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Circuit de Reims-Gueux
Location	Gueux, France
Coordinates	49°15′14.67″N 3°55′50.02″E / 49.2540750°N 3.9305611°E
Opened	1926
Closed	1972
Major events	Formula One; French Grand Prix; (1950–1951, 1953–1954, 1956, 1958–1961, 1963, 1966); Grand Prix motorcycle racing; French motorcycle Grand Prix (1954–1955); Grand Prix de la Marne; (1925–1931, 1933–1937, 1952); 12 Hours of Reims; (1926, 1953–1954, 1956–1958, 1964–1965, 1967)
Website	https://www.amis-du-circuit-de-gueux.fr/
Grand Prix Circuit (1954–1972)
Length	8.302 km (5.159 miles)
Turns	7
Race lap record	2:10.500 ( Paul Hawkins, Lola T70, 1967, Group 4)
Grand Prix Circuit (1953)
Length	8.372 km (5.202 miles)
Turns	7
Race lap record	2:41.000 ( Juan Manuel Fangio, Maserati A6GCM, 1953, F1)
Grand Prix Circuit (1952)
Length	7.152 km (4.444 miles)
Turns	5
Race lap record	2:28.700 ( Jean Behra, Gordini T16, 1952, F2)
Original Circuit (1926–1951)
Length	7.826 km (4.863 miles)
Turns	8
Race lap record	2:27.800 ( Juan Manuel Fangio, Alfa Romeo 159, 1951, F1)

The circuit Reims-Gueux was a motor racing circuit made up of rural public roads, located in Gueux, 8 km (5 miles) 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; 1¼ miles in length each) allowing maximum straight-line speed, resulting in many famous slipstream battles.

Circuit history

Motor racing at Reims started in 1926 with the second Grand Prix de la Marne, relocating the race from the square-shaped 22 km (14 mi) Circuit de Beine-Nauroy east of Reims to Reims-Gueux, west of Reims. The original 7.816 km (4.857 mi) circuit placed the start/finish line on road D27, approximately 1.6 km (0.99 mi) east of the Gueux village center, where it would remain for the duration of the circuit. This variant of the circuit was made up entirely of long straights, flat out kinks, 2 tight angular corners and a sharp hairpin, which made it very hard on engines, brakes and fuel consumption. 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 (4.863 mi) 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 (4.863 mi) 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 (0.75 mi) west of the previous Gueux / La Garenne junction, resulting in a new preliminary circuit length of 8.372 km (5.202 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 (5.159 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 4-5 mph per lap.

The pit boxes and stands of the former Reims-Gueux circuit pictured in 2016

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).

Timekeepers' building at the former Reims-Gueux circuit pictured in 2016

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.

Lap records

The official race lap records at the Reims-Gueux are listed as:

Category	Time	Driver	Vehicle	Event
Grand Prix Circuit: 8.302 km (1954–1972)
Group 4	2:10.500^[6]	Paul Hawkins	Lola T70	1967 12 Hours of Reims
Formula One	2:11.300	Lorenzo Bandini	Ferrari 312	1966 French Grand Prix
Formula Two	2:12.600^[7]	Piers Courage	Brabham BT30	1969 Reims Grand Prix
Sports prototype	2:25.500^[8]	Mike Parkes	Ferrari 250 P	1963 Trophee P-GT-Sport
Formula Junior	2:37.600^[9]	Peter Arundell	Lotus 22	1962 Coupe de Juniors
Formula Three	2:37.700^[10]	Patrick Depailler	Alpine A330	1969 Reims French F3 round
500cc	2:39.000	Geoff Duke	Gilera 500 Saturno "Piuma"	1955 French motorcycle Grand Prix
350cc	3:02.000	Duilio Agostini	Moto Guzzi 350 GP	1955 French motorcycle Grand Prix
125cc	3:16.800	Romolo Ferri	Mondial 125SS	1955 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Grand Prix Circuit: 8.372 km (1953)
Formula One	2:41.000	Juan Manuel Fangio	Maserati A6GCM	1953 French Grand Prix
Grand Prix Circuit: 7.152 km (1952)
Formula Two	2:28.700^[11]	Jean Behra	Gordini T16	1952 Marne Grand Prix
Sports prototype	2:35.500^[12]	Robert Manzon	Gordini T15S	1952 Reims Grand Prix
Grand Prix Circuit: 7.826 km (1926–1951)
Formula One	2:27.800	Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo 159	1951 French Grand Prix
GP	2:32.200	Hermann Lang	Mercedes-Benz W154	1939 French Grand Prix
Formula Two	2:53.600^[13]	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari 166 F2	1950 Coupe des Petites Cylindrees
Sports prototype	3:07.400^[14]	René Carrière [fr]	Delahaye 145	1937 Marne Grand Prix

Racing series at Reims-Gueux

Race Names Grand Prix de la Marne Coupe d’Or (1° 12 Heures de Reims) Grand Prix de France (GP de l'ACF) Grand Prix de la Marne de Tourisme Coupe de la Commission Sportive de l'ACF Grand Prix de Reims Coupe des Petites Cylindrées Coupe des Racers 500 European Grand Prix (honorary) (E) 12 Heures Internationales de Reims Coupe Internationale de Vitesse Coupe de Juniors Trophée International Prototypes Grand Tourisme et Sport Les Grands Prix France Les Trophées de France		Editions 13 1 16 1 1 3 4 1 3 8 9 4 1 3 3		First Year 1926 1926 1932 1935 1939 1947 1947 1950 1951 1953 1957 1960 1963 1964 1967		Last Year 1952 - 1966 - - 1962 1950 - 1966 1967 1969 1963 - 1966 1969		Regulations FL - GP - VT - SC FL - SC GP - F1 - F2 SC VT GP - F1 F2 F3 F1 SC F2 - F3 FJ SC F2 F2

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	1° GP de la Marne	FL	Pierre Clause	Bignan	22.000 km (13.670 mi)	10	2:08:56.4	104.20 km/h (64.75 mph)	Report
1926	July 25	2° GP de la Marne	FL	François Lescot	Bugatti T35B 2L C	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	40	2:50:15.6	112.77 km/h (70.07 mph)	Report
1927	July 10	3° GP de la Marne	FL	Philippe Étancelin	Bugatti T35B	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	50	3:26:20.2	116.32 km/h (72.28 mph)	Report
1928	July 8	4° GP de la Marne	GP	Louis Chiron	Bugatti T35	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	50	3:00:47.4	132.75 km/h (82.49 mph)	Report
1929	July 7	5° GP de la Marne	GP	Philippe Étancelin	Bugatti 35C	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	50	2:54:14.6	137.74 km/h (85.59 mph)	Report
1930	June 29	6° GP de la Marne	GP	René Dreyfus	Bugatti T35B	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	50	2:49:27.6	141.626 km/h (88.002 mph)	Report
1931	July 5	7° GP de la Marne	GP	Marcel Lehoux	Bugatti T51	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	50	2:47:37.4	143.18 km/h (88.97 mph)	Report
1931	July 5	7° GP de la Marne	VT	Philippe Auber	Bugatti T37A	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	50	3:19:00.4	120.588 km/h (74.930 mph)	Report
1932	July 3	18° GP de l'ACF	GP	Tazio Nuvolari	Alfa Romeo Tipo B	7.826 km (4.863 mi)	92	2:57:52.8	145.3 km/h (90.3 mph)	Report
1933	July 2	8° GP de la Marne	GP	Philippe Etancelin	Alfa Romeo Monza	7.826 km (4.863 mi)	51	2:45:12.4	145.0 km/h (90.1 mph)	Report
1934	July 8	9° GP de la Marne	GP	Louis Chiron	Alfa Romeo Tipo B	7.826 km (4.863 mi)	64	3:25:51.8	146.0 km/h (90.7 mph)	Report
1935	July 7	10° GP de la Marne	GP	René Dreyfus	Alfa Romeo Tipo B	7.826 km (4.863 mi)	64	2:57:52.8	157.760 km/h (98.028 mph)	Report
1935	July 7	1° GP de Tourisme	SC	Albert Perrot	Delahaye 135 S	7.826 km (4.863 mi)	25	1:29:22.7	131.34 km/h (81.61 mph)	Report
1936	July 5	11° GP de la Marne	SC	Jean-Pierre Wimille	Bugatti 57G Tank	7.826 km (4.863 mi)	51	2:50:45.3	140.245 km/h (87.144 mph)	Report
1937	July 18	12° GP de la Marne	SC	Jean-Pierre Wimille	Bugatti T59	7.826 km (4.863 mi)	63	3:23:58.4	145.030 km/h (90.117 mph)	Report
1938	July 2	32° GP de l’ACF	GP	Manfred von Brauchitsch	Mercedes W154	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	64	2:57:52.8	168.707 km/h (104.830 mph)	Report
1939	July 9	33° GP de l’ACF	GP	Hermann Paul Müller	Auto Union D	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	64	2:57:52.8	168.707 km/h (104.830 mph)	Report
1939	July 9	Coupe Sportive	VT	Armand Hug	Maserati 4CM	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	38	1:58:21.6	150.6 km/h (93.6 mph)	Report
1940–1946 (No racing events held)
1947	July 6	16° GP de Reims	GP	Christian Kautz	Maserati 4CL	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	51	2:34:50.7	155.181 km/h (96.425 mph)	Report
1947	July 6	1° Coupe des P.C.	F2	B. Bira	Simca-Gordini 11	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	26	1:29:20.4	136.473 km/h (84.800 mph)	Report
1948	July 18	35° GP de l’ACF	F1	Jean-Pierre Wimille	Alfa Romeo 158	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	64	3:01:07.5	165.699 km/h (102.961 mph)	Report
1948	July 18	2° Coupe des P.C.	F2	Raymond Sommer	Ferrari 166 SC	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	26	1:18:48.0	154.714 km/h (96.135 mph)	Report
1949	July 6	36° GP de l’ACF	F1	Louis Chiron	Talbot-Lago	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	64	3:06:33.7	160.870 km/h (99.960 mph)	Report
1949	July 6	3° Coupe des P.C.	F2	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari 166 2L	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	26	1:19:56.9	152.722 km/h (94.897 mph)	Report
1950	July 6	37° GP de l’ACF	F1	Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo 158	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	64	2:57:52.8	168.722 km/h (104.839 mph)	Report
1950	July 6	4° Coupe des P.C.	F2	Alberto Ascari	Ferrari 166 2L	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	26	1:16:42.7	159.939 km/h (99.381 mph)	Report
1950	July 6	Coupe des Racers 500	F3	Alfred Bottoms	Cowlan-JBS / Norton	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	13	46:16.9	131.720 km/h (81.847 mph)	Report
1951	July 1	38° GP de l’ACF (E)	F1	Luigi Fagioli Juan Manuel Fangio	Alfa Romeo 159	7.816 km (4.857 mi)	77	3:22:11.0	178.600 km/h (110.977 mph)	Report
1952	June 29	13° GP de la Marne	F2	Jean Behra	Gordini T16	7.152 km (4.444 mi)	71	3 hrs	169.935 km/h (105.593 mph)	Report
1953	July 5	40° GP de l’ACF	F2	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari 500 2L	8.347 km (5.187 mi)	60	2:44:18.6	182.881 km/h (113.637 mph)	Report
1954	July 4	41° GP de l’ACF	F1	Juan Manuel Fangio	Mercedes W196	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	61	2:42:47.9	186.644 km/h (115.975 mph)	Report
1955 (No racing events held)
1956	July 1	42° GP de l’ACF	F1	Peter Collins	Lancia-Ferrari D50	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	61	2:34:23.4	196.809 km/h (122.291 mph)	Report
1957	July 14	2° GP de Reims	F1	Luigi Musso	Lancia-Ferrari D50	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	61	2:33:02.6	198.610 km/h (123.411 mph)	Report
1957	July 14	1° Coupe de Vitesse	F2	Maurice Trintignant	Ferrari D156 F2	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	37	1:40:06.8	184.090 km/h (114.388 mph)	Report
1958	July 6	44° GP de l’ACF	F1	Mike Hawthorn	Ferrari 246	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	50	2:03:21.3	201.905 km/h (125.458 mph)	Report
1958	July 6	2° Coupe de Vitesse	F2	Jean Behra	Porsche 718 F2	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	30	1:19:45.0	187.374 km/h (116.429 mph)	Report
1959	July 5	45° GP de l’ACF (E)	F1	Tony Brooks	Ferrari 246	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	50	2:01:26.5	205.086 km/h (127.435 mph)	Report
1959	July 5	3° Coupe de Vitesse	F2	Stirling Moss	Cooper T45	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	25	1:04:54.2	191.864 km/h (119.219 mph)	Report
1960	July 3	46° GP de l’ACF	F1	Jack Brabham	Cooper-Climax	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	50	1:57:24.9	212.119 km/h (131.805 mph)	Report
1960	July 3	1° Coupe de Juniors	FJ	Mike McKee	Lotus 18 Cosworth	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	20	58:45.4	169.548 km/h (105.352 mph)	Report
1961	July 2	47° GP de l’ACF	F1	Giancarlo Baghetti	Ferrari 156	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	52	2:14:17.5	192.880 km/h (119.850 mph)	Report
1961	July 2	2° Coupe de Juniors	FJ	Trevor Taylor	Lotus 20 Cosworth	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	30	1:24:44.1	176.352 km/h (109.580 mph)	Report
1962	July 1	3° GP de Reims	F1	Bruce McLaren	Cooper Climax T60	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	50	2:02:32.2	203.31 km/h (126.33 mph)	Report
1962	July 1	3° Coupe de Juniors	FJ	Mike Spence	Lotus 22 Cosworth	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	10	27:03.1	184.130 km/h (114.413 mph)	Report
1963	June 30	49° GP de l’ACF	F1	Jim Clark	Lotus-Climax	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	53	2:10:54.3	201.676 km/h (125.316 mph)	Report
1963	June 30	Trophee P-GT-Sport	SC	Carlo Mario Abate	Ferrari TRI/61	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	25	01:02:59.5	197.686 km/h (122.836 mph)	Report
1963	June 30	4° Coupe de Juniors	FJ	Denis Hulme	Brabham BT6 Cosworth	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	20	54:27.0	182.958 km/h (113.685 mph)	Report
1964	July 5	Grands Prix France	F2	Alan Rees	Brabham Cosworth	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	37	01:36:10.6	191.625 km/h (119.070 mph)	Report
1964	July 5	4° Coupe de Vitesse	F3	Jackie Stewart	Cooper BMC	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	20	57:15.8	173.969 km/h (108.099 mph)	Report
1965	July 4	Grands Prix France	F2	Jochen Rindt	Brabham Cosworth	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	37	01:33:55.7	196.212 km/h (121.920 mph)	Report
1965	July 4	5° Coupe de Vitesse	F3	Jean-Pierre Beltoise	Matra - Cosworth	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	20	54:33.8	182.578 km/h (113.449 mph)	Report
1966	July 2	Grands Prix France	F2	Jack Brabham	Brabham Honda	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	37	01:33:32.4	197.026 km/h (122.426 mph)	Report
1966	July 3	52° GP de l’ACF (E)	F1	Jack Brabham	Brabham BT19	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	48	01:48:31.3	220.315 km/h (136.897 mph)	Report
1966	July 3	6° Coupe de Vitesse	F3	John Fenning	Matra - Cosworth	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	20	55:16.3	180.238 km/h (111.995 mph)	Report
1967	June 25	Les Trophées de France	F2	Jochen Rindt	Brabham BT23	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	37	01:25:25.4	215.747 km/h (134.059 mph)	Report
1967	June 25	7° Coupe de Vitesse	F3	Jean-Pierre Jabouille	Matra - Cosworth	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	20	54:39.8	182.243 km/h (113.241 mph)	Report
1968	June 25	Les Trophées de France	F2	Jackie Stewart	Matra MS7 Cosworth	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	35	01:25:23.1	207.869 km/h (129.164 mph)	Report
1968	June 25	8° Coupe de Vitesse	F3	Peter Westbury	Brabham BT21	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	15	41:29.3	180.088 km/h (111.901 mph)	Report
1969	June 25	Les Trophées de France	F2	François Cevert	Tecno Ford TF	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	35	01:19:21.3	219.692 km/h (136.510 mph)	Report
1969	June 25	9° Coupe de Vitesse	F3	Peter de Merrit	Tecno Toyota	8.302 km (5.159 mi)	15	53:39.3	185.669 km/h (115.369 mph)	Report
Sources:^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18]^[19]^[20]^[21]^[22]^[23]^[24]^[25]^[26]^[27]^[28]^[29]^[30]^[31]

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	Roger Gauthier	(Private)	Bignan 2LC	N/A	53	1,056 km (656 mi)	N/A	Report
1935	July 7	1° GP de Tourisme	Albert Perrot	(Private)	Delahaye 18 CV	+3.0	25	195.672 km (121.585 mi)	131.34 km/h (81.61 mph)	Report
1936	July 5	11° GP de la Marne	Jean-Pierre Wimille	Bugatti (Works)	Bugatti 57G Tank	S5.0	51	399.126 km (248.005 mi)	140.245 km/h (87.144 mph)	Report
1937	July 18	12° GP de la Marne	Jean-Pierre Wimille	Bugatti (Works)	Bugatti T59	S5.0	63	500.0 km (310.7 mi)	140.245 km/h (87.144 mph)	Report
1952	June 29	13° GP de la Marne	Stirling Moss	T. H. Wisdom	Jaguar C-Type	S+2.0	50	359.88 km (223.62 mi)	158.017 km/h (98.187 mph)	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	Dick Protheroe	Protheroe	Jaguar E 3L+	P+3.0	25	207.550 km (128.966 mi)	193.910 km/h (120.490 mph)	Report
1964–1965		12 Heures Internationales de Reims - Sportscar World Championship
1966	July 3	Coupe Nationale R8 Gordini	Jean- Claude Andruet	Gordini	R8 Gordini	S1.2	12	99.624 km (61.903 mi)	145.748 km/h (90.564 mph)	Report
1967		12 Heures Internationales de Reims
1967	June 25	Coupe Nationale R8 Gordini	Francis Stalter	Gordini	R8 Gordini	S1.2	15	124.530 km (77.379 mi)	149.401 km/h (92.833 mph)	Report
1968	June 24	Coupe Nationale R8 Gordini	Bernard Lagier	Gordini	R8 Gordini	S1.2	12	99.624 km (61.903 mi)	154.851 km/h (96.220 mph)	Report
1969	June 24	Coupe Nationale R8 Gordini	Alain Cudini	Gordini	R8 Gordini	S1.2	12	99.624 km (61.903 mi)	155.759 km/h (96.784 mph)	Report
Sources:^[32]^[33]^[34]