Reims Gueux - The Forgotten French F1 Circuit
Reims Gueux Circuit pits. You can drive straight through the pits and Grand Stand on the D27, Reims.
Way back in 1996, when I had hair, I bought a Mini Cooper, a proper Mini Cooper, BMW hadn’t bought the brand at that time.
Even before I’d taken ownership of it from the dealership, my wife and I had signed up to do a long-distance rally, from Dover to Monaco, following the historic Monte Carlo rally route. Now, it’s possible that some of you reading this may not have been born in 1996, so let me give you a quick refresher on how we did things back then. In 1996 there was no Google Maps. Google, the original search engine didn’t see the light of day until 1998 and Google Maps, 2005.
And so we did this trip with route books, maps and a stopwatch. A co-driver therefore was vital.
This time around, I was in a slightly bigger vehicle. A tight fit, but managed no problem on the Eurotunnel / Le Shuttle.
I’d also signed up to write a magazine article about the rally and supply photos. Again, in 1996 there were no viable DSLR cameras for professional use, apart from a very expensive Kodak, they started to appear in 1999 onwards. I was using a Nikon camera and transparency film, or slides. They had to be posted back to a lab from wherever I was, which meant I wouldn’t get to see the results until I got back from the trip… scary stuff eh?
The idea of the rally was to arrive in Casino Square, Monte Carlo and en route, we’d be set a series of challenges, both skill and time-based. We’d also get to see some of the rally related sights along the way.
One of the first stops was where I’m taking you now. The Reims Racing circuit. Opened in 1926 and closed in 1972, the Formula One French Grand Prix was held here many times between 1950 and 1966.
Thanks to an incredible group of volunteers, the Grand Prix stands and pit garages are still standing. When I first visited in 1996, the place was abandoned and was looking a little sorry for itself, but slowly the remaining buildings are being given life again.
Over its lifespan, the Reims Gueux circuit had 4 different configurations to satisfy the requirements for various racing regulations. Today, it’s not possible to do a lap of the original circuit, but with some research, you can almost do a lap. Watch THIS video to see the lap I managed.
As you can see from the photos, Les Amis du Circuit de Gueux, the volunteers conserving the circuit stands and buildings, have done an excellent job at capturing the essence of the heady days of racing here at this road circuit. Here’s a link to their website.
If you’re driving through France at all, Reims Gueux is simple to find. Leaving Calais, you simply follow the A26 all the way to Reims, then turn right onto the D27. You arrive at the circuit buildings along the main straight and cross the start-finish line between the timing tower and the grandstands.
Fittingly, as I was about to leave, a beautiful red Alfa Romeo drove through the Grandstands in the late spring sunshine.
For anyone interested in historic buildings or historic racing circuits, this is an easy and must visit stop on a road trip through France.
