Rouen-les-Essarts 1236

Rouen-les-Essarts

Set in attractive woodland south of the city, Rouen-les-Essarts was one of Europe’s finest circuits.

Set in attractive woodland south of the city, Rouen-les-Essarts was one of Europe’s finest circuits. Organising club the AC de Normand opened the circuit in 1950, and modernised it just two years later with new pits, grandstand and wider track. The sharp descent to the cobbled Nouveau Monde hairpin was breath-taking, and the return uphill leg required a strong engine. But the course was also very dangerous. Jo Schlesser was killed during the 1968 French GP, Jean-Luc Salomon and Denis Dayan both died after separate crashes during a Formula 3 race in 1970 and Gerry Birrell perished during the 1973 F2 race. The circuit eventually closed in 1993.

Circuit

Type

Permanent road course

Length

3.444 (Miles)

Change

Permanent chicane built at Virage des Six Freres. Circuit length unchanged

Fastest Race Lap

Ingo Hoffmann (March 782-BMW), 1m46.31, 116.625 mph, F2, 1978

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Eddie Cheever (Ralt RT1-BMW), 1m45.7, 117.298 mph, F2, 1977

Type

Permanent road course

Length

3.444 (Miles)

Change

Temporary chicane built at Virage des Six Freres. Circuit length unchanged

Fastest Race Lap

Jean-Pierre Jarier (March 732-BMW), 1m48.4, 114.376 mph, F2, 1973

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Jean-Pierre Jarier (March 732-BMW), 1m43.8, 119.445 mph, F2, 1973

Type

Permanent road course

Length

3.444 (Miles)

Change

New pits and a new section built due to the opening of a motorway over the previous circuit

Fastest Race Lap

Mike Hailwood (Surtees TS10-Ford), 1m46.8, 116.090 mph, F2, 1972

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Emerson Fittipaldi (Lotus 69-Ford), 1m48.1, 114.694 mph, F2, 1972

Type

Permanent road course

Length

4.065 (Miles)

Change

Chicanes built at Virage du Gresil and after Virage du Paradis. Circuit length unchanged

Fastest Race Lap

Francois Cevert (Tecno TF71-Ford), 2m11.0, 111.710 mph, F2, 1971

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Ronnie Peterson (March 712M-Ford), 2m09.7, 112.830 mph, F2, 1971

Type

Permanent road course

Length

4.065 (Miles)

Change

Extended to the north

Fastest Race Lap

Tim Schenken (Brabham BT30-Ford), 2m00.8, 121.143 mph, F2, 1970

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Jochen Rindt (Brabham BT26-Repco), 1m56.1, 126.047 mph, F1, 1968

Type

Permanent road course

Length

3.169 (Miles)

Change

Original circuit

Fastest Race Lap

Maurice Trintignant (Ferrari 625), 2m09.9, 87.825 mph, F1, 1954

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Maurice Trintignant (Ferrari 625), 2m09.4, 88.164 mph, F1, 1954

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