The "French Week"

Magny-Cours    +    Mas du Clos    +    Val de Vienne

----------     GP-track of Magny-Cours     ----------

Situated in the center of France - GPS: N 46° 52,065' - E 003° 09,566'

	Every year since 1991, the French Grand Prix Formule 1 takes place on this 4.410 m long TOP track. Living legend Michael Schumacher won here at least 8 times! Besides his brother Ralf, there were also Nigel Mansell (2x), Alain Prost, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Damon Hill, David Coulthard and Fernando Alonso who won here. Since 2000, there's also the prestigious Endurance World Cup for motorcycles, the famous "Bol d'Or" (pictures left and under). Besides these, there are also every year the very competitive World Superbike and the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) that come over here to race on the track of Nevers Magny-Cours.
Besides these 4 international top competitions, there are also the races of the Open French Championship for motorcycles as well as the yearly Bol d'Or Classic. Everything started in 1959, when the former mayor of Magny-Cours, Jean Bernigaud, decided to build a karting track on the parcel alongside his farm. The track is situated near the litte town of Nevers, about 220 km south of Paris. Two years later, this track in the middle of France is being changed to a length of 2 km. From that moment on, its reputation grew fast. And it was the world famous racingschool "Winfield" that really put Magny-Cours on the map of racetracks. In fact, it was the guardian school for the coming French Formula 1 stars of the '70's and the '80's.
	The school was founded by Bernigaud in 1963, with the help of Jean Lucas and Gerard Crombac. Later, the name was changed to Winfield and the list of succesful pupils grew fast. Jean-Pierre Jaussaud (winner of the 24hrs of Le Mans in 1978 and 1980), Francois Cevert, Patrick Depailler, Jean-Pierre Jarier, Jacques Lafitte are only a few names that learned to race there. In 1971, the tracklength is being increased to 3.850 m. The same year, Bernigaud dies. Following that event, the track is being taken over by the local motorcycling club, the "ASA Niverais". Bernigaud's widow keeps on playing an important role in the further growth of Magny-Cours. To help finance the track, teams are being attracted to install their residence. The Martini and Oreca teams are the first to do so.
From the second half of the '70's, the first international races are held on the track. In 1975, the first Formula 2 race is won by Jean-Pierre Jabouille. From 1978, every year there's a race that counts for the European Formula 3 championship. The series keeps coming back every year until it is stopped in 1984. At that moment, the state of the track is very poor. The next three years, there will be no international races anymore. In 1988, everything is managed thoroughly with the goal to get the Formula 1 over here and in that way stimulate the department's economy. The track will become the property of the regional council of Nievre.
	The project finally gets the support of the former French President Mitterand, who had been at the top of the council of Nievre. Pierre Beregovoy, the mayor of Nevers, supported these plans. The realisation of these plans seems to cost loads of money. A new track, a big industrial zone, a 18-hole golf track, a museum for motorcycles and cars, etc. There's even a new motorway that is built to connect to the existing motorways. The industrial zone "Technopole" was built to attract the race-topteams. They get a number of premiums for this choice. One of the first teams to accept the propositions was the Formula 1 team of Guy Ligier.

The new track still had the original lay-out that was developed by Bernigaud in 1971, but every turn was adapted. For the creation, the experience of the French Formula 1 drivers Jacques Lafitte and René Arnoux was useful consultancy. A large number of turns were a copy of existing turns of other tracks. The turns were thus named after the circuits they were copied from. Besides the 48 pitboxes, a paddock of 40.000 square meters, a video monitoring system with continuous digital recordings of the complete track that are kept during 4 days, possibility to light the complete track and 2 helicopter landing strips, in the paddock - where you can stay the night - there is of course enough bathing possibility, as wel as electricity and water connections.

 

----------     Mas du Clos     ----------

425 Miles from Calais (7,5 hours driving)

Situated in the center of France - GPS: N 45° 55,666' - E 002° 18,235'

Useful links: images (photo & video) - map (with zoom function) - overview lodging possibilities

This is a beautiful 2 miles long slanting, private circuit, situated just next to Aubusson (Abuser), also known as the ‘Brands Hatch’ of France.

It got this reputation due to its technicality, emotion and the respect it demands to drive it..

Next to the owner's castle are the fantastic meadows, the track twists nicely within it, which gives you the feeling that you’re in the middle of a beautifully kept golf course.   The scenery is an oasis of tranquility, with breathtaking panoramic views. There has been a circuit here since 1967 but it has, in recent years, been completely renovated.

Formula 1 & Lotus legend Jim Clark used to entertain himself fantastically and Henri Pescarolo, the French Le Mans specialist used to drive the circuit often. Just as the many yearly returning auto clubs such as Nester Martin, Porsche, Alfa-Romeo, Ferrari, BMW, Mercedes, Bugatti, Bentley, Facel-Vega, Gordini, Toyota, Peugot…

It is a unique opportunity for us motorcyclists to be able to ride overthere.

Dover - Calais

You can book this 1,5 hour during boot trip with for example the following companies at sometimes really crazy cheap prices!

• P&O Ferries
• Norfolkline
• Seafrance

----------     Le Vigeant - Val de Vienne     ----------

Situated in the "La Vienne" department, 350 km south of Paris, 50 km from Poitiers

The accomodation is very good : the paddock is very spacious with all the necessary individual electricity and water supplies as well as all the necessary sanitary infrastructure There are also more than 30 pitboxes of 5 x 10 m, each with lighting, 220 V electricity, running water and doors that can be locked from noon until late in the evening, a very cosy restaurant is at our disposal inside the track and in the morning, fresh French bread is delivered on the track.