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FRA - FRANCE
CHARADE, MONTAGNE D’AUVERGNE, ROSIER
Description First proposal for a circuit near Clermont-Ferrand was made in 1908, but it was not developed until after the end of Second World War. In that period, some proposals were made for circuits from 4 to 6 km (2.5 to 3.7 mi) long, but they were abandoned after Le Mans tragedy, in 1955. Nevertheless the particular peculiarity of this "mountain" circuit let a quick development and finally in 1958 the long cicuit was opened. In 1988 it was shortened in order to satisfy modern requirements. Today there is also a Tout terrain (off road) circuit, not shown on my map.
Location Clermont-Ferrand
63 - Puy-de-Dôme - Auvergne
Location On Mountagne d’Auvergne, 5 km - 3 mi West of Clermont Ferrand (Auvergne) nearby Charade, Manson and Thedes villages an not far from Massif Central
Latitude - Longitude + 45°44'43"     + 3°02'11"
45.745278     3.036389
UTM Coordinates X = 502830.586  -  Y = 5065747.409  -  Zone 31T
Aerial photo / Map (*)  Google Maps  -    Bing Maps  -    Flash Earth  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) GéoPortail
Altitude AMSL 800 m - 2625 ft
Inauguration July 27th 1958
Closing  
Designer  
Sources and links (Translation) (**)
(1) Italian English ForumForum --> Europe --> France --> FRA - Clermont Ferrand [ITA ENG]
(2) English ForumForum --> Chat in English --> Aerials of circuits [ENG]
(3) French www.arnould.net/circui04.htm
(4) English www.milermeter.com/?r=1405977Track layout
(5) English www.panoramio.com/user/761553/tags/CharadePhotos by Roelard Smit
(6) Italian Conoscere la Formula 1 1 (page 255)Published by: Rizzoli Editore - year: 1984
(7) Italian Autosprint 14/1965Map and description
(8) Italian Autosprint 21/1969 (page 19)Map and main data
(9) Italian Autosprint 17/1972 (page 46)France GP con long course, the proposed short course is posponed
(10) Italian Autosprint 26/1972 (page 8)
(11) French www.charade.fr/data/pistes.htmlOfficial website
(12) French www.charade.fr/pdf/planasphalte.pdfOfficial website

(*) NOTE: a complete and detailed view of the circuit can be found (if available) on Street View by Google Maps and/or Bird's Eye and 3D views by Bing Maps for Enterprise (former Microsoft Virtual Earth): both can be reached using their own link in Aerial photo / Map cell.

(**) For on-line not-English speaking sources, click on each small flag and you open the corresponding Google Translator page with automatic translation.

Circuit de Montagne d’Auvergne
Long circuit
Description Road circuit, at that time it was opened to normal traffic. Works begun in May 1957 and they ended one year later, in July 1958. The circuit costed approx. 108 million French Francs of that time (approx 165000 Euro of that time). Inauguration was on July 27th 1958. It hosted touring races from 1958, World Motorbike Championship from 1959 to 1974 (but not in every year) and F.1 French GP in 1965, 1969, 1970 and 1972. It had great differences in level, that put brave drivers in good light, and it was one of the traditional circuits like the old Nürburgring and Spa Franchorchamps. At beginning of 1970s new safety requirements (that this circuit couldn’t satisfy due to its peculiarity) condamned this circuit and new circuits were choosen for important races. It should have hosted also 1975 F.1 French GP, but drivers and teams protested for is dangerousness and GP was moved to Le Castellet and F.1 never went back here. Long circuit was used the last time on September 18th 1988.
Years 1958÷1988
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational YES
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit YES
Type Road course
Inauguration May 27th 1958
Closing September 18th 1988
Last update of this page January 4th 2008
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points Virage de Mansion - Charade Village - Le Belvedere - Carrefour de Gravenoire - La Carrière - Carrefour de Champeaux - Le Petit Pont - Epingle Marlboro - Virage Rosier
length 8055  m 26427  ft 5.005  mi   (6)
length 7997  m 26236  ft 4.969  mi Calculated from aerial photo (*) (4)
Width 7  m 23  ft      (6)
Difference in level 179.48  m 589  ft 0.112  mi   (7)
Straight length 587.6  m 1928  ft 0.365  mi Longest straight (7)
Max. gradient (uphill) 10  % 5.7  °        (7)
Max. gradient (downhill) 7.8  % 4.5  °        (7)
Bend minimum radius 15  m 49  ft      (7)
Max minimum radius 343  m 1125  ft 0.213  mi   (7)

Circuit de Montagne d’Auvergne
Description In 1972 there was a proposal for shorten the circuit to approx 5 km - 3 mi and this new layout (not shown on my map) should have been ready for 1972 F.1 French GP, that on the contrary was raced on the usual track. This layout was never developed
Years 1972
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal Proposal  YES
Proposal not developed YES
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Road course
Inauguration  
Closing  
Last update of this page January 4th 2008
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length (approx) 5000  m 16404  ft 3.107  mi Approximated length (9)

Circuit de Montagne d’Auvergne «Louis Rosier»
Short circuit
Description From 1988 only this shortened layout was used, that meanwhile became a permanent circuit thanks to Conseil Général du Puy de Dôme. Now the circuit has modern facilities and a Safety Driving School. It has 18 bends; start/finish is 800 m - 2625 ft above sea levels, but quickly the track goes down from 815 to 755 m (from 2674 to 2477 ft) in 800 m - 2625 ft. For more details about partial length, difference in lever and radius of the corners, see official website
Years 1988÷...
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational  
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration  
Closing  
Last update of this page January 4th 2008
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points Virage de Mansion - Epingle de Champeaux - Le Petit Pont - Epingle Marlboro - Virage Rosier
length 3862  m 12671  ft 2.4  mi    
length 3975  m 13041  ft 2.47  mi   (12)
length 4050  m 13287  ft 2.517  mi   (3)
Min width 9  m 30  ft      (12)
Max width 12  m 39  ft      (12)
Difference in level 60  m 197  ft      (12)
Straight length 600  m 1969  ft 0.373  mi Start finish straight (11)
Max. gradient (uphill) 6.4  % 3.7  °        (12)
Max. gradient (downhill) 7.8  % 4.5  °        (12)

Circuit de Montagne d’Auvergne 1958÷1988

Circuit de Montagne d’Auvergne 1958÷1988

See this track layout with milermeter.com
(milermeter.com can be used in your browser, without installing anything; Google Earth is a program that must be installed in your computer)


Circuit de Montagne d’Auvergne «Louis Rosier» 1988÷...

Circuit de Montagne d’Auvergne «Louis Rosier» 1988÷...


Latitude - Longitude: + 45°44'43", + 3°02'11"
If the aerial photo is not visible, you have to zoom out by clicking (maybe more then once) button ’-’ in top left corner

Updates
Date Track layout Years Description by Map by Thanks to Note
June 17th 2008     Guido de Carli   Roelard Smit Update Photos (link)
January 4th 2008     Guido de Carli     Update Description
May 21st 2006     Guido de Carli   Lorenzo Tommasi Update Description
May 21st 2006     Guido de Carli     Update Description
March 17th 2006     Guido de Carli   Lorenzo Tommasi Update Description
April 25th 2005     Guido de Carli     Update Description
April 14th 2004     Guido de Carli Guido de Carli   Update Map
November 10th 2002     Guido de Carli     New Map
August 19th 2002     Guido de Carli     Update Description
Not all eventual updates issued in last years are already visible in this list

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