The Circuit de Charade, also known as Circuit Louis Rosier and Circuit Clermont-Ferrand, is a motorsport race track in Saint-Genès-Champanelle near Clermont-Ferrand in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France. The circuit, built around the base of an extinct volcano, was known for its challenging layout which favored the most skillful drivers and motorcyclists. Construction began in May 1957 and the first race was held in July 1958 when an endurance race was won by Innes Ireland in a Lotus 1100, and a Formula Two race won by Maurice Trintignant in a Cooper T43. With a relentless number of sharp curves and elevation changes and with almost no discernible straights, the circuit was both feared and respected by competitors.

In his 1969 book Motor Cycle Racing, Peter Carrick wrote:

<blockquote>The French Grand Prix circuit at Clermont Ferrand was seen to be in complete contrast to the lap at Monza, when it was first used in 1959: the longest straight was and a variety of really tight corners quickly demonstrated—or exposed—a rider's skill!</blockquote>

The venue first gained international prominence when it hosted the French motorcycle Grand Prix in 1959, won by John Surtees riding an MV Agusta. The circuit would host the French motorcycle Grand Prix ten times between 1959 and 1974.

225px|thumb|left|Yves Montand in a scene filmed at Circuit de Charade for the 1966 film, [[Grand Prix (1966 film)|Grand Prix.]]

The 1964 Trophées d'Auvergne Formula 2 race podium was a sign of things to come: Denny Hulme, Jackie Stewart and Jochen Rindt showed their skill before the circuit hosted its first Formula 1 race when Jim Clark won the 1965 French Grand Prix for Team Lotus. In 1965, John Frankenheimer filmed a small part of his movie Grand Prix in front of 3,000 local inhabitants, who posed as race spectators watching actors like Yves Montand and Françoise Hardy. It continued to host smaller motorsports competitions such as Formula 3, sports car racing, touring car racing, rallying and hillclimbing as well as the Trophées d'Auverne. and in 1984 there was a drivers protest over track safety. Faced with increasing safety issues and with the natural topography preventing any chance of adding run-off areas, the final race on the original track was held on September 18, 1988. The new Circuit de Charade opened in 1989 hosting national championship races in the 1994 French Supertouring Championship and the 1998 FFSA GT Championship.

Currently, the venue holds events such as track days, driving courses as well as historic motorsport events. || Sébastien Bourdais || Martini MK79 || 1999 Charade French F3 round

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| GT2 (GT1) || 1:53.679 || Jean-Pierre Jarier || Porsche 911 GT2 || 1998 Charade FFSA GT round

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| Formula Renault 2.0 || 1:56.600 || Olivier Couvreur || Alpa FR90 || 1990 Charade French Formula Renault round

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! colspan=5 | Original Circuit (1958–1988):

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| Formula One || 2:53.900 || Chris Amon || Matra MS120D || 1972 French Grand Prix

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| Sports 2000 || 3:05.300 || Derek Bell || Abarth-Osella PA2 || 1974 Charade European Sportscar Championship round

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| Group 6 || 3:10.800 || Gérard Larrousse || Matra-Simca MS660 || 1971 Trophées d'Auvergne

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| Formula Three || 3:15.500 || Jacques Laffite || Martini MK14 || 1973 Charade French F3 round

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| Formula Renault 2.0 || 3:18.170 || André Bourdon || Martini MK36 || 1990 Charade French Formula Renault round

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| 500cc || 3:32.400 || Giacomo Agostini || Yamaha YZR500 || 1974 French motorcycle Grand Prix

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| 350cc || 3:33.800 || Giacomo Agostini || Yamaha TZ 350 || 1974 French motorcycle Grand Prix

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| Formula Two || 3:40.900 || Richard Attwood || Lola T54 || 1964 Trophées d'Auvergne

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| Formula Junior || 3:43.800 || Richard Attwood || Lola Mk5A || 1963 Trophées d'Auvergne Formula Junior

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| 125cc || 3:48.900 || Bill Ivy || Yamaha 125 V4 || 1967 French motorcycle Grand Prix

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| 250cc || 3:36.000 || Mike Hailwood || Honda RC166 || 1967 French motorcycle Grand Prix

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| Sports cars || 3:50.100 || Tony Hegbourne<br />Lorenzo Bandini || Lotus 23B<br />Ferrari 250 TRI61 || 1963 Trophées d'Auvergne

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| 50cc || 4:18.300 || Henk van Kessel || Kreidler 50 GP || 1974 French motorcycle Grand Prix

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Notes

References

  • Official site
  • Official association site to save circuit

<!-- dead-link *http://www.racingcircuits.net/archives/Charade/ - pictures from the Charade Circuit -->

  • Satellite picture by Google Maps (present layout; zoom out to see the old circuit)