Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours facts for kids
 |
|
| Location | Magny-Cours, France |
|---|---|
| Time zone | GMT +1 (DST: +2) |
| Major events | F1, GP2, Superbike World Championship, Touring car racing, Superleague Formula |
| Grand Prix Circuit | |
| Length | 4.411 km (2.741 mi) |
| Turns | 17 |
| Race lap record | 1:15.377 ( Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004) |
| National Circuit | |
| Length | 2.684 km (1.668 mi) |
| Turns | 12 |
| Club Circuit | |
| Length | 1.727 km (1.073 mi) |
| Turns | 11 |
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours is a famous motor racing track in France. It's located near the towns of Magny-Cours and Nevers. People often just call it Magny-Cours. This circuit is best known for hosting the Formula One French Grand Prix from 1991 to 2008.
Contents
History of Magny-Cours Circuit
The Magny-Cours circuit was built in 1960 by Jean Bernigaud. It was first home to the L'école de pilotage Winfield racing school. This school helped train famous drivers like François Cevert and Jacques Laffite.
In the 1980s, the track needed a lot of repairs. It wasn't in good shape for big international races. Later, the Regional Conseil de la Nièvre bought the circuit. They made many improvements.
Hosting Formula One Races
In the 1990s, the Ligier Formula One team used the circuit for testing. This team later became known as Prost. Magny-Cours started hosting the F1 French Grand Prix in 1991. It also began hosting the Bol d'Or motorcycle race in 2000. The circuit was updated in 2003 for many different events.
The circuit is known for not having many chances for drivers to overtake each other. This often made the races seem a bit quiet. For the 2003 race, the final corner was changed to try and help with overtaking. But it didn't make a big difference. The change did make the pit lane much shorter. This meant drivers spent less time in the pits. Because of this, Michael Schumacher won the 2004 French Grand Prix using a special four-stop strategy.
In 2006, Michael Schumacher made history at this circuit. He became the first driver to win a single Grand Prix 8 times at the same track.
French Grand Prix Future
The 2007 race was supposed to be the last French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours. Bernie Ecclestone, who was in charge of F1, said F1 would not return in 2008. He wanted to move the race to a new place, possibly in Paris. However, the 2008 French Grand Prix was still held at Magny-Cours.
In May 2008, Ecclestone confirmed that Magny-Cours would stop hosting the French Grand Prix after the 2008 race. He still suggested a street race in Paris. The 2009 French Grand Prix was planned for Magny-Cours, but it was later canceled. This happened because the French Motorsports Federation stopped funding the event.
In 2009, the track hosted its first Superleague Formula event. It also hosted a second event in 2010.
About the Magny-Cours Track
The current Magny-Cours track is very modern and smooth. It has great facilities for racing teams and fans. It is about 250 kilometers (155 miles) from Paris. Many of its corners are designed like famous turns from other race tracks. They are even named after those tracks. For example, there's the fast Estoril corner and the Adelaide hairpin.
The circuit has a mix of slow, tight turns and fast sections with chicanes. A long, fast straight leads into the Adelaide hairpin. This hairpin is a first-gear turn and is usually the best spot for drivers to try and overtake. The track is very flat, with hardly any changes in height. Even with changes made in 2003, it still doesn't offer many chances for overtaking.
Images for kids
-
The original circuit layout (1960–1970), when it was called 'Jean Behra Circuit'.
-
The main straight section of the track.
See also
In Spanish: Circuito de Nevers Magny-Cours para niños
