Paul Ricard 817

Paul Ricard

Built with generous financing from pastis tycoon Paul Ricard, this flat, dusty circuit in southern France was an impressive venue with great facilities when it opened in 1970.

Built with generous financing from pastis tycoon Paul Ricard, this flat, dusty circuit in southern France was an impressive venue with great facilities when it opened in 1970. The mile-long Mistral straight dominates the full circuit and is followed by the dauntingly fast Signes corner. Though initially heralded as very safe, the full circuit stopped being used for the Grand Prix after Elio de Angelis was killed while testing in 1986. Political pressure in France led to the race moving to Magny-Cours in 1991. Bernie Ecclestone bought the circuit in 1998 and it was redeveloped as a high-class testing venue. Intermittent rumours of the French GP returning finally became reality in 2018.

National Circuit

1970 - 1999

Type

Permanent road course

Length

2.028 (Miles)

Change

National Circuit

Circuit 1C-V2

2005

Type

Permanent road course

Length

3.63 (Miles)

Change

Full Grand Prix circuit

Fastest Race Lap

Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari SF90), 1m32.740, 140.910 mph, F1, 2019

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Benz F1 W10 EQ Power+), 1m28.319, 147.964 mph, F1, 2019

Circuit 3C

2002

Type

Permanent road course

Length

2.387 (Miles)

Change

Short Grand Prix circuit

Circuit 1A

2002

Type

Permanent road course

Length

3.598 (Miles)

Change

Full Grand Prix circuit

Fastest Race Lap

Jos Menten (Chevrolet Corvette C6-R), 1m53.343, 114.280 mph, GT, 2006

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Jos Menten/Jean-Pierre Belloc (Chevrolet Corvette C6-R), 1m52.841, 114.788 mph, GT, 2006

Full Grand Prix Circuit

1970 - 1999

Type

Permanent road course

Length

3.61 (Miles)

Change

Full Grand Prix circuit

Fastest Race Lap

Keke Rosberg (Williams FW10-Honda), 1m39.914, 130.072 mph, F1, 1985

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Keke Rosberg (Williams FW10-Honda), 1m32.462, 140.556 mph, F1, 1985

Short Grand Prix Circuit

1970 - 1999

Type

Permanent road course

Length

2.353 (Miles)

Change

Short Grand Prix circuit

Fastest Race Lap

Nigel Mansell (Ferrari 642), 1m08.012, 125.410 mph, F1, 1990

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Nigel Mansell (Ferrari 642), 1m04.402, 131.530 mph, F1, 1990

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