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Series Paul Ricard round

In the 1990s the circuit's use was limited to motorcycle racing and French national racing, most notably until 1999, the Bol d'or 24-hour motorcycle endurance race. The track was also the home of the Oreca F3000 team. After Ricard's death, the track was sold to Excelis, a company owned by Formula One promoter Bernie Ecclestone, in 1999. The track was rebuilt into an advanced test track, and was for a time known as the Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track (Paul Ricard HTTT) before changing its name back to Circuit Paul Ricard.

An aircraft landing strip suitable for private jets is amongst the circuit's facilities. There is a Karting Test Track (KTT) that features the same type of abrasive safety zones as the car track. The track has also hosted some races, including the 2006 Paul Ricard 500km, a round of the FIA GT Championship. Other GT championships have run races here, most notably the Ferrari Challenge and races organized by Porsche clubs of France and Italy.

On 5 December 2016, it was announced that the French Grand Prix would return to the Formula 1 calendar for the 2018 season at Paul Ricard. It was the first French Grand Prix since 2008 (last held at Magny-Cours) and the first at Circuit Paul Ricard since 1990.[4][5] On 19 June 2017, the FIA's World Motor Sport Council in Geneva published its 2018 provisional calendar with the French Grand Prix scheduled for 24 June at Circuit Paul Ricard with the race itself followed immediately by the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring and then the British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit.[6] Pirelli Motorsport has planned for a two-day tyre testing for its 2018 Formula 1 tyres at Circuit Paul Ricard in the months of May, June and September 2017.[7] The track remained on the F1 calendar until the 2022 season, after which it disappeared from the calendar again.[8]

Paul Ricard has the 3-star FIA Environmental Accreditation. In a 2021 report, it was ranked the second most sustainable racetrack in the world, together with Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and behind Mugello Circuit.[9]

Track

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2011 edition of the 6 Hours of Castellet

The track is characterised by its 1.8 km (1.1 mi) long Mistral straight and elongated track design. The track is also unusual in that it is built on a plateau: it is very flat. In 1986 the track was modified to shorten the circuit, by adding shortcut through to the middle of the Mistral Straight. This shorter circuit was also known as the GP short circuit and was 3.812 km (2.369 mi) long. After the modifications in 2000–2005, the track offers 247 possible configurations from 0.828 km (0.514 mi) to the full 5.858 km (3.640 mi).[10][11] The track's elevation ranges from 408 to 441 m (1,339 to 1,447 ft) above sea level. Its flexibility and mild winter weather mean that it is used for testing by several motorsport teams, including Formula One teams.

The track is known for its distinctive black and blue run-off areas known as the Blue Zone. The runoff surface consists of a mixture of asphalt and tungsten, used instead of gravel traps, as common at other circuits.[12] A second, deeper run-off area is the Red Zone, with a more abrasive surface designed to maximize tyre grip and hence minimize braking distance, although at the cost of extreme tyre wear. The final safeguard consists of Tecpro barriers, a modern improvement on tyre barriers.[12]

In 2019 the pitlane entry was moved following safety concerns. The entry, which was previously accessed via the main straight, is now situated between the final two corners (turns 14 and 15).[13]

Track configurations

Events

Current
Former

Lap records

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The official lap record for the current F1 circuit layout (1C-V2) is 1:32.740, set by Sebastian Vettel during the 2019 French Grand Prix. While the unofficial all-time track record is 1:28.319, set by Lewis Hamilton during final qualifying for the aforementioned 2019 race. As of November 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Circuit Paul Ricard are listed as:

More information Category, Time ...
CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
Current Layout with Mistral Chicane (1C-V2): 5.842 km (2005–present)
F11:32.740Sebastian VettelFerrari SF902019 French Grand Prix
FIA F21:44.584Nyck de VriesDallara F2 20182019 Le Castellet Formula 2 round
Formula Renault 3.51:50.855[15]Pierre GaslyDallara T122014 Le Castellet Formula Renault 3.5 Series round
FIA F31:52.171Marcus ArmstrongDallara F3 20192019 Le Castellet Formula 3 round
GP31:52.551Anthoine HubertDallara GP3/162018 Le Castellet GP3 Series round
Euroformula Open1:54.281[16]Yifei YeDallara 3202020 Le Castellet Euroformula Open round
FTwo (2009–2012)1:55.837[17]Christopher ZanellaWilliams JPH12012 Le Castellet FTwo round
LMP31:54.745[18]Manuel Espírito SantoLigier JS P3202023 2nd Le Castellet Ultimate Cup round
Formula Regional1:57.596[19]Gianluca PetecofTatuus F3 T-3182020 Le Castellet FREC round
Silhouette racing car1:58.627[20]Hugo ChevalierMercedes-AMG C63 DTM2024 2nd Le Castellet Ultimate Cup Series GT-Sprint round
GT31:59.319[21]Christoph LenzLamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2019 Le Castellet International GT Open round
CN2:01.338[22]Steven KaneLigier JS49[23]2011 Le Castellet Speed Euroseries round
Formula Renault 2.02:02.549[24]Yifei YeTatuus FR2.0/132018 Le Castellet Formula Renault Eurocup round
Lamborghini Super Trofeo2:02.613[25]Loris SpinelliLamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Evo22022 Le Castellet Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe round
Ferrari Challenge2:02.617[26]Giacomo AltoèFerrari 296 Challenge2024 Le Castellet Ferrari Challenge Europe round
GT1 (GTS)2:02.659[27]Enrique BernoldiChevrolet Corvette C6.R2009 FIA GT Paul Ricard 2 Hours
Renault Sport Trophy2:03.447[28]Pieter Schothorst [nl]Renault Sport R.S. 012016 Le Castellet Renault Sport Trophy round
SRO GT22:04.614[29]Reinhard Kofler [pl]KTM X-Bow GT22024 Le Castellet GT2 European Series round
Formula 42:04.878[30]Kirill SmalTatuus F4-T0142021 Le Castellet Italian F4 round
Porsche Carrera Cup2:05.504[31]Florian LatorrePorsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup2021 Le Castellet Porsche Carrera Cup France round
GT22:09.245[32]Nicola Cadei [fr]Ferrari F430 GTC2010 Paul Ricard GTSprint round
GT42:09.541[33]Nico VerdonckAston Martin Vantage AMR GT42021 Le Castellet GT Cup Open Europe round
Eurocup Mégane Trophy2:12.210[34]Albert CostaRenault Mégane Renault Sport II2012 Le Castellet Eurocup Mégane Trophy round
TCR Touring Car2:13.334Gilles MagnusAudi RS 3 LMS TCR (2021)2022 FIA Motorsport Games Touring Car Cup
Alpine Elf Europa Cup2:15.056[35]Léo JoussetAlpine A110 Cup2024 Le Castellet Alpine Elf Europa Cup round
Formula BMW2:15.532[36]Aston HareMygale FB022012 Le Castellet JK Racing Asia Series round
Trofeo Maserati2:16.580[37]Patrick ZampariniMaserati Trofeo2015 Le Castellet Trofeo Maserati Corse World Series round
Formula Renault 1.62:16.838[38]Victor MartinsSignatech FR 1.62017 Le Castellet French F4 round
SEAT León Supercopa2:17.872[39]Mikel AzconaSEAT León Cup Racer2016 Le Castellet SEAT León Eurocup round
Renault Clio Cup2:26.045[40]David PajotRenault Clio R.S. IV2019 Le Castellet Renault Clio Cup France round
Current Bike Layout without Mistral Chicane (1A-V2 Bike): 5.673 km (2018–present)
Superbike1:52.517[41]Markus ReiterbergerBMW M1000RR2024 Bol d'Or
Current Layout without Mistral Chicane (1A-V2): 5.770 km (2005–present)
LMP21:40.139[42]Nyck de VriesAurus 012020 4 Hours of Le Castellet
LMP11:42.541[43]Rinaldo CapelloAudi R15 TDI plus2010 8 Hours of Le Castellet
LMP31:48.988[44]Ben BarnicoatLigier JS P3202020 1st Le Castellet Le Mans Cup round
Group C1:49.126[45]Ralf KellenersPorsche 962C2022 Dix Mille Tours
LM GTE1:52.098[42]Andrea PicciniFerrari 488 GTE Evo2020 4 Hours of Le Castellet
Formula 31:52.828[46]Daniel AbtDallara F3082011 Le Castellet F3 Euro Series round
GT1 (GTS)1:53.343[47]Jean-Philippe BellocChevrolet Corvette C6.R2006 FIA GT Paul Ricard 500km
GT31:53.750[48]Jake DennisAston Martin Vantage AMR GT32019 1000 km of Paul Ricard
LMPC1:54.627[49]Paul-Loup ChatinOreca FLM092013 3 Hours of Le Castellet
Porsche Carrera Cup1:57.292[50]Alessandro GhirettiPorsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup2024 Le Castellet Porsche Carrera Cup France round
Superbike1:58.386[51]Randy de PunietKawasaki ZX-10R2017 Bol d'Or
JS P41:58.922[52]Theo MicourisLigier JS P42024 Le Castellet Ligier European Series round
CN1:59.002[53]Ivan Bellarosa [nl]Wolf GB082012 Le Castellet Speed Euroseries round
GT22:00.943[47]Marino FranchittiFerrari F430 GT22006 FIA GT Paul Ricard 500km
JS2 R2:05.678[54]Viktor ShaytarLigier JS2 R2020 1st Le Castellet Ligier European Series round
FIA GT Group 22:07.456[47]Bas LeindersGillet Vertigo Streiff2006 FIA GT Paul Ricard 500km
FIA GT Group 32:08.902[47]Benjamin DessangeChevrolet Corvette Z06-R2006 FIA GT Paul Ricard 500km
Short Circuit with Mistral chicane (3C): 3.841 km (2002–present)
Auto GP1:18.347[55]Kimiya SatoLola B05/522014 Le Castellet Auto GP round
Formula 31:21.740[56]Joel ErikssonDallara F3152016 Le Castellet F3 round
Formula 41:26.970[57]Nerea MartíTatuus F4-T4212023 Le Castellet F1 Academy round
Porsche Carrera Cup1:29.839[58]Mathieu JaminetPorsche 911 (991 I) GT3 Cup2016 Le Castellet Porsche Carrera Cup France round
TC11:30.455[59]Robert HuffHonda Civic WTCC2016 FIA WTCC Race of France
GT41:31.906[60]Adrien TambayAudi R8 LMS GT4 Evo2020 2nd Le Castellet French GT4 Cup round
Formula Renault 1.61:32.995[61]Sacha FenestrazSignatech FR 1.62015 Le Castellet French F4 round
TCR Touring Car1:35.370[62]Kris RichardHonda Civic Type R TCR (FK2)2016 Le Castellet ETC round
Super 20001:35.578[62]Gabriele TarquiniSEAT León Cup Racer2016 Le Castellet ETC round
Renault Clio Cup1:43.715[63]Nicolas MilanRenault Clio R.S. V2020 2nd Le Castellet Renault Clio Cup France round
Super 16001:46.740[62]Ulrike Krafft [de]Ford Fiesta 1.6 16V2016 Le Castellet ETC round
Short Circuit (3C): 3.792 km (2002–present)
Porsche Carrera Cup1:23.427[64]Tom DillmannPorsche 911 (991 I) GT3 Cup2014 Le Castellet Porsche Carrera Cup France round
Formula Renault 1.61:26.681[65]Matevos IsaakyanSignatech FR 1.62013 Le Castellet French F4 round
Original Short Grand Prix Circuit: 3.812 km (1986–2001)
F11:08.012Nigel MansellFerrari 6411990 French Grand Prix
WSC1:16.870[66]Emmanuel CollardFerrari 333 SP1998 International Sports Racing Series Paul Ricard
500cc1:21.487Kenny Roberts Jr.Suzuki RGV5001999 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Formula 31:21.770[67]Didier CottazDallara F3931993 Le Castellet French F3 round
250cc1:23.559Loris CapirossiAprilia RSV 2501997 French motorcycle Grand Prix
GT21:24.447[68]Jean-Pierre JarierPorsche 911 GT21998 4 Hours of Le Castellet
Super Touring1:26.698[69]Steve SoperBMW 318is1995 FIA Touring Car World Cup
125cc1:28.383Tomomi ManakoHonda RS125R1997 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Formula Renault 2.01:30.480[70]Jean-Philippe BellocMartini MK631992 Le Castellet French Formula Renault round
Original Long Grand Prix Circuit: 5.809 km (1970–2001)
F11:39.914Keke RosbergWilliams FW101985 French Grand Prix
Group 51:50.600[71]Jean-Pierre BeltoiseMatra-Simca MS670C1974 1000 km of Castellet
GT11:52.653[72]Anders OlofssonFerrari F40 GTE1996 BPR 4 Hours of Le Castellet
500cc1:59.027Wayne GardnerHonda NSR5001988 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Formula 31:59.459[73]Olivier GrouillardMartini MK391983 Le Castellet French F3 round
250cc2:03.370Joan GarrigaYamaha TZ 2501988 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Group 22:09.900[74]Chris Amon[a]
Henri Pescarolo[a]
BMW 3.0 CSL1973 Le Castellet ETCC round
Formula Renault 2.02:10.650[75]Jean-Michel NeyrialMartini MK261979 Le Castellet French Formula Renault round
125cc2:13.350Luca CadaloraGarelli 125 GP1986 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Original National Circuit: 3.263 km (1970–2001)
Group 5 (Sports 2000)1:15.800[76]Jean-Pierre JabouilleAlpine A4411974 Trophée d'Europe Paul Ricard
Formula 31:17.060[77]Alex CaffiMartini MK451985 FIA European Formula 3 Cup
Group 61:17.300[78]Vittorio BrambillaAlfa Romeo T33/SC/121977 500 km Le Castellet
Formula Renault 2.01:21.520[79]Patrick GoninMartini MK331981 Le Castellet French Formula Renault round
World SBK1:21.890[80]Giancarlo FalappaBimota YB41989 Le Castellet World SBK round
Close

Notes

  1. Both drivers take the same lap time in this round.

References

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