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Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry

(Redirected fromAutodrome de Montlhéry)

Autodrome de Montlhéry(established 4 October 1924) is a motor racing circuit, officially calledL’autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry,owned byUtac,located south-west of the small town ofMontlhéryabout 30 km (19 mi) south of Paris.

Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry

Map of the entire autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry

Map of the speed ring of the autodrome
LocationMontlhéry,France
Time zoneCET(UTC+1)
CEST(DST)
Coordinates48°37′20″N2°14′08″E/ 48.622187°N 2.235546°E/48.622187; 2.235546
OwnerUtac
Opened4 October 1924;100 years ago(1924-10-04)
ArchitectRaymond Jamin
Former namesAutodrome Parisien
Major events1000 km of Paris
(Intermittently 1956–1995)
French Grand Prix
(1925, 1927, 1931, 1933–1937)
FIM EWC(1960, 1963, 1970)
Oval Circuit
Length2.548 km (1.584 miles)
Banking52° (maximal value in corners)
Full Circuit
Length12.500 km (7.767 miles)
Race lap record5:06.000 (MonacoLouis Chiron,Alfa Romeo P3,1934,GP)
Circuit 1 (Speed Ring)
Length3.405 km (2.116 miles)
Race lap record1:21.750 (FranceBruno Sotty,Osella PA8,1985,S2000)
Circuit 2
Length5.000 km (3.107 miles)
Circuit 3
Length6.283 km (3.905 miles)
Race lap record2:17.900 (FranceJohnny Servoz-Gavin,Matra MS630,1968,Group 5)
Circuit 4
Length7.784 km (4.837 miles)
Race lap record2:30.500 (AustriaHelmut Marko,Porsche 917 Spyder,1971,Group 5)
Circuit Routier 1
Length7.500 km (4.660 miles)
Circuit Routier 2
Length9.181 km (5.705 miles)
Race lap record2:35.300 (FranceHenri Pescarolo,Matra-Simca MS660,1970,Group 6)
Circuit Routier
Length6.530 km (4.058 miles)

History

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L’autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry year 1923

Industrialist Alexandre Lamblin hired René Jamin to design the 2.548 km (1.583 mi) oval shaped track for up to 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) vehicles at 220 km/h (140 mph). It was initially calledAutodrome Parisien,and had especially high banking. A road circuit was added in 1925.

The first race there, the1925 French Grand Prix,was held on 26 July 1925 and organised by The Automobile Club de France. It was a race in whichRobert Benoistin aDelagewon;Antonio Ascaridied in anAlfa Romeo P2.The Grand Prix revisited the track in 1927 and each year between 1931 and 1937.

In 1939 the track was sold to the government, which deprived it of maintenance during the war. In December 1946, it was again sold toUnion technique de l’automobile et du cycle(UTAC).

The last certification for racing was gained in 2001.

Motorcar races

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The first race, the1925 French Grand Prix,was held on 26 July 1925 and organised by theAutomobile Club de France.Robert Benoistin aDelagewon; butAntonio Ascaridied in a crash of hisAlfa Romeo P2.

In July 1926Violette Corderylead a team that averaged 113.8 km/h (70.7 mph) for 8,047 km (5,000 miles) driving anInvicta,and became the first woman to be awarded theDewar Trophyby theRoyal Automobile Club.[1]

The Grand Prix revisited the track in 1927.

In 1929,Hellé Nicedrove anOméga-Sixto victory in the all-femaleGrand Prix of the third Journée Feminineat the Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry.[2]

The Grand Prix revisited the track each year between 1931 and 1937.

The "Coupe du Salon", "Grand Prix de l'Age d'Or" and the "1000 km" were arranged irregularly since then, as the track has had several high-speed problems.

Motorcycle races

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TheGrand Prix de France(UMF French Federation) was organized in Linas-Montlhéry in 1925, 1931, 1935 and 1937 with the best worldwide racers.

A competitorGrand Prix de France(MCF Club) was also organized from 1924 to 1937 with the best French and British racers.

TheBol d'or,the well-known French motorcycle endurance race of 24 hours, was held in Linas-Montlhéry before the Second War from 1937 to 1939, and after the Second War in 1949, in 1950, from 1952 to 1960, in 1969 and in 1970. British motorcycles were victorious usually from 1931 to 1959, (Velocette,NortonorTriumph); AmericanHarley-Davidson,FrenchMotobécane,GermanBMW,ItalianMoto Guzzi,AustrianPuchand CzechoslovakianJawawon only once. A legendary French racer, Gustave Lefèvre (NortonManx) is always the record holder with 7 victories despite riding alone during 24 hours: his average speed was 107 kilometres per hour (66 mph) in 1953. The year after, two riders were allowed. In 1969, a Japanese bike,HondaFour, wins for the first time. In 1970, a British one,TriumphTrident, wins for the last time.[3]

Another race open the year in France, theCôte Lapize,climbing around the hill of Saint-Eutrope: the new engines confidentially prepared during the winter months were shown. In early 1950s,Pierre Monneretriding the famousGileraFour, 500 cc, sent by the official Italian team, was one of them.

Some races were open to production motorcycles like theCoupe du Salon(morning for motorcycles, afternoon for motorcars) or theCoupes Eugène Mauve.

Fatal accidents at Autodrome de Montlhéry includeBenoît Nicolas Musy(1956), and the one in which Peter Lindner, Franco Patria and three flag marshals died in 1964.

Other events

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In 1933 the circuit hosted theUCI Road World Championshipsfor cycling.

In 2010 the Speed Ring played host toKen Block'sGymkhana Threevideo, an advertisement for his company,DC Shoes.[4]

Layout configurations

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  • Entire map of the Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry - 12.500 km (7.767 mi)
  • Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry - Circuit 1 - 3.333 km (2.071 mi)
  • Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry - Circuit 2 - 5.000 km (3.107 mi)
  • Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry - Circuit 3 - 6.283 km (3.904 mi)
  • Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry - Circuit 4 - 7.784 km (4.837 mi)
  • Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry - Circuit Routier 1 - 7.500 km (4.660 mi)
  • Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry - Circuit Routier 2 - 9.181 km (5.705 mi)
  • Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry - Circuit Routier - 6.530 km (4.058 mi)

Lap records

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As of May 1995, the fastest official race lap records at Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Event
Full Circuit: 12.500 km[5]
GP 5:06.000 Louis Chiron Alfa Romeo P3 1934 French Grand Prix
Circuit 1 (Speed Ring): 3.405 km[5]
Sports 2000 1:21.750[6] Bruno Sotty Osella PA8 1985 Coupe D'Automne
GT1 1:21.990[7] Bob Wollek Porsche 911 Bi-Turbo 1995 1000 km de Paris
Formula Three 1:22.230[8] Christian Vidal Dallara F389 1989 Montlhery French F3 round
Formula Two 1:23.600[9] Maurice Trintignant Cooper T45 1960 Montlhery F2 round
Group 4 1:23.600[10] Gijs van Lennep Porsche 906 1966 Paris Grand Prix
Group 6 1:27.900[11] Gérard Larrousse Porsche 908/02 1970 Coupe du Salon
Group 3 1:29.100[12] Franco Patria[it] Abarth Simca 2000 1964 Coupe de Paris
Formula Renault 2.0 1:29.600[13] Roger Dubos[de] Tecno FP120 1971 2nd Montlhéry French Formula Renault round
Group A 1:30.990[14] Jean-Pierre Jarier Holden VL Commodore SS Group A 1987 Monthlhéry French Supertouring Group A round
Group 5 1:48.500[15] Jean Mazzanti[a]
Bernard Consten[fr][a]		 Fiat-Abarth 1000[a]
Alfa Romeo GTA[a]		 1965 Coupe de Paris
Circuit 3: 6.283 km[5]
Group 5 2:17.900[16] Johnny Servoz-Gavin Matra MS630 1968 Paris Grand Prix
Formula One 2:20.300[17] Raymond Sommer Talbot Lago T26C 1950 Paris Grand Prix
Formula Two 2:21.200 Piero Taruffi Ferrari Tipo 500 1952 Paris Grand Prix
Group 4 2:26.500[18] Jean-Michel Giorgi Lola T70 Mk.3 GT 1968 Coupe de Paris
Voiturette 2:37.600[19] Maurice Trintignant Simca-Gordini 11 1948 Montlhery Voiturette round
Circuit 4: 7.784 km[5]
Group 5 2:30.500[20] Helmut Marko Porsche 917 Spyder 1971 1000 km of Paris
Group 6 2:40.100[21] Jean-Pierre Beltoise Matra MS650 1969 1000 km of Paris
Group 3 2:45.100[22] Jackie Stewart Ferrari 250 LM 1964 1000 km de Paris
Formula Two 2:50.700[23] Jack Brabham[b]
Jim Clark[b]		 Brabham BT21[b]
Lotus 44[b]		 1966 Grand Prix de L'île de France
Circuit Routier 2: 9.181 km[5]
Group 6 2:35.300[24] Henri Pescarolo Matra MS660 1970 1000 km de Paris

Further reading

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  • William Boddy,Montlhéry, the story of the Paris autodromeISBN1-84584-052-6

Notes

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  1. ^abcdBoth drivers took the same lap time independently.
  2. ^abcdBoth drivers took the same lap time independently.

References

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  1. ^Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Violette Cordery
  2. ^Resteck, Hilary; Schuster, Casey."Hélène Mariette Delangle (Hellé Nice)"(PDF).Women in the Winners Circle.Henry Ford Foundation. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 31 December 2015.
  3. ^The winners of Bol d’or.
  4. ^AUSmotive - Ken Block: Gymkhana Three
  5. ^abcde"Montlhéry - Motorsport Magazine".Motor Sport Magazine.Retrieved29 May2022.
  6. ^"Championnat de France des Circuits Groupe 6 Montlhéry 1985".13 October 1985.Retrieved5 August2022.
  7. ^"Paris 1000 Kilometres 1995".14 May 1995.Retrieved29 May2022.
  8. ^"1989 Montlhery French F3".Motor Sport Magazine.28 May 1989.Retrieved29 May2022.
  9. ^"1960 Montlhery F2 - Round 9".Motor Sport Magazine.15 May 1960.Retrieved31 July2022.
  10. ^"GP Paris [SP] 1966".15 May 1966.Retrieved5 August2022.
  11. ^"1970 Coupe du Salon".3 October 1970.Retrieved24 October2022.
  12. ^"Coupes de Paris [SP2.0/GT+1.6] 1964".20 September 1964.Retrieved6 August2022.
  13. ^"1971 Critérium de Formule Renault Montlhéry 2".10 June 1990.Retrieved27 May2024.
  14. ^"1987 Monthlhéry French Supertouring Group A Race Result".17 May 1987.Retrieved6 June2024.
  15. ^"Coupes de Paris [T+1.3/GT1.0/GT3.0 OHV] 1965".19 September 1965.Retrieved6 August2022.
  16. ^"GP Paris [SP] 1968".12 May 1968.Retrieved6 August2022.
  17. ^"1950 Paris Grand Prix".Motor Sport Magazine.30 April 1950.Retrieved31 July2022.
  18. ^"Coupes de Paris 1968".22 September 1968.Retrieved5 August2022.
  19. ^"1948 Montlhery Voiturette".Motor Sport Magazine.30 May 1948.Retrieved31 July2022.
  20. ^"Paris 1000 Kilometres 1971".17 October 1971.Retrieved5 August2022.
  21. ^"Paris 1000 Kilometres 1969".12 October 1969.Retrieved5 August2022.
  22. ^"Paris 1000 Kilometres 1964".11 October 1964.Retrieved31 July2022.
  23. ^"III Grand Prix de Ille de France".9 September 1966.Retrieved31 July2022.
  24. ^"Paris 1000 Kilometres 1970".18 October 1970.Retrieved5 August2022.
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