Charade Circuit

Interesting facts

Circuit de Charade was built around an extinct volcano, the Puy de Gravenoire, near Clermont-Ferrand; its original 8.055 km, 48-corner layout had almost no straights, making it twistier and faster even than the Nürburgring. The track was laid out in 1957-58 by Jean Auchatraire together with local racer Louis Rosier, stringing together existing hillside roads around the volcano; its first race was held in 1958. At the 1972 French Grand Prix, loose volcanic rock flung onto the track from the hillside punctured ten cars' tyres; one stone, kicked up from under Ronnie Peterson's March, pierced Helmut Marko's helmet visor, blinding him in his left eye and ending his career on the spot. In 1969, Jackie Stewart delivered one of his most dominant drives of the season at Charade: pole position, fastest lap, and victory for his Matra-Ford by 57.1 seconds over teammate Jean-Pierre Beltoise. The steep terrain left almost no room for run-off areas, and several drivers, Jochen Rindt among them, found the relentless corners genuinely nauseating. Safety concerns drove Formula 1 away from Charade for good after the 1972 race, and the French Grand Prix moved to Circuit Paul Ricard from 1973. The last race on the original 8.055 km circuit took place on 18 September 1988; the following year, the local council funded a shorter 3.975 km, 18-turn circuit built on the southern portion of the old layout, which is still used today for track days and historic motorsport events. The circuit is located in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Formula 1 has raced here since 1965, with 4 races held so far, most recently in 1972. The first race here was won by Jim Clark, in 1965. The most recent winner here was Jackie Stewart, in 1972. Jackie Stewart has won here more than anyone else, 2 times.

Circuit history