LE MANS 24 HOURS: CIRCUIT HISTORIES GUIDE
by
Jamie Stafford/Wolf Feather
[email protected]
Initial Version Completed: October 11, 2002
FINAL VERSION Completed: October 15, 2002
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ACCOLADE: The Le Mans 24 Hours: Circuit Histories Guide was
designated as Best In-depth Guide for October 13, 2002 on the
FAQ Contributors Message Board on GameFAQs :-)
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CONTENTS
Spacing and Length
Permissions
Introduction
Assumptions and Conventions
Brno
Bugatti
Catalunya (Barcelona, Spain)
Donington Park
Le Mans
Road Atlanta Motor Sports Center (Braselton, Georgia, USA)
Suzuka (Japan)
Contact Information
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SPACING AND LENGTH
For optimum readability, this driving guide should be
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Check for font setting by making sure the numbers and letters
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PERMISSIONS
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INTRODUCTION
This predecessor to this guide was created due to a personal
inquiry, wishing to learn more about the history of the race
venues currently used in F1 competition. This guide uses
similar information for the race venues included in Le Mans
24 Hours. This is not intended to be a detailed history of
all the race venues, but more of a general overview of the
circuits. As more information is gained, this guide will be
modified and expanded accordingly.
The majority of information for this guide comes from
circuits' official Web sites. To the extent possible, I will
try to update circuit wins as best as I can, although that
admittedly is not initially a priority in writing this guide.
Those with additional information and/or suggestions should
contact me (
[email protected]). Please note that some
of the race venues included here have multiple configurations
used in Le Mans 24 Hours.
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ASSUMPTIONS AND CONVENTIONS
Most race circuits outside the United States (and a very few
within) name most corners and chicanes, and even some
straightaways. Where these names are known and relevant to
the circuit histories, they will be given. These names have
been gathered from course maps available on the courses'
official Web sites, my memory of how races have been called
by American TV sportscasters (Fox Sports Net and SpeedVision,
in 1999 2001, and Speed Channel in 2002), and/or from the
Training Mode of F1 Championship Season 2000 (corner/segment
names are listed at the bottom of the screen). To the extent
possible, these names have been translated into English.
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BRNO
This 5.403-kilometer (3.377-mile) circuit is also kn0wn as
the Masaryk Circuit, and is located near Brno in the Czech
Republic. The official Web site provides this excellent
location information:
Difference in elevation and attractive forest areas were
the attributes of the classical Masaryk Circuit where
motorcycle and automobile aces raced in 1930-1986.
The same character was kept in the project of the modern
closed circuit named Automotodrom brno - Masaryk Circuit
and located at Kyvalka. The 5,4 km long track is so well
positioned in the natural surroundings that it evokes
feeling like it had been there always. Forests around the
Masaryk Circuit make everyone feel very relaxed whether
the racers or visitors and even tourists.
Events at Automotodrome Brno include Motojaro and Motopodzim
(which allows the average persons to use their own cars and
motorcycles on the Brno circuit), Czech Automobile Hill Climb
Championship, International Czech Championship of Touring and
Formula Cars, FIA GT Championship, FIA Sportscar
Championship, FIA European Touring Car Championship, Road
Racing Motorcycle Endurance World Championship, International
Czech Championship of Touring and Formula Cars, Central
European Zone Championship of Touring and Formula Cars,
International Cup Racing, Road Racing Motorcycle World
Championship (125 cc, 250 cc and MotoGP), Formula 3000 Euro
Series, and International Czech Motorcycle Championship,
Epilog 2002 (International 6hrs. Endurance race of Touring,
Grand Tourismo, Sporting and special cars).
Circuit history from the official Web site:
More than 70-year-old history of the Masaryk Circuit may
be divided into two main eras.
The first period belongs to the classical circuit, the
history of which began with the first automobile race on
Sunday September 28th 1930. The circuit's history is not
only long but also very rich and interesting. Breathtaking
races on a 29,1 km long track were held on the main road
(Brno-Prague) and other local roads before WWII.
Motorsport fans going to the Masaryk Circuit nowadays have
to drive for a short time on a cobblestone road (hill at
Popuvky), which brings the drivers back to the history and
let experience the original pre-war track. Today we can
only admire the brave knights flying with full throttle at
the wheel of Tatras, Z Alfas, Mercedes, Auto Unions ...
Yellowish photographs remember the first triumphs of
Bugatti cars, the winning hattrick of the Monaco knight
Chiron, the rising star and later Formula 1 Champion
Farina. Photographers did not miss mad tricks of the 'red
devil' Nuvolari, smiles of von Stuck, Rosemeyer, Lang and
Caracciola who took the wheel of Mercedes and Auto Union
cars. They represented the unbeatable line up of the pre
war times. The archives revealed that the first race
winner at the Masaryk Circuit was Morgen and the last
battle on the endless classical track won Caracciola in
1937.
The Masaryk Circuit was shortened to 17,8 kms after the
war. The first post-war race was held in 1949 - the
legendary Czechoslovak Grand Prix, which was ridden in the
opposite direction than the pre-war races. Over 400.000
spectators saw a fantastic victory of Whitehead (Ferrari)
from England, while the favourites - Maserati's Farina,
Parnell, Bira and Chiron had to retire due to technical
problems or accidents. Motorcycle took over the reign at
the Masaryk Circuit in 1950. The political regime at that
time was not in favour of the automobile sport and it
named it 'bourgeois'. Year after year Brno hosted more
quality riders. The success of Czech heroes Stastny,
Havel, Bartos, Parus, Kostir, Slavicek and Srna riding
with Czech made Jawa and CZ bikes caused a rapid growth of
popularity. Newly reconstructed 13,9 km long classical
circuit hosted the Road Racing Motorcycle World
Championship GP in 1965 for the first time. Brno hosted
regularly the series until 1982. The organizers were
unable to meet the strict FIM safety regulations and
though the track was shortened to 10,9 km the GP could not
be held there any more.
Before the old circuit finished its history in 1986, it
still hosted 4 European Championship events and saw the
revival of automobile racing. Cars returned to the Masaryk
Circuit in 1962 thanks to Formula Junior races, which were
followed by new Formula 3 series two years later. European
Touring Cars Championship introduced in 1968 strengthened
the image of the Brno circuit. Together with the
motorcycle World Championship the Touring cars attracted
many spectators to the Masaryk Circuit till the last
sporting event. There were many recognised drivers racing
in Brno -F1 champions Rindt and Lauda from Austria or
Hulme from New Zealand.
The new chapter in the history of the Masaryk Circuit was
started in 1987 when the special closed circuit was
inaugurated. The new track was well positioned into the
beautiful natural terrain. It was located not even 10 km
far from the old pits. The atmosphere of pre-war
automobile races remember the narrow roads leading from
Zebetin to Ostrovacice where the motorised knights cut the
corners in the 1930s. The newly built track brought
worldwide connaissance of Brno and the Czech Republic
however the architects and engineers ad to dedicate a lot
of time and effort to finish the construction.
With the new track Brno figured again in the motorcycle
World Championship calendar after a four year break. Those
who admired Agostini, Hailwood, Read, Saarinen, Ivy,
Cecotto, Ballington could find their new heroes at the
modern Masaryk Circuit among such stars like Gardner,
Spencer, Rainey, Lawson, Kocinski, Doohan, Roth, Bradl,
Martinez. Some of the old favourites like Mang or sidecar
ace Biland returned to Brno, too. Except year 1992 when
the organizers did not agree on financial demands with the
new series promoter, the Masaryk Circuit hosted the World
Championship series regularly.
The Czech Grand Prix became the most important sporting
event broadcasted thanks to TV to all continents. Brno
organizers did their maximum to keep the series, since
1996 they have managed to rebuild the start/finish area,
put on new pit boxes, reconstruct the paddock and prolong
the track from 5,394 to 5,403 km. The organizers are very
proud of the IRTA Trophy, which they received for the best
GP in 1999. In between the motorcycle champs changed. Fans
hurry to Brno in order to grab autographs of Rossi,
Biaggi, Capirossi, Harada, Elias, Poggiali, Roberts jun.,
McCoy, Nakano, Jacque and also the Czech heroes Hules and
Jakub Smrz. The busy life of the Masaryk Circuit saw also
twice the Superbike World Championship, once Sport
prototypes World Championship, three times the
international German Touring Cars and Formula 3
Championship, which brought to the Brno track such stars
like Schumacher, Frentzen, Rosberg, Schneder, Danner,
Wendlinger and many other formula 1 stars. Coulthard,
Häkkinen and the triple F1 World Champion Stewart were
among honorary guests to the circuit, too.
The rich programme of the circuit hosted the International
Sportscar Championship, German and Swiss motorcycle
Championship, Austrian automobile Championship or charming
battles of historic Formula 1 cars. The international
Czech motorcycle and Automobile championships visit Brno
regularly. More and more spectators are attracted by the 6
hrs. Touring and sports cars Endurance race however the
number on among car races belongs to the FIA GT
Championship. The Masaryk Circuit hosts every year a
number of test drives, company presentations, social
meetings and also other than motorsport activities (dog
sledge competition etc.).
See the official Web site
(
http://www.automotodrombrno.cz/index.asp?sekce=0&jazyk=en)
for more information.
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BUGATTI
Located 5 kilometers (3.125 miles) from the city of Le Mans,
the 4.305-kilometer (2.6756-mile) Bugatti Circuit was built
in 1965 and comprises part of the Le Mans circuit. Events
held at Bugatti include Les 24 Heures du Mans, FIA F3000, and
French Touring Car and GT races.
I have been unsuccessful in finding either an official Web
site or an official history for the Bugatti Circuit, but have
found his (from
http://jc.racesimcentral.com/guide/track_bugatti.htm):
The Bugatti circuit at LeMans was not a great success. It
was run on what was regarded as little more than a car
park. One driver even managed to start the Phrase 'Mickey
Mouse' which is used much more in modern F1. The drivers
of 1967 were so critical of the track that a Grand Prix
never returned to the track. A Feature of the track is the
low grip nature of the circuit when you make a transition
to and from the La Sarthe track onto the Bugatti short
circuit.
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CATALUNYA (BARCELONA, SPAIN)
The Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona has hosted the Grand
Prix of Spain since 1997. The circuit hosts numerous forms
of racing, including FIA Sportscar Championship, Spanish
Formula-1 Grand Prix, 24 HOURS MOTORBIKE ENDURANCE, 24 HOURS
CAR ENDURANCE, Catalunya Motorbike Championship, Spanish GT's
Championship, Truck GP, and certainly F1 Racing; Catalunya
even holds courses for the preparation of racing officials.
Many teams also use the circuit for practice and testing.
The circuit has three configurations: Grand Prix (7.563
kilometers, or 4.727 miles), National (4.907 kilometers, or
3.067 miles), and School (2.725 kilometers, or 1.703 miles).
F1 winners at Catalunya: Jacques Villeneuve (1997), Mika
Hakkinen (1998-2000), and Mika Hakkinen (2001 and 2002).
See the official Web site (
http://www.circuitcat.com) for
more information. Unfortunately, it does not have any
historical information on the circuit, nor can I find any
such information online.
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DONINGTON PARK
The Donington Park venue holds two circuits: the National
Circuit and the International Circuit (the latter includes
the parallel straightaways behind the Paddock Area).
Donington Park is billed as a great place for car testing and
launches, and also has days where the average drivers can
take their cars and motorcycles to the tracks. The Honda Ron
Haslam Race School also used Honda Hornets, CBR600 and
CBR900RR Fireblades to train people of all ages and abilities
on motorcycles. There is also the public Donington Grand
Prix Collection museum, which contains more than 150 grand
prix cars from the 1930s to the present.
Race events include: Historic Sports Car Club Championships,
British Formula 3 and British GT Championships, German
Touring Car Masters, Donington Vintage and Historic Car
Weekend, Cinzano British Motorcycle Grand Prix, Ford Racing
Festival, Mini Racing Festival, MCN British Superbike
Championship, BRSCC Car Championship, and British Truck
Racing Championship.
The official Web site (
http://www.donington-park.co.uk/)
unfortunately does not include any historical information.
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LE MANS
Dating back to 1923, The 24 Hours of Le Mans (Les 24 Heures
du Mans) is one of the classics of auto racing. In terms of
endurance racing, this is THE race to win to turn a driver's,
team's, or manufacturer's name into a household name at
domiciles worldwide. Part of the circuit uses the Bugatti
circuit, while the rest is run on public roads.
The 24 Hours Legend (from
http://lemans24hb.free.fr/):
All begins on May 26, 1923. By an execrable weather, but
with 16 car manufacturer on the starting grid;
manufacturer which engage for three years since the
difficult challenge, rewarded by the cut Rudge and
Whitworth, will be allotted only to the evening of the
edition 1925....
First steps of this ' historical ' race, the history
retained the 100% french victory of Lagache and Léonard,
with a Chenard and Walcker of 3 liters cubic capacity
(entirely of series; it was the first criterion of
participation required), with the average of 92 km/h. The
English sportsmen, completely allured by the formula of
competition which then leaves the free field with the
gentleman-drivers, will react as of the following year,
with Duff and Clement, on Bentley. Lorraine (in 1925 and
1926) will certainly take a shingling revenge, before
Bentley does not display its superiority until 1930, Woolf
Bamato won three victories for its the first three
participations. Then, Italian industry with Alfa Romeo
will get going to give a righter counterpart to this
Anglo-Saxon domination and during four years (1931 - 32 -
33 and 34). The greatest pilots have now rendez vous
each year, in Le Mans. And their competitions delight the
spectator... as in 1933, when incomparable Nuvolari
surprises Chinetti's Alfa-Romeo, in the final lap, in the
Arnage turn, for finally triumphing with a gap of 401
meters.
With Jean-Pierre Wimille, France has to join again with
success and Bugatti will register two successes 1937 - 39,
pulverizing the record at the distance, very close to the
average of 140 km/h. The war of 1939 - 1945 will stop the
effort of this brilliant French industry, which in
addition of Bugatti can count on Delahaye (victory into
38), Delage or Talbot. June 25, 1949 marks for the race a
new start : the start was given by the president Vincent
Auriol and within a renovated framework (24 Hour old
village, grandstands, stands and... track), the name of
Ferrari will enter officially the history of the
competition. The author of this victory is Luigi Chinetti,
still him, which sign its third success there by leaving
the wheel only one small hour with its team mate, the
english lord Selsdon. Louis Rosier will do however better
the following year, authorizing his son only two small
turns with the Talbot victorious. From 1951, the large
car manufacurer will investing, on the Le Mans notoriety,
with increasing budgets and with the best drivers. The
names of Jaguar (1951 and 1953), Mercedes (1952), and
again Ferrari (1954) will fit little by little in the
imaginary popular one, thanks to the 24 Hours impact. One
follows the race to the radio, one is caught for Fangio
and one cries with the listening of the drama of 1955. In
any case, never the public will not have been also
numerous with the traditional rendez vous of June ! And
numbers British then discover the Old continent by
beginning their holidays in Mans and with the triumphs of
Jaguar (55 - 56 and 57) and Aston-Martin (59). But the
Ferrari period is arrived. In particular with Gonzales and
Trintignant, in 1954. However, Commendatore wants more and
better; i.e. to impose to the world the quality of the
sports cars which leave Maranello.
From 1960 to 1965, the 'pulled up horse' will reign as a
master on the Le Mans track, as well with the
classification scratch as in the GT category or with the
index of performance. Olivier Gendebien and Phill Hill
will thus pass the threshold of the posterity, and with
them all these young drivers noticed by Enzo Ferrari and
very honoured to have reached the scuderia : Pedro and
Ricardo Rodriguez were these. Whereas Ferrari accumulates
the victories, a man decided to succeed to him the 24
Hours prize list. Since 1964, Henry Ford swore himself to
gain the match Europe-America, intended definitively to
open the large world export market. The commercial and
sporting stake is so important than Ford does not even
consider the possibility of a failure. In 1966, Ford with
McLaren-Amon and Miles-Hulme finish on the same line... in
fact the A.C.O. will slice... in favour of the first
because they make a best times during qualifications.
The following year, Gurney-and Foyt won, with an average
of 218 km/h, 'the battle of the century'. P. Rodriguez and
L.Bianchi will repeat the following year, before Ickx and
Oliver ' do not sanctify forever ' Ford GT 40 with a gap
of a few tens meters in front of Porsche of Hermann
Larrousse. Porsche then has announced one new era. Notably
with the fabulous and still unmatched record of Marko and
Van Lennep, established in 1971, with an averge of 222
km/h and a distance of 5.335 km with the mythical Porsche
917.
The modern era, it is Matra which will inaugurate it ,
with a triptych (72-73-74) to which Pescarolo will be
nicely associated. Era where French successes (Renault in
1978, Rondeau in 1980, Peugeot in 1992 and 1993) will be
made rather rare if one wants to take well into account
crushing it domination of Porsche (10 victories in 20
years) and a hierarchy unceasingly hustled since 1986...
Jaguar (1988 and 1990), Mercedes (1989) and especially
Mazda (1991) will touch the reward of their fidelity
before Bernie Ecclestone does not decide, one fine day,
that the endurance definitely made the too beautiful share
with imagination.
The A.C.O. failed to lose until its heart, but it seems
today that spring, again, flowers over the 24 Hours of
Mans. McLaren, first hatched flower of a new GT category,
suggests in any case that the ' 24 Hours ' remain,
initially and above all, an imposing festival of the car.
See the official Web site (
http://www.lemans.org/) of Les 24
Heures du Mans. Visit
http://24h-le-mans.maxximum.org/ for
the results of all Le Mans races since its inception. See
http://lemans24hb.free.fr/ for an EXCELLENT historical
overview of Les 24 Heures du Mans, maps for ALL circuits used
in the history of Les 24 Heures du Mans, and download
features (including video of the 1999 Mercedes CLR suddenly
going airborne and a full lap from the pace car).
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ROAD ATLANTA MOTOR SPORTS CENTER (BRASELTON, GEORGIA, USA)
With its triple configurations, Road Atlanta hosts numerous
racing events, notably the Petit Le Mans. Other events
include SCCA Regional and National competition, Historic
Sportscar Racing Walter Mitty Challenge, Ferrari Challenge,
AMA Superbike 'Big Kahuna' Nationals, WERA National, SCCA
Double SARRC Regional, Historic Sportscar Racing Atlanta
Historics. WERA Grand National Finals, and SCCA American Road
Race of Champions National. The Kevin Schwantz Suzuki School
and the Porsche Driving Experience also operate at Road
Atlanta.
Visit the official Web site (
http://www.roadatlanta.com/) for
more information. Unfortunately, no history section is
available.
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SUZUKA (JAPAN)
In operation since at least 1962 and the host of F1 races
since 1987, Suzuka Circuit is the host of many forms of
motorsport - including F1 and other Formula series, and
motorbikes (including MotoGP) - as well as several racing
schools. Suzuka comprises two different circuits: the 5.821-
kilometer (3.638-mile) International Racing Course (used for
F1 events) and the 1.264-kilometer (0.790-mile) Southern
Course (which itself contains numerous configurations).
F1 winners at Suzuka: Gerhard Berger (1987 and 1991), Ayrton
Senna (1988), Alessandro Nannini (1989), Nelson Piquet
(1990), Riccardo Patrese (1992), Ayrton Senna (1993), Damon
Hill (1994 and 1996), Michael Schumacher (1995, 1997, 2000,
and 2001), and Mika Hakkinen (1998 and 1999).
Unfortunately, the official Web site
(
http://www.suzukacircuit.co.jp/) is almost exclusively in
Japanese. Many section titles are also given in English (such
as Event Calendar, Group Enjoy!, and Circuit Queen), but the
only truly-English area is a single page with downloadable
files of information for buying tickets to the next Grand
Prix of Japan.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
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