Reims-Gueux
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Location | Gueux, west of Reims, France |
---|---|
Time zone | GMT +1 |
Coordinates | 49°15′14.67″N 3°55′50.02″E / 49.2540750°N 3.9305611°ECoordinates: 49°15′14.67″N 3°55′50.02″E / 49.2540750°N 3.9305611°E |
Major events |
Grand Prix de la Marne French Grand Prix 12 Hours of Reims, |
1926 Original circuit | |
Length | 7.816 km (4.856 mi) |
Turns | 8 |
Lap record |
2:27.8 (![]() ![]() 1951, Formula One) |
1952 Variation | |
Length | 7.152 km (4.444 mi) |
Turns | 5 |
1953 Variation | |
Length | 8.372 km (5.187 mi) |
Turns | 7 |
Lap record |
2:41.0 (![]() ![]() 1953, Formula One) |
1954 Variation | |
Length | 8.302 km (5.158 mi) |
Turns | 7 |
Lap record |
2:11.3 (![]() ![]() 1966, Formula One) |
The circuit Reims-Gueux was a Grand Prix motor racing road course, located 7.5 km west of Reims in the Champagne region of north-eastern France, established in 1926 as the second venue of the Grand Prix de la Marne.[1][2] The triangular layout of public roads formed three sectors between the villages of Thillois and Gueux over the La Garenne / Gueux intersection of Route nationale 31. The circuit became known to be among the fastest of the era for its two long straights (approximately 2.2 km in length each) allowing maximum straight-line speed, resulting in many famous slipstream battles.
Circuit history
Motor racing started in 1926 with the second Grand Prix de la Marne, relocating the race from the Circuit de Beine-Nauroy to Reims-Gueux. The original 7.816 km circuit placed the start/finish line on road D27, approximately 1.6 km east of the Gueux village center, where it would remain for the duration of the circuit. Gradual improvements in track width to a few sections including the Garenne-Gueux / Thillois corners prior to the 1932 Grand Prix de France contributed to a new published circuit length of 7.826 km after which the circuit remained essentially the same until 1937.[3][4]
Organizational changes prior to the 1938 GP de France saw extensive widening of the Thillois-Gueux straight. The process was reported to have felled trees and demolished structures to make the circuit yet faster, concluding the Grand Prix era with the 1938-1939 championship editions of the French Grand Prix.[5]
Racing at Reims-Gueux resumed in 1947 with the 16th Grand Prix de Reims, effectively ending the Grand Prix de la Marne series except for a last edition in 1952. 1948 and 1949 saw the first Formula 1 cars at Reims-Gueux for two non-championship rounds. By then temporary grandstands were established fixtures at the Gueux / La Garenne and Thillois corners and after hosting the sixth round of the inaugural 1950 World Drivers' Championship, it became clear that the circuit needed further extensive renovations to comply with the accelerating Formula 1 technology.
For 1952, the track was re-configured to bypass Gueux via the (then) new D26 section, shortening the circuit from 7.826 km to 7.152 km (4.444 mi) after which it was renamed "Circuit de Reims" or commonly referred to simply as "Reims". Improvements continued in preparations for 1953, the inaugural year of the 12 Hours of Reims series, which featured a new D26 track extension from the Virage de la Hovette (Annie Bousquet corner) to a new purpose built intersection with the La Garenne straight (Muizon corner) about 1.2 km west of the previous Gueux / La Garenne junction, resulting in a new preliminary circuit length of 8.372 km (5.187 mi). The last major modifications were before the 1954 season, re-profiling the new Muizon corner from the previous year and the Thillois corner to a larger and faster radius, which established again a shorter and final circuit length of 8.302 km (5.158 mi). This public road circuit had previously been made up entirely of straights with a few slight and very fast kinks and slow corners; with the addition of these 3 fast sweepers and the extension of the main straight, this circuit, which was already very fast- was now even faster than it had been before, by about 10-15 mph per lap.
![](../I/m/Reimsstands.png)
The last year for Formula One at Reims came in 1966, final sports car competitions were held in 1969 and Motorcycle racing continued for another 3 years. In 1972, Reims-Gueux closed permanently due to financial difficulties. There was to be a historic race held in 1997 but it was cancelled for technical reasons several months before it was due to take place and by 2002, the bulldozers arrived to demolish some portions of the track. A few sections of the old circuit are still visible today around the pit lane, at the D26 / D27 round-about and a part of the D26 extension at the Hovette corner to what once was the 1953 Muizon hair-pin (visible on current sat. images).
![](../I/m/Reimstime.png)
Today, the old RN31 straight between Muizon and Thillois is a wider dual carriageway, although it does follow the same line as the original two-lane road of the former circuit. It is still possible to drive a lap around the (more or less) original 1926 version (through the center of Gueux) and the 1952 variant of the circuit, except for the old Garenne -junction which was demolished as part of the RN31 modernization. It is no longer possible to complete a lap of the circuit used from 1953 onwards as the tarmac between Bretelle Nord and Muizon has been removed. Les Amis du Circuit de Gueux (a non-profit organization) is working to preserve the old pit building, grandstands and other remaining structures of the circuit and actively support historic meetings which use the 1952 Circuit d'Essais.
Racing series at Reims-Gueux
Race Names |
Editions |
First Year |
Last Year |
Regulations |
Reims-Gueux by year
Legend
Formula Libre = FL - Grand Prix = GP - Voiturette = VT - Formula 1 = F1 - Formula 2 = F2 |
Formula 3 = F3 - Formula Junior = FJ - Sports car = SC |
Coupe des P. C. = Petites Cylindrées, Trophée P-GT-Sport = Prototypes - Grand Tourisme |
French Grand Prix - GP championship rounds |
French Grand Prix - F1 non-championship rounds |
French Grand Prix - F1 championship rounds |
Year | Date | Event | Reg. | Winner | Constructor / Car | Circuit | Laps | Time | km/h av. | Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1925 | Aug. 2 | ![]() |
FL | ![]() |
Bignan | 22 km | 10 | 2:08:56.4 | 104.20 km/h | Report |
1926 | July 25 | ![]() |
FL | ![]() |
Bugatti T35B 2L C | 7.816 km | 40 | 2:50:15.6 | 112.77 km/h | Report |
1927 | July 10 | ![]() |
FL | ![]() |
Bugatti T35B | 7.816 km | 50 | 3:26:20.2 | 116.32 km/h | Report |
1928 | July 8 | ![]() |
GP | ![]() |
Bugatti T35 | 7.816 km | 50 | 3:00:47.4 | 132.75 km/h | Report |
1929 | July 7 | ![]() |
GP | ![]() |
Bugatti 35C | 7.816 km | 50 | 2:54:14.6 | 137.74 km/h | Report |
1930 | June 29 | ![]() |
GP | ![]() |
Bugatti T35B | 7.816 km | 50 | 2:49:27.6 | 141.626 km/h | Report |
1931 | July 5 | ![]() |
GP | ![]() |
Bugatti T51 | 7.816 km | 50 | 2:47:37.4 | 143.18 km/h | Report |
1931 | July 5 | ![]() |
VT | ![]() |
Bugatti T37A | 7.816 km | 50 | 3:19:00.4 | 120.588 km/h | Report |
1932 | July 3 | ![]() |
GP | ![]() |
Alfa Romeo Tipo B | 7.826 km | 92 | 2:57:52.8 | 145.3 km/h | Report |
1933 | July 2 | ![]() |
GP | ![]() |
Alfa Romeo Monza | 7.826 km | 51 | 2:45:12.4 | 145.0 km/h | Report |
1934 | July 8 | ![]() |
GP | ![]() |
Alfa Romeo Tipo B | 7.826 km | 64 | 3:25:51.8 | 146.0 km/h | Report |
1935 | July 7 | ![]() |
GP | ![]() |
Alfa Romeo Tipo B | 7.826 km | 64 | 2:57:52.8 | 157.760 km/h | Report |
1935 | July 7 | ![]() |
SC | ![]() |
Delahaye 135 S | 7.826 km | 25 | 1:29:22.7 | 131.34 km/h | Report |
1936 | July 5 | ![]() |
SC | ![]() |
Bugatti 57G Tank | 7.826 km | 51 | 2:50:45.3 | 140.245 km/h | Report |
1937 | July 18 | ![]() |
SC | ![]() |
Bugatti T59 | 7.826 km | 63 | 3:23:58.4 | 145.030 km/h | Report |
1938 | July 2 | ![]() |
GP | ![]() |
Mercedes W154 | 7.816 km | 64 | 2:57:52.8 | 168.707 km/h | Report |
1939 | July 9 | ![]() |
GP | ![]() |
Auto Union D | 7.816 km | 64 | 2:57:52.8 | 168.707 km/h | Report |
1939 | July 9 | ![]() |
VT | ![]() |
Maserati 4CM | 7.816 km | 38 | 1:58:21.6 | 150.6 km/h | Report |
1940 - 1946 (No racing events held) | ||||||||||
1947 | July 6 | ![]() |
GP | ![]() |
Maserati 4CL | 7.816 km | 51 | 2:34:50.7 | 155.181 km/h | Report |
1947 | July 6 | ![]() |
F2 | ![]() |
Simca-Gordini 11 | 7.816 km | 26 | 1:29:20.4 | 136.473 km/h | Report |
1948 | July 18 | ![]() |
F1 | ![]() |
Alfa Romeo 158 | 7.816 km | 64 | 3:01:07.5 | 165.699 km/h | Report |
1948 | July 18 | ![]() |
F2 | ![]() |
Ferrari 166 SC | 7.816 km | 26 | 1:18:48.0 | 154.714 km/h | Report |
1949 | July 6 | ![]() |
F1 | ![]() |
Talbot-Lago | 7.816 km | 64 | 3:06:33.7 | 160.870 km/h | Report |
1949 | July 6 | ![]() |
F2 | ![]() |
Ferrari 166 2L | 7.816 km | 26 | 1:19:56.9 | 152.722 km/h | Report |
1950 | July 6 | ![]() |
F1 | ![]() |
Alfa Romeo 158 | 7.816 km | 64 | 2:57:52.8 | 168.722 km/h | Report |
1950 | July 6 | ![]() |
F2 | ![]() |
Ferrari 166 2L | 7.816 km | 26 | 1:16:42.7 | 159.939 km/h | Report |
1950 | July 6 | ![]() |
F3 | ![]() |
Cowlan-JBS / Norton | 7.816 km | 13 | 46:16.9 | 131.720 km/h | Report |
1951 | July 1 | ![]() |
F1 | ![]() ![]() |
Alfa Romeo 159 | 7.816 km | 77 | 3:22:11.0 | 178.600 km/h | Report |
1952 | June 29 | ![]() |
F2 | ![]() |
Gordini T16 | 7.152 km | 71 | 3 hrs | 169.935 km/h | Report |
1953 | July 5 | ![]() |
F2 | ![]() |
Ferrari 500 2L | 8.347 km | 60 | 2:44:18.6 | 182.881 km/h | Report |
1954 | July 4 | ![]() |
F1 | ![]() |
Mercedes W196 | 8,302 km | 61 | 2:42:47.9 | 186.644 km/h | Report |
1955 (No racing events held) | ||||||||||
1956 | July 1 | ![]() |
F1 | ![]() |
Lancia-Ferrari | 8.302 km | 61 | 2:34:23.4 | 196.809 km/h | Report |
1957 | July 14 | ![]() |
F1 | ![]() |
Lancia-Ferrari D50 | 8.302 km | 61 | 2:34:23.4 | 196.809 km/h | Report |
1957 | July 14 | ![]() |
F2 | ![]() |
Ferrari D156 F2 | 8.302 km | 37 | 1:40:06.8 | 184.090 km/h | Report |
1958 | July 6 | ![]() |
F1 | ![]() |
Ferrari 246 | 8.302 km | 50 | 2:03:21.3 | 201.905 km/h | Report |
1958 | July 6 | ![]() |
F2 | ![]() |
Porsche 718 F2 | 8.302 km | 30 | 1:19:45.0 | 187.374 km/h | Report |
1959 | July 5 | ![]() |
F1 | ![]() |
Ferrari 246 | 8.302 km | 50 | 2:01:26.5 | 205.086 km/h | Report |
1959 | July 5 | ![]() |
F2 | ![]() |
Cooper T45 | 8.302 km | 25 | 1:04:54.2 | 191.864 km/h | Report |
1960 | July 3 | ![]() |
F1 | ![]() |
Cooper-Climax | 8.302 km | 50 | 1:57:24.9 | 212.119 km/h | Report |
1960 | July 3 | ![]() |
FJ | ![]() |
Lotus 18 Cosworth | 8.302 km | 20 | 58:45.4 | 169.548 km/h | Report |
1961 | July 2 | ![]() |
F1 | ![]() |
Ferrari 156 | 8.302 km | 52 | 2:14:17.5 | 192.880 km/h | Report |
1961 | July 2 | ![]() |
FJ | ![]() |
Lotus 20 Cosworth | 8.302 km | 30 | 1:24:44.1 | 176.352 km/h | Report |
1962 | July 1 | ![]() |
F1 | ![]() |
Cooper Climax T60 | 8.302 km | 50 | 2:02:32.2 | 203.31 km/h | Report |
1962 | July 1 | ![]() |
FJ | ![]() |
Lotus 22 Cosworth | 8.302 km | 10 | 27:03.1 | 184.130 km/h | Report |
1963 | June 30 | ![]() |
F1 | ![]() |
Lotus-Climax | 8.302 km | 53 | 2:10:54.3 | 201.676 km/h | Report |
1963 | June 30 | ![]() |
SC | ![]() |
Ferrari TRI/61 | 8.302 km | 25 | 01:02:59.5 | 197,686 km/h | Report |
1963 | June 30 | ![]() |
FJ | ![]() |
Brabham BT6 Cosworth | 8.302 km | 20 | 54:27.0 | 182.958 km/h | Report |
1964 | July 5 | ![]() |
F2 | ![]() |
Brabham Cosworth | 8.302 km | 37 | 01:36:10.6 | 191.625 km/h | Report |
1964 | July 5 | ![]() |
F3 | ![]() |
Cooper BMC | 8.302 km | 20 | 57:15.8 | 173.969 km/h | Report |
1965 | July 4 | ![]() |
F2 | ![]() |
Brabham Cosworth | 8.302 km | 37 | 01:33:55.7 | 196.212 km/h | Report |
1965 | July 4 | ![]() |
F3 | ![]() |
Matra - Cosworth | 8.302 km | 20 | 54:33.8 | 182.578 km/h | Report |
1966 | July 2 | ![]() |
F2 | ![]() |
Brabham Honda | 8.302 km | 37 | 01:33:32.4 | 197.026 km/h | Report |
1966 | July 3 | ![]() |
F1 | ![]() |
Brabham BT19 | 8.302 km | 48 | 01:48:31.3 | 220.315 km/h | Report |
1966 | July 3 | ![]() |
F3 | ![]() |
Matra - Cosworth | 8.302 km | 20 | 55:16.3 | 180,238 km/h | Report |
1967 | June 25 | ![]() |
F2 | ![]() |
Brabham BT23 | 8.302 km | 37 | 01:25:25.4 | 215.747 km/h | Report |
1967 | June 25 | ![]() |
F3 | ![]() |
Matra - Cosworth | 8.302 km | 20 | 54:39.8 | 182,243 km/h | Report |
1968 | June 25 | ![]() |
F2 | ![]() |
Matra MS7 Cosworth | 8.302 km | 35 | 01:25:23.1 | 207.869 km/h | Report |
1968 | June 25 | ![]() |
F3 | ![]() |
Brabham BT21 | 8.302 km | 15 | 41:29.3 | 180.088 km/h | Report |
1969 | June 25 | ![]() |
F2 | ![]() |
Tecno Ford TF | 8.302 km | 35 | 01:19:21.3 | 219.692 km/h | Report |
1969 | June 25 | ![]() |
F3 | ![]() |
Tecno Toyota | 8.302 km | 15 | 53:39.3 | 185.669 km/h | Report |
Sources:[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] |
Sports car racing at Reims-Gueux by year (condensed)
Year | Date | Event | Drivers | Team | Constructor / Car | Group | Laps | Distance | km/h | Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1926 | Aug. 27 | Coupe d'Or | ![]() |
(Private) | ![]() |
N/A | 53 | 1056 km | N/A | Report |
1935 | July 7 | 1° GP de Tourisme | ![]() |
(Private) | ![]() |
+3.0 | 25 | 195,672 km | 131.34 km/h | Report |
1936 | July 5 | 11° GP de la Marne | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
S5.0 | 51 | 399.126 km | 140.245 km/h | Report |
1937 | July 18 | 12° GP de la Marne | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
S5.0 | 63 | 500.0 km | 140.245 km/h | Report |
1952 | June 29 | 13° GP de la Marne | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
S+2.0 | 50 | 359.88 km | 158.017 km/h | Report |
1953-1954 | 12 Heures Internationales de Reims | |||||||||
1955 Cancelled | ||||||||||
1956-1958 | 12 Heures Internationales de Reims | |||||||||
1959 - 1963 Not held | ||||||||||
1963 | June 30 | Trophee P-GT-Sport | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
P+3.0 | 25 | 207.550 km | 193.910 km/h | Report |
1964-1965 | 12 Heures Internationales de Reims - Sportscar World Championship | |||||||||
1966 | July 3 | Coupe Nationale R8 Gordini | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
S1.2 | 12 | 99.624 km | 145.748 km/h | Report |
1967 | 12 Heures Internationales de Reims | |||||||||
1967 | June 25 | Coupe Nationale R8 Gordini | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
S1.2 | 15 | 124.530 km | 149.401 km/ | Report |
1968 | June 24 | Coupe Nationale R8 Gordini | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
S1.2 | 12 | 99.624 km | 154.851 km/h | Report |
1969 | June 24 | Coupe Nationale R8 Gordini | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
S1.2 | 12 | 99.624 km | 155.759 km/h | Report |
Sources:[23][24][25] |
Reims-Gueux Circuits by years
![]() Street Map - Reims-Gueux 1926 | ![]() Street Map - Reims 1952 | ![]() Street Map - Reims- 1953 | ![]() Street Map - Reims- 1954-1972 |
Related pages & external links
- Grand Prix de la Marne
- 12 Hours of Reims
- Amis du Circuit de Gueux (Palmares)
- Circuit Reims-Gueux (1926-1969) on Google Maps (Historic Grand Prix Circuits)
References
- ↑ "1925 Le Circuit de Beine-Nauroy". racingmemo.free.fr. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
- ↑ "1925 I Grand Prix de la Marne". teamdan.com. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
- ↑ "XVIII Grand Prix de l'ACF". Leif Snellman. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ↑ "Circuit Reims - The Golden Era". Leif Snellman. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ↑ "1938 Grand Prix de l'ACF". Leif Snellman. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ↑ "1928 GP Reims-Gueux July 8". amis-du-circuit-de-gueux.fr. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
- ↑ "1932 18th Grand Prix de l'ACF". Leif Snellman. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
- ↑ "1935 Grand Prix de la Marne de Tourisme results". prova.de. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
- ↑ "1936 Grand Prix de la Marne - Sports Car". Leif Snellman. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
- ↑ "1939 Coupe de la Commission Sportive - Voiturette". Leif Snellman. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- ↑ "XVI Grand Prix de Reims (anciennement Grand Prix de la Marne)". 8w.forix.com. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
- ↑ "1947 XVI Grand Prix de Reims". silhouet.com. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
- ↑ "1947 Reims - Non World Championship". statsf1.com. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
- ↑ "1951 - Round 4: XXXVIII Grand Prix de l'ACF (European GP)". second-a-lap.blogspot.com. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
- ↑ "1950 Alf Bottoms - Cowlan-JBS / Norton (Jimmy Piget's Files) PDF" (PDF). gdecarli.it. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
- ↑ "1952 XIII Grand Prix de la Marne Gueux". formula2.net. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
- ↑ "1957 II Grand Prix de Reims". statsf1.com. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
- ↑ "1957 Dino 156 F2". ferrari.com. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
- ↑ "1962 48th French Grand Prix". motorsportmagazine.com. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
- ↑ "1967 Brabham BT23". oldracingcars.com. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- ↑ "1969 XIII Coupe Int. de Vitesse Reims". formula2.net. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- ↑ "Grand Prix Guide - Circuits Reims Gueux". gpguide.com. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
- ↑ "1926 Coupe d'Or: 1ères 12 Heures de Reims, Aug 22". amis-du-circuit-de-gueux.fr. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
- ↑ "Reims: Revenge for Le Mans". 24h-lemans.com. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
- ↑ "1967 12 hrs of Reims (non-championship)". wsrp.ic.cz. Retrieved May 30, 2014.