Jump to content

Reims-Gueux

Coordinates: 49°15′14.67″N 3°55′50.02″E / 49.2540750°N 3.9305611°E / 49.2540750; 3.9305611
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 108.3.168.220 (talk) at 05:29, 27 April 2016 (→Circuit history). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

France Circuit de Reims-Gueux
LocationGueux, west of Reims, France
Time zoneGMT +1
Coordinates49°15′14.67″N 3°55′50.02″E / 49.2540750°N 3.9305611°E / 49.2540750; 3.9305611
Major eventsGrand Prix de la Marne
French Grand Prix
12 Hours of Reims,
Websitehttps://www.amis-du-circuit-de-gueux.fr/
1926 Original circuit
Length7.816 km (4.856 miles)
Turns8
Race lap record2:27.8 (Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio,
 Italy Alfa Romeo 159,
1951, Formula One)
1952 Variation
Length7.152 km (4.444 miles)
Turns5
1953 Variation
Length8.372 km (5.187 miles)
Turns7
Race lap record2:41.0 (Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio,
 Italy Maserati,
1953, Formula One)
1954 Variation
Length8.302 km (5.158 miles)
Turns7
Race lap record2:11.3 (Italy Lorenzo Bandini,
 Italy 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.

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). This public road circuit had previously been made up entirely of straights with a few slight and very fast kinks and slow corners; with the addition of these 3 fast sweepers and the extension of the main straight, this circuit, which was already very fast- was now even faster than it had been before, by about 10-15 mph per lap.

The pit boxes and stands of the former Reims-Gueux circuit pictured in 2016

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).

Timekeepers' building at the former Reims-Gueux circuit pictured in 2016

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

Race Names

Grand Prix de la Marne
Coupe d’Or (1° 12 Heures de Reims)
Grand Prix de France (GP de l'ACF)
Grand Prix de la Marne de Tourisme
Coupe de la Commission Sportive de l'ACF
Grand Prix de Reims
Coupe des Petites Cylindrées
Coupe des Racers 500
European Grand Prix (honorary) (E)
12 Heures Internationales de Reims
Coupe Internationale de Vitesse
Coupe de Juniors
Trophée International Prototypes Grand Tourisme et Sport
Les Grands Prix France
Les Trophées de France

 

Editions

13
1
16
1
1
3
4
1
3
8
9
4
1
3
3

 

First Year

1926
1926
1932
1935
1939
1947
1947
1950
1951
1953
1957
1960
1963
1964
1967

 

Last Year

1952
-
1966
-
-
1962
1950
-
1966
1967
1969
1963
-
1966
1969

 

Regulations

FL - GP - VT - SC
FL - SC
GP - F1 - F2
SC
VT
GP - F1
F2
F3
F1
SC
F2 - F3
FJ
SC
F2
F2

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 Champagne-Ardenne 1° GP de la Marne FL France Pierre Clause Bignan 22 km 10 2:08:56.4 104.20 km/h Report
1926 July 25 Champagne-Ardenne 2° GP de la Marne FL France François Lescot Bugatti T35B 2L C 7.816 km 40 2:50:15.6 112.77 km/h Report
1927 July 10 Champagne-Ardenne 3° GP de la Marne FL France Philippe Étancelin Bugatti T35B 7.816 km 50 3:26:20.2 116.32 km/h Report
1928 July 8 Champagne-Ardenne 4° GP de la Marne GP Monaco Louis Chiron Bugatti T35 7.816 km 50 3:00:47.4 132.75 km/h Report
1929 July 7 Champagne-Ardenne 5° GP de la Marne GP France Philippe Étancelin Bugatti 35C 7.816 km 50 2:54:14.6 137.74 km/h Report
1930 June 29 Champagne-Ardenne 6° GP de la Marne GP France René Dreyfus Bugatti T35B 7.816 km 50 2:49:27.6 141.626 km/h Report
1931 July 5 Champagne-Ardenne 7° GP de la Marne GP France Marcel Lehoux Bugatti T51 7.816 km 50 2:47:37.4 143.18 km/h Report
1931 July 5 Champagne-Ardenne 7° GP de la Marne VT France Philippe Auber Bugatti T37A 7.816 km 50 3:19:00.4 120.588 km/h Report
1932 July 3 France 18° GP de l'ACF GP Italy Tazio Nuvolari Alfa Romeo Tipo B 7.826 km 92 2:57:52.8 145.3 km/h Report
1933 July 2 Champagne-Ardenne 8° GP de la Marne GP France Philippe Etancelin Alfa Romeo Monza 7.826 km 51 2:45:12.4 145.0 km/h Report
1934 July 8 Champagne-Ardenne 9° GP de la Marne GP Monaco Louis Chiron Alfa Romeo Tipo B 7.826 km 64 3:25:51.8 146.0 km/h Report
1935 July 7 Champagne-Ardenne 10° GP de la Marne GP France René Dreyfus Alfa Romeo Tipo B 7.826 km 64 2:57:52.8 157.760 km/h Report
1935 July 7 Champagne-Ardenne 1° GP de Tourisme SC France Albert Perrot Delahaye 135 S 7.826 km 25 1:29:22.7 131.34 km/h Report
1936 July 5 Champagne-Ardenne 11° GP de la Marne SC France Jean-Pierre Wimille Bugatti 57G Tank 7.826 km 51 2:50:45.3 140.245 km/h Report
1937 July 18 Champagne-Ardenne 12° GP de la Marne SC France Jean-Pierre Wimille Bugatti T59 7.826 km 63 3:23:58.4 145.030 km/h Report
1938 July 2 France 32° GP de l’ACF GP Germany Manfred von Brauchitsch Mercedes W154 7.816 km 64 2:57:52.8 168.707 km/h Report
1939 July 9 France 33° GP de l’ACF GP Germany Hermann Paul Müller Auto Union D 7.816 km 64 2:57:52.8 168.707 km/h Report
1939 July 9 France Coupe Sportive VT Switzerland 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 Switzerland 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 Thailand B. Bira Simca-Gordini 11 7.816 km 26 1:29:20.4 136.473 km/h Report
1948 July 18 France 35° GP de l’ACF F1 France 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 France Raymond Sommer Ferrari 166 SC 7.816 km 26 1:18:48.0 154.714 km/h Report
1949 July 6 France 36° GP de l’ACF F1 Monaco 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 Italy Alberto Ascari Ferrari 166 2L 7.816 km 26 1:19:56.9 152.722 km/h Report
1950 July 6 France 37° GP de l’ACF F1 Argentina 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 Italy 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 United Kingdom Alfred Bottoms Cowlan-JBS / Norton 7.816 km 13 46:16.9 131.720 km/h Report
1951 July 1 France 38° GP de l’ACF (E) F1 Italy Luigi Fagioli
Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio 		Alfa Romeo 159 7.816 km 77 3:22:11.0 178.600 km/h Report
1952 June 29 Champagne-Ardenne 13° GP de la Marne F2 France Jean Behra Gordini T16 7.152 km 71 3 hrs 169.935 km/h Report
1953 July 5 France 40° GP de l’ACF F2 United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn Ferrari 500 2L 8.347 km 60 2:44:18.6 182.881 km/h Report
1954 July 4 France 41° GP de l’ACF F1 Argentina 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 France 42° GP de l’ACF F1 United Kingdom 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 Italy Luigi Musso Lancia-Ferrari D50 8.302 km 61 2:34:23.4 196.809 km/h Report
1957 July 6 France 1° Coupe de Vitesse F2 France Maurice Trintignant Ferrari D156 F2 8.302 km 37 1:40:06.8 184.090 km/h Report
1958 July 6 France 44° GP de l’ACF F1 United Kingdom Mike Hawthorn Ferrari 246 8.302 km 50 2:03:21.3 201.905 km/h Report
1958 July 6 France 2° Coupe de Vitesse F2 France Jean Behra Porsche 718 F2 8.302 km 30 1:19:45.0 187.374 km/h Report
1959 July 5 France 45° GP de l’ACF (E) F1 United Kingdom Tony Brooks Ferrari 256 8.302 km 50 2:01:26.5 205.086 km/h Report
1959 July 5 France 3° Coupe de Vitesse F2 United Kingdom Stirling Moss Cooper T45 8.302 km 25 1:04:54.2 191.864 km/h Report
1960 July 3 France 46° GP de l’ACF F1 Australia Jack Brabham Cooper-Climax 8.302 km 50 1:57:24.9 212.119 km/h Report
1960 July 3 France 1° Coupe de Juniors FJ United Kingdom Mike McKee Lotus 18 Cosworth 8.302 km 20 58:45.4 169.548 km/h Report
1961 July 2 France 47° GP de l’ACF F1 Italy Giancarlo Baghetti Ferrari 156 8.302 km 52 2:14:17.5 192.880 km/h Report
1961 July 2 France 2° Coupe de Juniors FJ United Kingdom 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 New Zealand Bruce McLaren Cooper Climax T60 8.302 km 50 2:02:32.2 203.31 km/h Report
1962 July 1 France 3° Coupe de Juniors FJ United Kingdom Mike Spence Lotus 22 Cosworth 8.302 km 10 27:03.1 184.130 km/h Report
1963 June 30 France 49° GP de l’ACF F1 Scotland Jim Clark Lotus-Climax 8.302 km 53 2:10:54.3 201.676 km/h Report
1963 June 30 France Trophee P-GT-Sport SC Italy Carlo Mario Abate Ferrari TRI/61 8.302 km 25 01:02:59.5 197,686 km/h Report
1963 June 30 France 4° Coupe de Juniors FJ New Zealand Denis Hulme Brabham BT6 Cosworth 8.302 km 20 54:27.0 182.958 km/h Report
1964 July 5 France Grands Prix France F2 United Kingdom Alan Rees Brabham Cosworth 8.302 km 37 01:36:10.6 191.625 km/h Report
1964 July 5 France 4° Coupe de Vitesse F3 Scotland Jackie Stewart Cooper BMC 8.302 km 20 57:15.8 173.969 km/h Report
1965 July 4 France Grands Prix France F2 Austria Jochen Rindt Brabham Cosworth 8.302 km 37 01:33:55.7 196.212 km/h Report
1965 July 4 France 5° Coupe de Vitesse F3 France Jean-Pierre Beltoise Matra - Cosworth 8.302 km 20 54:33.8 182.578 km/h Report
1966 July 2 France Grands Prix France F2 Australia Jack Brabham Brabham Honda 8.302 km 37 01:33:32.4 197.026 km/h Report
1966 July 3 France 52° GP de l’ACF (E) F1 Australia Jack Brabham Brabham BT19 8.302 km 48 01:48:31.3 220.315 km/h Report
1966 July 3 France 6° Coupe de Vitesse F3 United Kingdom John Fenning Matra - Cosworth 8.302 km 20 55:16.3 180,238 km/h Report
1967 June 25 France Les Trophées de France F2 Austria Jochen Rindt Brabham BT23 8.302 km 37 01:25:25.4 215.747 km/h Report
1967 June 25 France 7° Coupe de Vitesse F3 France Jean-Pierre Jabouille Matra - Cosworth 8.302 km 20 54:39.8 182,243 km/h Report
1968 June 25 France Les Trophées de France F2 Scotland Jackie Stewart Matra MS7 Cosworth 8.302 km 35 01:25:23.1 207.869 km/h Report
1968 June 25 France 8° Coupe de Vitesse F3 United Kingdom Peter Westbury Brabham BT21 8.302 km 15 41:29.3 180.088 km/h Report
1969 June 25 France Les Trophées de France F2 France François Cevert Tecno Ford TF 8.302 km 35 01:19:21.3 219.692 km/h Report
1969 June 25 France 9° Coupe de Vitesse F3 United States 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 France Roger Gauthier (Private) France Bignan 2LC N/A 53 1056 km N/A Report
1935 July 7 1° GP de Tourisme France Albert Perrot (Private) France Delahaye 18 CV +3.0 25 195,672 km 131.34 km/h Report
1936 July 5 11° GP de la Marne France Jean-Pierre Wimille France Bugatti (Works) France Bugatti 57G Tank S5.0 51 399.126 km 140.245 km/h Report
1937 July 18 12° GP de la Marne France Jean-Pierre Wimille France Bugatti (Works) France Bugatti T59 S5.0 63 500.0 km 140.245 km/h Report
1952 June 29 13° GP de la Marne United Kingdom Stirling Moss United Kingdom T. H. Wisdom United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom Dick Protheroe United Kingdom Protheroe United Kingdom 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 France Jean- Claude Andruet France Gordini France 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 France Francis Stalter France Gordini France R8 Gordini S1.2 15 124.530 km 149.401 km/ Report
1968 June 24 Coupe Nationale R8 Gordini France Bernard Lagier France Gordini France R8 Gordini S1.2 12 99.624 km 154.851 km/h Report
1969 June 24 Coupe Nationale R8 Gordini France Alain Cudini France Gordini France R8 Gordini S1.2 12 99.624 km 155.759 km/h Report
Sources:[23][24][25]

Reims-Gueux Circuits by years

Street Map - Reims-Gueux 1926
Street Map - Reims 1952
Street Map - Reims- 1953
Street Map - Reims- 1954-1972

References

  1. ^ "1925 Le Circuit de Beine-Nauroy". racingmemo.free.fr. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  2. ^ "1925 I Grand Prix de la Marne". teamdan.com. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  3. ^ "XVIII Grand Prix de l'ACF". Leif Snellman. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  4. ^ "Circuit Reims - The Golden Era". Leif Snellman. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  5. ^ "1938 Grand Prix de l'ACF". Leif Snellman. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  6. ^ "1928 GP Reims-Gueux July 8". amis-du-circuit-de-gueux.fr. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  7. ^ "1932 18th Grand Prix de l'ACF". Leif Snellman. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  8. ^ "1935 Grand Prix de la Marne de Tourisme results". prova.de. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  9. ^ "1936 Grand Prix de la Marne - Sports Car". Leif Snellman. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  10. ^ "1939 Coupe de la Commission Sportive - Voiturette". Leif Snellman. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  11. ^ "XVI Grand Prix de Reims (anciennement Grand Prix de la Marne)". 8w.forix.com. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  12. ^ "1947 XVI Grand Prix de Reims". silhouet.com. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  13. ^ "1947 Reims - Non World Championship". statsf1.com. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  14. ^ "1951 - Round 4: XXXVIII Grand Prix de l'ACF (European GP)". second-a-lap.blogspot.com. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  15. ^ "1950 Alf Bottoms - Cowlan-JBS / Norton (Jimmy Piget's Files) PDF" (PDF). gdecarli.it. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  16. ^ "1952 XIII Grand Prix de la Marne Gueux". formula2.net. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  17. ^ "1957 II Grand Prix de Reims". statsf1.com. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  18. ^ "1957 Dino 156 F2". ferrari.com. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  19. ^ "1962 48th French Grand Prix". motorsportmagazine.com. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  20. ^ "1967 Brabham BT23". oldracingcars.com. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  21. ^ "1969 XIII Coupe Int. de Vitesse Reims". formula2.net. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  22. ^ "Grand Prix Guide - Circuits Reims Gueux". gpguide.com. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  23. ^ "1926 Coupe d'Or: 1ères 12 Heures de Reims, Aug 22". amis-du-circuit-de-gueux.fr. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  24. ^ "Reims: Revenge for Le Mans". 24h-lemans.com. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  25. ^ "1967 12 hrs of Reims (non-championship)". wsrp.ic.cz. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reims-Gueux&oldid=717350421"