Bored at work lastnight, I spied a copy of 'Ride' which had a feature on the Reims circuit and couldn't help but think a retro-roadtrip would be order of the day.
Gen:
You can go and drive the circuit as it's public road now, the pits, spectator stands, score boards are all still intact and not grafiti'd or vandalised. Although disappointingly (IMO) they're starting to restore the signs
Anyone been?
Gen:
Reims-Gueux was a triangular road course in Reims, France, which hosted 14 French Grands Prix.
Reims-Gueux was first established in 1925 on the public roads between the small French villages of Thillois and Gueux. The circuit had two very long straights between the towns, and teams strove to maximize straight-line speed of their cars; many slipstream battles ensued. Race organizers actually felled trees and demolished old houses in order to make the circuit even quicker. In 1952, the circuit was significantly altered to bypass the village of Gueux, and many people now refer to the course as simply Reims.
Its first event was the Grand Prix de Marne, staged by the Automobile Club of Champagne. Grand Prix racing came soon thereafter, with the first official Formula One event occurring in 1950, F1's inaugural year. The circuit was last used by Formula One in 1966, and it closed permanently in 1972 due to financial difficulties, although sections of the track around the pit lanes are still visible today.
Reims-Gueux was first established in 1925 on the public roads between the small French villages of Thillois and Gueux. The circuit had two very long straights between the towns, and teams strove to maximize straight-line speed of their cars; many slipstream battles ensued. Race organizers actually felled trees and demolished old houses in order to make the circuit even quicker. In 1952, the circuit was significantly altered to bypass the village of Gueux, and many people now refer to the course as simply Reims.
Its first event was the Grand Prix de Marne, staged by the Automobile Club of Champagne. Grand Prix racing came soon thereafter, with the first official Formula One event occurring in 1950, F1's inaugural year. The circuit was last used by Formula One in 1966, and it closed permanently in 1972 due to financial difficulties, although sections of the track around the pit lanes are still visible today.
You can go and drive the circuit as it's public road now, the pits, spectator stands, score boards are all still intact and not grafiti'd or vandalised. Although disappointingly (IMO) they're starting to restore the signs
Anyone been?
