Cadours

The village of Cadours in southwestern France held a minor grand prix during the 1950s that is best known for the death of two-time Le Mans winner Raymond Sommer. The temporary road course that was first used in 1948 followed a well-travelled French formula by connecting a triangle of very narrow public roads. There was little run-off and a pronounced hump that caused the cars to leave the ground. Facilities were rudimentary with a very small grandstand and paddock in a field. It was 1950 by the time the local organisers first attracted a quality field, but the event was overshadowed when Sommer was killed after his wheel bearing failed and he crashed into a tree. The Le Mans disaster in 1955 caused a hiatus and the event petered out after Formula Junior races in 1959 and 1961.