The Charade Circuit
A Formula 1 circuit
at the foot of the volcanoes
An iconic, historic, and technical layout in an unrivalled natural setting
Choose to drive on an iconic circuit from the golden age of the Sixties, a true monument of motorsport. Originally 8 kilometers long, the Charade Circuit was a closed public road that hosted the greatest champions during four Formula 1 French Grands Prix.
Today, it features a 4-kilometer rolling and winding layout nestled in the heart of the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Park, recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This circuit promises thrilling and one-of-a-kind sensations. You’ll be welcomed in our vintage lounge on the pit lane, a timeless event space just outside Clermont-Ferrand.
Four Formula 1 Grands Prix, from 1965 to 1972
Three winners: Jackie Stewart (x2), Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt
Lap record: 2’53”9
The Charade Circuit hosted four Formula 1 French Grands Prix between 1965 and 1972. On the original 8-kilometer layout, drivers competed over 40 laps, covering a total distance of 322.2 kilometers. The circuit combined a permanent section with public roads that were closed off during the event.
The current main straight was already in use back in 1965 for the very first Grand Prix. After the opening corner, drivers headed straight toward the village of Charade, then looped around the Puy de Charade via the steep descent toward Gravenoire.
Jackie Stewart, whom we honor in our two-day advanced coaching program, remains the only driver to win twice in Formula 1 at Charade. The lap record of the original circuit still belongs to Chris Amon, with an average speed of 166.75 km/h.
The Circuit Today
Length: 3,975 m
Width: 9 m
18 Corners
9% average elevation change
Track guide
The
Bridge
Speed : fast
Gear : 4°
Caution: high-speed corner. Stay close to the pit wall and aim for the two cones marking the braking zone.
Brake gently with the steering wheel straight, without downshifting, and wait for the next cone to initiate your turn. Be smooth with the steering, avoiding too much input. Once you’ve passed the apex, get back on the throttle and straighten the wheel while aiming for the exit cone on the right side of the track.
In this corner, smoothness at every stage is essential to keep the car stable.
- Do not shift gears
- Keep a light throttle through the chicane
- Avoid the curbs
Champeaux
Hairpin
Speed : slow
Gear : 3°
Caution: braking zone ahead. Keep the car in the middle of the track at the two laid-down cones, lift off the throttle completely, and wait for the double braking cone to apply strong braking with the steering perfectly straight.
Leave yourself some safety margin to avoid braking with two wheels on the grass. Wait until the end of the curb to downshift (from 4th to 3rd gear) at the very end of the braking phase. Do not get back on the throttle too early after turn-in. Stay in the middle of the track for the first three-quarters of the corner before aiming for the very late apex.
Use your eyes to guide you by looking ahead to the exit as soon as you enter the turn. Stay well to the right at corner exit.
- Lift off the throttle when passing the laid-down cones
- Be mindful of the downhill slope, which makes braking more challenging
- Be patient before reaching the apex
Small
bridge
Type : Long Hairpin
Speed : medium
Gear : 3°
Caution, high-speed braking zone. Keep the car perfectly straight and only downshift at the end of the braking phase, just before the turn-in cone.
Be patient, then rotate the car toward the apex. Gradually get back on the throttle while using the full width of the track on the uphill exit to prepare for the next hairpin.
- Pay close attention to high-speed braking
- Be patient and delay your turn-in
- Use the full width of the track to optimize your exit
Rosier
Corner
Type : right-angle corner
Speed : medium
Gear : 3°
Here, braking is done by cutting across the track from right to left. The double braking cone is positioned at the pitlane entry, while the turn-in cone is on the far left outside the track. This approach keeps the car straight, avoiding the slight curve that could unsettle the vehicle.
Stay in third gear and rotate the car at the turn-in cone to draw a straight line from apex to exit. Watch out for the curb on the outside. Get back on the throttle once the wheels are straight.
- Brake while crossing the track from right to left, keeping the car straight
- Be cautious with acceleration and the outside curb on exit
In short
Drive Authentic
Historic Single-Seaters
How to Get to the Charade Circuit ?
10 min from Clermont-Ferrand
2 hours from Lyon
4 hours from Geneva
