Reims-Gueux
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| Location | Gueux, west of Reims, France |
|---|---|
| Time zone | GMT +1 |
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Major events | Grand Prix de la Marne French Grand Prix 12 Hours of Reims, |
| 1926 Original circuit | |
| Length | 7.816 km (4.856 mi) |
| Turns | 8 |
| Lap record | 2:27.8 ( Juan Manuel Fangio, Alfa Romeo 159,1951, Formula One) |
| 1952 Variation | |
| Length | 7.152 km (4.444 mi) |
| Turns | 5 |
| 1953 Variation | |
| Length | 8.372 km (5.187 mi) |
| Turns | 7 |
| 1954 Variation | |
| Length | 8.302 km (5.158 mi) |
| Turns | 7 |
| Lap record | 2:11.3 ( Lorenzo Bandini, Ferrari 312, 1966, Formula One) |
The circuit Reims-Gueux was a Grand Prix motor racing road course, located 7.5 km west of Reims in the Champagne region of north-eastern France, established in 1926 as the second venue of the Grand Prix de la Marne.[1][2] The triangular layout of public roads formed three sectors between the villages of Thillois and Gueux over the La Garenne / Gueux intersection of route N-31. The circuit became known to be among the fastest of the era for its two long straights (approximately 2.2 km in length each) allowing maximum straight-line speed, resulting in many famous slipstream battles.
Contents
Circuit history
Motor racing started in 1926 with the second Grand Prix de la Marne, relocating the race from the Circuit de Beine-Nauroy to Reims-Gueux. The original 7.816 km circuit placed the start/finish line on road D27, approximately 1.6 km east of the Gueux village center, where it would remain for the duration of the circuit. Gradual improvements in track width to a few sections including the Garenne-Gueux / Thillois corners prior to the 1932 Grand Prix de France contributed to a new published circuit length of 7.826 km after which the circuit remained essentially the same until 1937.[3][4]
Organizational changes prior to the 1938 GP de France saw extensive widening of the Thillois-Gueux straight. The process was reported to have felled trees and demolished structures to make the circuit yet faster, concluding the Grand Prix era with the 1938-1939 championship editions of the French Grand Prix.[5]
Racing at Reims-Gueux resumed in 1947 with the 16th Grand Prix de Reims, effectively ending the Grand Prix de la Marne series except for a last edition in 1952. 1948 and 1949 saw the first Formula 1 cars at Reims-Gueux for two non-championship rounds. By then temporary grandstands were established fixtures at the Gueux / La Garenne and Thillois corners and after hosting the sixth round of the inaugural 1950 World Drivers' Championship, it became clear that the circuit needed further extensive renovations to comply with the accelerating Formula 1 technology.
For 1952, the track was re-configured to bypass Gueux via the (then) new D26 section, shortening the circuit from 7.826 km to 7.152 km (4.444 mi) after which it was renamed "Circuit de Reims" or commonly referred to simply as "Reims". Improvements continued in preparations for 1953, the inaugural year of the 12 Hours of Reims series, which featured a new D26 track extension from the Virage de la Hovette (Annie Bousquet corner) to a new purpose built intersection with the La Garenne straight (Muizon corner) about 1.2 km west of the previous Gueux / La Garenne junction, resulting in a new preliminary circuit length of 8.372 km (5.187 mi). The last major modifications were before the 1954 season, re-profiling the new Muizon corner from the previous year and the Thillois corner to a larger and faster radius, which established again a shorter and final circuit length of 8.302 km (5.158 mi).
The last year for Formula One at Reims came in 1966, final sports car competitions were held in 1969 and Motorcycle racing continued for another 3 years. In 1972, Reims-Gueux closed permanently due to financial difficulties. There was to be a historic race held in 1997 but it was cancelled for technical reasons several months before it was due to take place and by 2002, the bulldozers arrived to demolish some portions of the track. A few sections of the old circuit are still visible today around the pit lane, at the D26 / D27 round-about and a part of the D26 extension at the Hovette corner to what once was the 1953 Muizon hair-pin (visible on current sat. images).
Today, the old RN31 straight between Muizon and Thillois is a wider dual carriageway, although it does follow the same line as the original two-lane road of the former circuit. It is still possible to drive a lap around the (more or less) original 1926 version (through the center of Gueux) and the 1952 variant of the circuit, except for the old Garenne -junction which was demolished as part of the RN31 modernization. It is no longer possible to complete a lap of the circuit used from 1953 onwards as the tarmac between Bretelle Nord and Muizon has been removed. Les Amis du Circuit de Gueux (a non-profit organization) is working to preserve the old pit building, grandstands and other remaining structures of the circuit and actively support historic meetings which use the 1952 Circuit d'Essais.
Racing series at Reims-Gueux
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Race Names |
Editions |
First Year |
Last Year |
Regulations |
Reims-Gueux by year
Legend
| Formula Libre = FL - Grand Prix = GP - Voiturette = VT - Formula 1 = F1 - Formula 2 = F2 |
| Formula 3 = F3 - Formula Junior = FJ - Sports car = SC |
Coupe des P. C. = Petites Cylindrées, Trophée P-GT-Sport = Prototypes - Grand Tourisme
| French Grand Prix - GP championship rounds |
| French Grand Prix - F1 non-championship rounds |
| French Grand Prix - F1 championship rounds |
| Year | Date | Event | Reg. | Winner | Constructor / Car | Circuit | Laps | Time | km/h av. | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | Aug. 2 | 23x15px 1° GP de la Marne | FL |  Pierre Clause |
Bignan | 22 km | 10 | 2:08:56.4 | 104.20 km/h | Report |
| 1926 | July 25 | 23x15px 2° GP de la Marne | FL | François Lescot |
Bugatti T35B 2L C | 7.816 km | 40 | 2:50:15.6 | 112.77 km/h | Report |
| 1927 | July 10 | 23x15px 3° GP de la Marne | FL | Philippe Étancelin |
Bugatti T35B | 7.816 km | 50 | 3:26:20.2 | 116.32 km/h | Report |
| 1928 | July 8 | 23x15px 4° GP de la Marne | GP |  Louis Chiron |
Bugatti T35 | 7.816 km | 50 | 3:00:47.4 | 132.75 km/h | Report |
| 1929 | July 7 | 23x15px 5° GP de la Marne | GP | Philippe Étancelin |
Bugatti 35C | 7.816 km | 50 | 2:54:14.6 | 137.74 km/h | Report |
| 1930 | June 29 | 23x15px 6° GP de la Marne | GP | René Dreyfus |
Bugatti T35B | 7.816 km | 50 | 2:49:27.6 | 141.626 km/h | Report |
| 1931 | July 5 | 23x15px 7° GP de la Marne | GP | Marcel Lehoux |
Bugatti T51 | 7.816 km | 50 | 2:47:37.4 | 143.18 km/h | Report |
| 1931 | July 5 | 23x15px 7° GP de la Marne | VT | Philippe Auber |
Bugatti T37A | 7.816 km | 50 | 3:19:00.4 | 120.588 km/h | Report |
| 1932 | July 3 | 18° GP de l'ACF |
GP |  Tazio Nuvolari |
Alfa Romeo Tipo B | 7.826 km | 92 | 2:57:52.8 | 145.3 km/h | Report |
| 1933 | July 2 | 23x15px 8° GP de la Marne | GP | Philippe Etancelin |
Alfa Romeo Monza | 7.826 km | 51 | 2:45:12.4 | 145.0 km/h | Report |
| 1934 | July 8 | 23x15px 9° GP de la Marne | GP | Louis Chiron |
Alfa Romeo Tipo B | 7.826 km | 64 | 3:25:51.8 | 146.0 km/h | Report |
| 1935 | July 7 | 23x15px 10° GP de la Marne | GP | René Dreyfus |
Alfa Romeo Tipo B | 7.826 km | 64 | 2:57:52.8 | 157.760 km/h | Report |
| 1935 | July 7 | 23x15px 1° GP de Tourisme | SC | Albert Perrot |
Delahaye 135 S | 7.826 km | 25 | 1:29:22.7 | 131.34 km/h | Report |
| 1936 | July 5 | 23x15px 11° GP de la Marne | SC | Jean-Pierre Wimille |
Bugatti 57G Tank | 7.826 km | 51 | 2:50:45.3 | 140.245 km/h | Report |
| 1937 | July 18 | 23x15px 12° GP de la Marne | SC | Jean-Pierre Wimille |
Bugatti T59 | 7.826 km | 63 | 3:23:58.4 | 145.030 km/h | Report |
| 1938 | July 2 | 32° GP de l’ACF |
GP |  Manfred von Brauchitsch |
Mercedes W154 | 7.816 km | 64 | 2:57:52.8 | 168.707 km/h | Report |
| 1939 | July 9 | 33° GP de l’ACF |
GP | Hermann Paul Müller |
Auto Union D | 7.816 km | 64 | 2:57:52.8 | 168.707 km/h | Report |
| 1939 | July 9 | Coupe Sportive |
VT |  Armand Hug |
Maserati 4CM | 7.816 km | 38 | 1:58:21.6 | 150.6 km/h | Report |
| 1940 - 1946 (No racing events held) | ||||||||||
| 1947 | July 6 |  16° GP de Reims |
GP | Christian Kautz |
Maserati 4CL | 7.816 km | 51 | 2:34:50.7 | 155.181 km/h | Report |
| 1947 | July 6 | 1° Coupe des P.C. |
F2 |  B. Bira |
Simca-Gordini 11 | 7.816 km | 26 | 1:29:20.4 | 136.473 km/h | Report |
| 1948 | July 18 | 35° GP de l’ACF |
F1 | Jean-Pierre Wimille |
Alfa Romeo 158 | 7.816 km | 64 | 3:01:07.5 | 165.699 km/h | Report |
| 1948 | July 18 | 2° Coupe des P.C. |
F2 | Raymond Sommer |
Ferrari 166 SC | 7.816 km | 26 | 1:18:48.0 | 154.714 km/h | Report |
| 1949 | July 6 | 36° GP de l’ACF |
F1 | Louis Chiron |
Talbot-Lago | 7.816 km | 64 | 3:06:33.7 | 160.870 km/h | Report |
| 1949 | July 6 | 3° Coupe des P.C. |
F2 | Alberto Ascari |
Ferrari 166 2L | 7.816 km | 26 | 1:19:56.9 | 152.722 km/h | Report |
| 1950 | July 6 | 37° GP de l’ACF |
F1 | Juan Manuel Fangio |
Alfa Romeo 158 | 7.816 km | 64 | 2:57:52.8 | 168.722 km/h | Report |
| 1950 | July 6 | 4° Coupe des P.C. |
F2 | Alberto Ascari |
Ferrari 166 2L | 7.816 km | 26 | 1:16:42.7 | 159.939 km/h | Report |
| 1950 | July 6 | Coupe des Racers 500 |
F3 |  Alfred Bottoms |
Cowlan-JBS / Norton | 7.816 km | 13 | 46:16.9 | 131.720 km/h | Report |
| 1951 | July 1 | 38° GP de l’ACF (E) |
F1 | Luigi Fagioli Juan Manuel Fangio |
Alfa Romeo 159 | 7.816 km | 77 | 3:22:11.0 | 178.600 km/h | Report |
| 1952 | June 29 | 23x15px 13° GP de la Marne | F2 | Jean Behra |
Gordini T16 | 7.152 km | 71 | 3 hrs | 169.935 km/h | Report |
| 1953 | July 5 | 40° GP de l’ACF |
F2 | Mike Hawthorn |
Ferrari 500 2L | 8.347 km | 60 | 2:44:18.6 | 182.881 km/h | Report |
| 1954 | July 4 | 41° GP de l’ACF |
F1 | Juan Manuel Fangio |
Mercedes W196 | 8,302 km | 61 | 2:42:47.9 | 186.644 km/h | Report |
| 1955 (No racing events held) | ||||||||||
| 1956 | July 1 | 42° GP de l’ACF |
F1 | Peter Collins |
Lancia-Ferrari | 8.302 km | 61 | 2:34:23.4 | 196.809 km/h | Report |
| 1957 | July 14 | 2° GP de Reims |
F1 | Luigi Musso |
Lancia-Ferrari D50 | 8.302 km | 61 | 2:34:23.4 | 196.809 km/h | Report |
| 1957 | July 6 | 1° Coupe de Vitesse |
F2 | Maurice Trintignant |
Ferrari D156 F2 | 8.302 km | 37 | 1:40:06.8 | 184.090 km/h | Report |
| 1958 | July 6 | 44° GP de l’ACF |
F1 | Mike Hawthorn |
Ferrari 246 | 8.302 km | 50 | 2:03:21.3 | 201.905 km/h | Report |
| 1958 | July 6 | 2° Coupe de Vitesse |
F2 | Jean Behra |
Porsche 718 F2 | 8.302 km | 30 | 1:19:45.0 | 187.374 km/h | Report |
| 1959 | July 5 | 45° GP de l’ACF (E) |
F1 | Tony Brooks |
Ferrari 256 | 8.302 km | 50 | 2:01:26.5 | 205.086 km/h | Report |
| 1959 | July 5 | 3° Coupe de Vitesse |
F2 | Stirling Moss |
Cooper T45 | 8.302 km | 25 | 1:04:54.2 | 191.864 km/h | Report |
| 1960 | July 3 | 46° GP de l’ACF |
F1 |  Jack Brabham |
Cooper-Climax | 8.302 km | 50 | 1:57:24.9 | 212.119 km/h | Report |
| 1960 | July 3 | 1° Coupe de Juniors |
FJ | Mike McKee |
Lotus 18 Cosworth | 8.302 km | 20 | 58:45.4 | 169.548 km/h | Report |
| 1961 | July 2 | 47° GP de l’ACF |
F1 | Giancarlo Baghetti |
Ferrari 156 | 8.302 km | 52 | 2:14:17.5 | 192.880 km/h | Report |
| 1961 | July 2 | 2° Coupe de Juniors |
FJ | Trevor Taylor |
Lotus 20 Cosworth | 8.302 km | 30 | 1:24:44.1 | 176.352 km/h | Report |
| 1962 | July 1 | 3° GP de Reims |
F1 |  Bruce McLaren |
Cooper Climax T60 | 8.302 km | 50 | 2:02:32.2 | 203.31 km/h | Report |
| 1962 | July 1 | 3° Coupe de Juniors |
FJ | Mike Spence |
Lotus 22 Cosworth | 8.302 km | 10 | 27:03.1 | 184.130 km/h | Report |
| 1963 | June 30 | 49° GP de l’ACF |
F1 |  Jim Clark |
Lotus-Climax | 8.302 km | 53 | 2:10:54.3 | 201.676 km/h | Report |
| 1963 | June 30 | Trophee P-GT-Sport |
SC | Carlo Mario Abate |
Ferrari TRI/61 | 8.302 km | 25 | 01:02:59.5 | 197,686 km/h | Report |
| 1963 | June 30 | 4° Coupe de Juniors |
FJ | Denis Hulme |
Brabham BT6 Cosworth | 8.302 km | 20 | 54:27.0 | 182.958 km/h | Report |
| 1964 | July 5 | Grands Prix France |
F2 | Alan Rees |
Brabham Cosworth | 8.302 km | 37 | 01:36:10.6 | 191.625 km/h | Report |
| 1964 | July 5 | 4° Coupe de Vitesse |
F3 | Jackie Stewart |
Cooper BMC | 8.302 km | 20 | 57:15.8 | 173.969 km/h | Report |
| 1965 | July 4 | Grands Prix France |
F2 |  Jochen Rindt |
Brabham Cosworth | 8.302 km | 37 | 01:33:55.7 | 196.212 km/h | Report |
| 1965 | July 4 | 5° Coupe de Vitesse |
F3 | Jean-Pierre Beltoise |
Matra - Cosworth | 8.302 km | 20 | 54:33.8 | 182.578 km/h | Report |
| 1966 | July 2 | Grands Prix France |
F2 | Jack Brabham |
Brabham Honda | 8.302 km | 37 | 01:33:32.4 | 197.026 km/h | Report |
| 1966 | July 3 | 52° GP de l’ACF (E) |
F1 | Jack Brabham |
Brabham BT19 | 8.302 km | 48 | 01:48:31.3 | 220.315 km/h | Report |
| 1966 | July 3 | 6° Coupe de Vitesse |
F3 | John Fenning |
Matra - Cosworth | 8.302 km | 20 | 55:16.3 | 180,238 km/h | Report |
| 1967 | June 25 | Les Trophées de France |
F2 | Jochen Rindt |
Brabham BT23 | 8.302 km | 37 | 01:25:25.4 | 215.747 km/h | Report |
| 1967 | June 25 | 7° Coupe de Vitesse |
F3 | Jean-Pierre Jabouille |
Matra - Cosworth | 8.302 km | 20 | 54:39.8 | 182,243 km/h | Report |
| 1968 | June 25 | Les Trophées de France |
F2 | Jackie Stewart |
Matra MS7 Cosworth | 8.302 km | 35 | 01:25:23.1 | 207.869 km/h | Report |
| 1968 | June 25 | 8° Coupe de Vitesse |
F3 | Peter Westbury |
Brabham BT21 | 8.302 km | 15 | 41:29.3 | 180.088 km/h | Report |
| 1969 | June 25 | Les Trophées de France |
F2 | François Cevert |
Tecno Ford TF | 8.302 km | 35 | 01:19:21.3 | 219.692 km/h | Report |
| 1969 | June 25 | 9° Coupe de Vitesse |
F3 |  Peter de Merrit |
Tecno Toyota | 8.302 km | 15 | 53:39.3 | 185.669 km/h | Report |
| Sources:[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] | ||||||||||
Sports car racing at Reims-Gueux by year (condensed)
| Year | Date | Event | Drivers | Team | Constructor / Car | Group | Laps | Distance | km/h | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | Aug. 27 | Coupe d'Or | Roger Gauthier |
(Private) | Bignan 2LC |
N/A | 53 | 1056 km | N/A | Report |
| 1935 | July 7 | 1° GP de Tourisme | Albert Perrot |
(Private) | Delahaye 18 CV |
+3.0 | 25 | 195,672 km | 131.34 km/h | Report |
| 1936 | July 5 | 11° GP de la Marne | Jean-Pierre Wimille |
Bugatti (Works) |
Bugatti 57G Tank |
S5.0 | 51 | 399.126 km | 140.245 km/h | Report |
| 1937 | July 18 | 12° GP de la Marne | Jean-Pierre Wimille |
Bugatti (Works) |
Bugatti T59 |
S5.0 | 63 | 500.0 km | 140.245 km/h | Report |
| 1952 | June 29 | 13° GP de la Marne | Stirling Moss |
T. H. Wisdom |
Jaguar C-Type |
S+2.0 | 50 | 359.88 km | 158.017 km/h | Report |
| 1953-1954 | 12 Heures Internationales de Reims | |||||||||
| 1955 Cancelled | ||||||||||
| 1956-1958 | 12 Heures Internationales de Reims | |||||||||
| 1959 - 1963 Not held | ||||||||||
| 1963 | June 30 | Trophee P-GT-Sport | Dick Protheroe |
Protheroe |
Jaguar E 3L+ |
P+3.0 | 25 | 207.550 km | 193.910 km/h | Report |
| 1964-1965 | 12 Heures Internationales de Reims - Sportscar World Championship | |||||||||
| 1966 | July 3 | Coupe Nationale R8 Gordini | Jean- Claude Andruet |
Gordini |
R8 Gordini |
S1.2 | 12 | 99.624 km | 145.748 km/h | Report |
| 1967 | 12 Heures Internationales de Reims | |||||||||
| 1967 | June 25 | Coupe Nationale R8 Gordini | Francis Stalter |
Gordini |
R8 Gordini |
S1.2 | 15 | 124.530 km | 149.401 km/ | Report |
| 1968 | June 24 | Coupe Nationale R8 Gordini | Bernard Lagier |
Gordini |
R8 Gordini |
S1.2 | 12 | 99.624 km | 154.851 km/h | Report |
| 1969 | June 24 | Coupe Nationale R8 Gordini | Alain Cudini |
Gordini |
R8 Gordini |
S1.2 | 12 | 99.624 km | 155.759 km/h | Report |
| Sources:[23][24][25] | ||||||||||
Reims-Gueux Circuits by years
Related pages & external links
- Grand Prix de la Marne
- 12 Hours of Reims
- Amis du Circuit de Gueux (Palmares)
- Circuit Reims-Gueux (1926-1969) on Google Maps (Historic Grand Prix Circuits)
References
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