Reims 1561

Reims

Reims was a spectacular, triangular road course that used the public roads to the west of the town.

Reims was a spectacular, triangular road course that used the public roads to the west of the town. The circuit was also very fast, and races were often decided by slipstreaming battles. The quest for greater speed led the organisers to cut down trees and demolish houses to ease the corners. The village of Gueux was bypassed by a new section of permanent circuit in 1952 and an extension to the new Virage de Muizon was added a year later. Run by the flamboyant Raymond "Toto" Roche for the Automobile Club de Champagne, Reims was the dominant French circuit during the 1950s and 1960s. During this period an international 12-hour sports car race was also run at the French GP meeting. But financial and political problems forced Reims to close in 1970, although the old, decaying pits can still be seen.

Circuit

Type

Temporary road course

Length

5.158 (Miles)

Change

Virage de Thillois eased

Fastest Race Lap

Lorenzo Bandini (Ferrari 312), 2m11.3, 142.218 mph, F1, 1966

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Lorenzo Bandini (Ferrari 312), 2m07.8, 146.113 mph, F1, 1966

Type

Temporary road course

Length

5.187 (Miles)

Change

Link road extended to join the Soissons-Reims public road at the new Virage de Muizon

Fastest Race Lap

Juan Manuel Fangio (Maserati A6GCM) and Alberto Ascari (Ferrari 500), 2m41.1, 115.911 mph, F2, 1953

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Alberto Ascari (Ferrari 500), 2m41.2, 115.839 mph, F2, 1953

Type

Temporary road course

Length

4.472 (Miles)

Change

Gueux village bypassed by linking the finishing straight with the Virage de la Hovette

Fastest Race Lap

Jean Behra (Gordini 16), 2m28.7, 108.266 mph, F2, 1952

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Alberto Ascari (Ferrari 500), 2m26.2, 110.118 mph, F2, 1952

Type

Temporary road course

Length

4.856 (Miles)

Change

Reims-Gueux

Fastest Race Lap

Juan Manuel Fangio (Alfa Romeo 159), 2m27.8, 118.279 mph, F1, 1951

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Juan Manuel Fangio (Alfa Romeo 159), 2m25.7, 119.984 mph, F1, 1951

Type

Temporary road course

Length

13.67 (Miles)

Change

Grand Prix de la Marne

Latest Races

3,413

Championships

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19,330

Results

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25,216

Drivers

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14,546

Teams

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917

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