Rouen-Les-Essarts was a

motor racing Motorsport, motorsports or motor sport is a global term used to encompass the group of competitive sporting events which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles. The terminology can also be used to describe forms of competition of two ...

circuit in Orival, near

Rouen Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine in northern France. It is the prefecture of the Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one of ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. From its opening in 1950, Rouen-Les-Essarts was recognized as one of

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

's finest circuits, with modern pits, a wide track, and spectator grandstands. The

street circuit A street circuit is a motorsport racing circuit composed of temporarily closed-off public roads of a city, town or village, used in motor races. Airport runways and taxiways are also sometimes part of street circuits. Facilities such as the p ...

(which ran on public roads) had a few medium straights, a cobbled hairpin turn (Nouveau Monde) at the southernmost tip, and a few blind corners through a wooded hillside The appeal was greatly enhanced by the climb from Nouveau Monde at to Gresil at , with gradients over 9%. Rouen hosted five

Formula One Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...

French Grand Prix The French Grand Prix (french: Grand Prix de France), formerly known as the Grand Prix de l'ACF (Automobile Club de France), is an auto race held as part of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's annual Formula One World Championsh ...

races, the last one in 1968 resulting in the tragic burning death of

Jo Schlesser Joseph Schlesser (18 May 1928 – 7 July 1968) was a French Formula One and sports car racing driver. He participated in three World Championship Grands Prix, including the 1968 French Grand Prix in which he was killed. He scored no championship ...

, at the fast downhill Six Frères curve. The circuit continued to host major

Formula 2 Formula Two (F2 or Formula 2) is a type of open-wheel formula racing category first codified in 1948. It was replaced in 1985 by Formula 3000, but revived by the FIA from 2009–2012 in the form of the FIA Formula Two Championship. The name re ...

events until 1978, after which it was used for various French Championships. The circuit had a number of different configurations. From its construction in 1950 until 1954 it was in length. In 1955 major works increased the circuit's length to , its most famous configuration. Construction of a new Autoroute across the circuit saw a new section of track built and the length of the circuit reduced to . Finally, in 1974 a permanent chicane was built at Six Frères and this part of the circuit was renamed Des Roches. The circuit was closed down in 1994 due to economic and safety reasons, since it is very hard to organize a race on public roads if modern safety standards are to be met. In 1999, following the circuit's closure all evidence of area's racing past was demolished, including grandstands, pits, Armco and track signs. The cobbled Nouveau Monde hairpin was also asphalted but it is still possible to drive around on the original circuit configuration. The name "Les Essarts" comes from a village, which was included into the

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

of Grand-Couronne in 1874.

Lap records

The official race lap records at the Rouen-Les-Essarts are listed as:

References

External links

Rouen-Les-Essarts - France's Forgotten Treasure Remembered

Satellite picture by Google Maps

Rouen Seine valley Tourist Board's Website
{{Authority control Formula One circuits Grand Prix motorcycle circuits Sports venues in Seine-Maritime French Grand Prix Grand Prix de Rouen-les-Essarts Defunct motorsport venues in France