{"id":7902,"date":"2025-10-31T12:36:20","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T12:36:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/motorsporttraveldestinations.com\/blog\/?p=7902"},"modified":"2026-03-13T10:52:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T10:52:48","slug":"take-a-tour-of-the-frances-circuit-de-charade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/motorsporttraveldestinations.com\/blog\/take-a-tour-of-the-frances-circuit-de-charade\/","title":{"rendered":"Take a tour of France’s Circuit de Charade"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nestled in the rolling hills of the Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes<\/strong> region in central France and built in the shadow of a dormant volcano, the Circuit de Charade has a long and varied history across both four and two wheels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our brand-new Legend Driving Tour<\/a> takes the scenic route to the 2026 Le Mans Classic Legend<\/strong>. Ahead of arrival in Le Mans, the tour will culminate with a racing school experience at this Circuit de Charade \u2013 read below to get the low down on this iconic circuit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Circuit de Charade Profile:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  • Broke<\/strong> ground<\/strong> – 1957 <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Location<\/strong> – Saint-Gen\u00e8s-Champanelle, France<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Lap length:<\/strong> 3.975 km (2.47 miles)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Born from the volcanoes<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The circuit uniquely snakes around the volcanic slopes of the Puy de D\u00f4me<\/strong>, a volcano which has laid inactive for approximately 10,700 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    After a desire to create an iconic circuit utilising the region\u2019s vast volcanic roads, and with backing from French tyre-supplier Michelin<\/strong>, the Circuit de Charade opened its doors in 1958. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Circuit<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The original 8.055km<\/strong> track featured a gigantic 51 corners<\/strong> and very few straights. With accompanying rollercoaster-like elevation and remarkable natural scenery, the track was coined \u2018Little N\u00fcrburgring<\/strong>\u2019, a reference capturing both its beauty and danger.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Premier class racing arrives <\/strong>at the Circuit de Charade <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The FIM Road Racing World Championship (modern day MotoGP<\/strong>) was a regular visitor to the track after its opening. The Circuit de Charade hosted nine French Grands Prix <\/strong>from 1959 to 1972. Legendary two-wheelers Giacomo<\/strong> Agostini<\/strong>, Mike<\/strong> Hailwood<\/strong> and John<\/strong> Surtees<\/strong> all raced on the circuit during this period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Formula 1<\/strong> circus arrived in 1965 with legendary two-time World Champion Jim<\/strong> Clark<\/strong> winning the inaugural race \u2013 Graham<\/strong> Hill<\/strong> and Jackie<\/strong> Stewart<\/strong> completed a remarkable British podium clean sweep. The track would go on to host three further F1 races in 1969, 1970 and 1972, with Stewart (twice) and Jochen<\/strong> Rindt<\/strong> claiming future wins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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