Albi Grand Prix

The Albi Grand Prix (French: Grand Prix de l'Albigeois) is a motor race held in Albi, in the Tarn department of Southern France. The first race took place in 1933 and was won by Pierre Veyron in a Bugatti Type 51A. After the Second World War, the Grand Prix was run to Formula One regulations for many years until, following the 1955 Le Mans disaster, racing at Circuit Les Planques came to an end.

Albi Grand Prix
Circuit Les Planques (1933–1955)
Circuit d'Albi (1959–present)

Race information
First held1933
Most wins (drivers)France Louis Rosier (4)
Most wins (constructors)Italy Dallara

In 1959 a new circuit was constructed around the perimeter of the nearby Le Sequestre aerodrome, west of Albi. Initially held as a Formula Junior event, the Grand Prix then took place for some years under Formula Two regulations, at a time when Formula One drivers such as Jim Clark, Jack Brabham and Graham Hill regularly took part in other formulae. It then ran under Formula Three and Formula Renault regulations for many years, but in recent times has been run as a historic or GT race.

Circuits

Les Planques

The original 1933 circuit was a roughly triangular course 9.226 km (5.733 mi) in length running north-east from Les Planques on the east of Albi to Saint-Juéry, then south-west to meet the Route de Millau and then back to Les Planques. In 1934, the circuit length was slightly decreased to 8.911 km (5.537 mi). In 1954 the distance was considerably shortened to 2.991 km (1.859 mi), cutting out the run to Saint-Juéry.[1]

Circuit d'Albi

History of the Albi Grand Prix

Voiturette years (1933–1946)

The 1933 Albi Grand Prix was won by Pierre Veyron in a Bugatti Type 51A. Veyron went on to win the race twice more in 1934 and 1935. The event was held up until the outbreak of the Second World War, other winners including B. Bira and Luigi Villoresi. Tazio Nuvolari won the first post-war race in 1946 with a Maserati 4CL.[2]

Year Winner Car Report
1933 France Pierre Veyron Bugatti Type 51A Report
1934 France Pierre Veyron Bugatti Type 51A Report
1935 France Pierre Veyron Bugatti Type 51 Report
1936 Thailand B. Bira ERA B-Type Report
1937 United Kingdom Humphrey Cook
United Kingdom Raymond Mays
ERA C-Type Report
1938 Italy Luigi Villoresi Maserati 6CM Report
1939 United Kingdom John Wakefield Maserati 4CL Report
1940–1945 No race
1946 Italy Tazio Nuvolari Maserati 4CL Report

Formula One years (1947–1955)

From 1947 to 1955 the race would mostly be held as a Formula One event. Louis Rosier won four times during this period, and future world Champion Juan Manuel Fangio won in 1949. The 1955 Le Mans disaster brought racing at Les Planques to a halt, the circuit deemed to be unsafe.

Year Winner Car Report
1947 France Louis Rosier Talbot T150SS Report
1948 Italy Luigi Villoresi Maserati 4CLT/48 Report
1949 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio Maserati 4CLT/48 Report
1950 France Louis Rosier Talbot-Lago T26C Report
1951 France Maurice Trintignant Simca Gordini Type 15 Report
1952 France Louis Rosier Ferrari 375 Report
1953 France Louis Rosier Ferrari 375 Report
1954 Argentina Roberto Mieres DB Monomill Report
1955 France André Simon Maserati 250F Report

Formula Junior years (1959–1963)

Between 1959 and 1963, at the new Circuit d'Albi, the Grand Prix was run to Formula Junior regulations, with Lotus driver Peter Arundell winning twice.

Year Winner Car Report
1959 United Kingdom Colin Davis Taraschi-Fiat Report
1960 United Kingdom Henry Taylor Cooper T52-BMC Report
1961 No race
1962 United Kingdom Peter Arundell Lotus 22-Cosworth Report
1963 United Kingdom Peter Arundell Lotus 27-Cosworth Report

Formula Two years (1964–1973)

Between 1964 and 1973 the race was run to Formula Two regulations, apart from the 1970 event which was a Formula Three race. World Champion Jack Brabham won twice; Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart and Emerson Fittipaldi were also winners.

Year Winner Car Report
1964 Australia Jack Brabham Brabham BT10-Cosworth Report
1965 United Kingdom Jim Clark Lotus 35-Cosworth Report
1966 Australia Jack Brabham Brabham BT21-Honda Report
1967 United Kingdom Jackie Stewart Matra MS7-Cosworth Report
1968 France Henri Pescarolo Matra MS7-Cosworth Report
1969 United Kingdom Graham Hill Lotus 59B-Cosworth Report
1970 France Jean-Pierre Jarier Tecno 70-Cosworth Report
1971 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi Lotus 69-Cosworth Report
1972 France Jean-Pierre Jaussaud Brabham BT38-Cosworth Report
1973 Italy Vittorio Brambilla March 732-BMW Report

Formula Renault years (1974–1978)

Between 1974 and 1978 the Grand Prix was run to Formula Renault regulations. Future World Champion Alain Prost was among the winners, as were René Arnoux and Didier Pironi.

Formula Three years (1979–2002)

Between 1979 and 2002 the Grand Prix was run to Formula Three regulations. Future Formula One drivers such as Philippe Alliot, Jean Alesi and Olivier Panis were among the winners.

Later years (2002–present)

From 2002 the Albi Grand Prix has variously been run for Formula Renault 2.0, GT racing and historic racing events.[3]

References

  1. "Albi Les Planques Circuit". Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  2. "The Formula One Archives". Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  3. "Circuit d'Albi". Retrieved 23 September 2022.
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