FRA - FRANCE
MAGNY-COURS
SORRY, SOME DATA ARE NOT TRANSLATED YET
Description Permanent street track, named after Jean Behra, opened in 1961 and used - with some updates - until 1988, when a revamping started and circuit changed completely its layout. It was reopened in 1991, without being named again after Behra.
On October 16th 2008 FFSA (Fédération Française du Sport Automobile, that is French Federation of Car Racing) announced that French 2009 F.1 GP (scheduled at Magny-Cours) will be cancelled. Meanwhile it announced that there are 6 proposals for new circuits that should host French GP in the following years. This proposals are listed here in alphabetically order:
Location Magny-Cours
58 - Nièvre - Bourgogne
Location  
Latitude - Longitude + 46°51'47"     + 3°09'55"
46.863056     3.165278
UTM Coordinates X = 512597.423  -  Y = 5189959.462  -  Zone 31T
Aerial photo / Map (*) Aerial photo / Map (*) OpenStreetMap  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) Google Maps  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) Bing Maps  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) Flash Earth  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) Wikimapia  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) GéoPortail
Altitude AMSL 225 m - 738 ft
Inauguration 1961
Closing  
Designer  
Sources and links (Translation) (**)
(1) Italian Da Monza a Indianapolis (page 201)Author: Tommaso Tommasi - Published by: Arnoldo Mondadori Editore - Published in: Italia - year: 1973
(2) English World Motor Racing Circuits: A Spectator’s Guide (page 102)Author: Peter Higham, Bruce Jones - Published by: Andre Deutsch - year: 1999 - ISBN: 0-233-99619-2
Description
(3) English ForumForum --> Chat in English --> Aerials of circuits [ENG]
(4) English ForumForum --> Chat in English --> French Grand Prix cancelled for 2009
(5) French www.acd-motorsport.com/?p=2.2
(6) French www.cb500.com/sport/circuit_18.htm
(7) English www.formula1.com/race/circuitmap/27.html
(8) English www.racingcircuits.netMotor Racing Circuits Database
(9) English www.silhouet.com/motorsport/tracks/magnycou.htmlThe GEL Motorsport - Tracks Around The World
(10) Italian Autosprint 21/1969 (page 19)Mappa e dati essenziali
(11) Italian Autosprint 17/1975 (page 43)Si prepara la F.2 in attesa della F.1
(12) Italian Autosprint 26/1980 (page 45)
(13) Italian Autosprint Anno /1984 (page 234)
(14) Italian Autosprint 47/1988 (page 4)
(15) Italian Rombo 4/1989 (page 18)Quasi terminata la ristrutturazione del circuito
(16) Italian Autosprint 1/1990 (page 16)Mappa
(17) Italian Autosprint 28/1990 (page 63)Chiuso per un mese per i lavori di riammodernamento
(18) Italian Autosprint 9/2000 (page 16)FIA changes measuring measuring system: new official lenght
(19) Italian Autosprint 15/2008 (page 24)New chicane, pits and paddock to be built within 2009
(20) English www.magnyf1.com (...)Official description of Magny-Cours 2 [Publishing date: June 2008]
(21) French www.ffsa.org/article.php?id=18575 [Publishing date: October 16th 2008]
(22) English French www.magnyf1.comOfficial 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 Jean Behra
Description At first, there was only 2 km circuit (green on the map)
Years 1961÷1970
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational YES
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration 1961
Closing 1970
Last update of this page June 30th 2007
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 2000  m 6562  ft 1.243  mi   (1)
length 2045  m 6709  ft 1.271  mi   (10)

Circuit Jean Behra
Description In 1971 track was lengthened to 3.8 km. Original 2 km layout is unchanged; in new loop section a new 1.8 km circuit was added. In 1975 there were rumors for host here France F.1 GP
Years 1971÷1980
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational YES
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration 1971
Closing 1980
Last update of this page June 30th 2007
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 3800  m 12467  ft 2.361  mi Long circuit (1)
length 1800  m 5906  ft 1.118  mi Short circuit (1)
length 2000  m 6562  ft 1.243  mi Original circuit (1)

Circuit Jean Behra
Description According to Motor Racing Circuits Database and The GEL Motorsport circuit was 480 m - 0.3 mi longer, but layout they show is the same I found on book "Da Monza a Indianapolis" issued in 1973. Besides, according Autosprint Anno, 1984 track length was 3847 m, so I don0t know what changes were made in 1981
Years 1981÷1988
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational YES
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration 1981
Closing 1981
Last update of this page June 30th 2007
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 3847  m 12621  ft 2.39  mi Long circuit (13)
length 4282  m 14049  ft 2.661  mi Long circuit (8)
length 1800  m 5906  ft 1.118  mi Short circuit (1)
length 2000  m 6562  ft 1.243  mi Original circuit (1)

Magny-Cours
Description Proposal dated 1988 for changes, really built within beginning of 1991. There should have been also a short circuit (from Adelaide corner); it has really built but I think only for service, not as a real track but I’m not sure about this.
Years 1988
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal Proposal  YES
Proposal not developed YES
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration  
Closing  
Last update of this page June 30th 2007
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 4271  m 14012  ft 2.654  mi Long circuit (14)
length 1721  m 5646  ft 1.069  mi Short circuit (14)

Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
Description  
Years 1991
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational YES
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration 1991
Closing 1991
Last update of this page June 30th 2007
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 4271  m 14012  ft 2.654  mi Long circuit (8)

Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
Description  
Years 1992÷2002
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational YES
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration 1992
Closing 2002
Last update of this page June 30th 2007
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 4250  m 13944  ft 2.641  mi Official track length until 1999 (in 2000 FIA changed measuring system) (18)
length 4251  m 13947  ft 2.642  mi Official track length from 2000, when FIA changed measuring system (track unchanged) (18)
length 4248  m 13937  ft 2.64  mi Temporary track length (beginning of 2000), when FIA was changing measuring system (track unchanged) (18)

Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
Description  
Years 2003÷...
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational  
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration 2003
Closing  
Last update of this page March 13th 2003
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 4411  m 14472  ft 2.741  mi    
Min width 10.4  m 34  ft       
Max width 18  m 59  ft       

Le Circuit Club
Description Track totally separed from F.1 circuit
Years  
Direction  
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational  
Car Circuit  
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration  
Closing  
Last update of this page July 22nd 2002
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 2530  m 8301  ft 1.572  mi    
Width 10  m 33  ft       
Straight length 700  m 2297  ft 0.435  mi    
Max. gradient 2.5  % 1.4  °         

Magny-Cours 2
Description Project known as Magny-Cours 2 is not about track layout, that should be unchanged, but for a complete upgrade of pits, paddock and all facilities for teams, media and spectators.
Years  
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal Proposal  YES
Proposal not developed  
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration  
Closing  
Last update of this page October 21st 2008
Info last update October 16th 2008
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 4411  m 14472  ft 2.741  mi    
Min width 10.4  m 34  ft       
Max width 18  m 59  ft       

Magny-Cours: Circuit Jean Behra - long course 1971÷1988

Magny-Cours: Circuit Jean Behra - long course 1971÷1988

Magny-Cours: Circuit Jean Behra - long course 1971÷1988


Magny-Cours: 1988 proposal

Magny-Cours: 1988 proposal


Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours 1991

Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours 1991


Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours 1992÷2002

Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours 1992÷2002


Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours 2003÷...

Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours 2003÷...



Updates
Date Track layout Years Description by Map by Thanks to Note
October 21st 2008 Magny-Cours 2   Guido de Carli     Update Description
April 8th 2008     Guido de Carli     Update Description
June 30th 2007     Guido de Carli Lorenzo Tommasi   Update Description with map
September 1st 2005     Guido de Carli     Update Description
April 9th 2005 Circuit Jean Behra 1961÷1970 Guido de Carli     Update Description
December 27th 2003 Circuit Jean Behra 1971÷1980 Guido de Carli Guido de Carli   New Description with map
December 27th 2003 Circuit Jean Behra 1981÷1988 Guido de Carli Guido de Carli   New Description with map
December 27th 2003 Circuit Jean Behra 1961÷1970 Guido de Carli Guido de Carli   New Description with map
March 12th 2003     Guido de Carli     New Description
August 5th 2002     Guido de Carli     Update Description
Not all eventual updates issued in last years are already visible in this list
 
Webmaster:
Guido de Carli
(Italiano - English - Español)