Circuit Paul Armagnac

Circuit Paul Armagnac also known as Circuit de Nogaro is a motorsport race track located in the commune of Nogaro in the Gers department in southwestern France. The track is named in honor of Nogaro-born racing driver Paul Armagnac who died in an accident during practice for the 1962 1000 km de Paris at the Montlhéry circuit.[1]

Circuit Paul Armagnac
LocationNogaro, Gers, France
Time zoneCET (UTC+1)
CEST (DST)
Coordinates43°46′5″N 0°2′17″W
FIA Grade2
Opened3 October 1960 (1960-10-03)
Major eventsCurrent:
Coupes de Pâques de Nogaro
(1968–present)
FFSA GT (1997–2011, 2014, 2016–present)
Alpine Elf Europa Cup (2019–present)
Former:
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
French motorcycle Grand Prix (1978, 1982)
European Truck Racing Championship (1994–2016)
Blancpain Sprint Series (2013–2015)
NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (2009–2013)
FIA GT (2007–2008)
FIA Sportscar Championship (2003)
BPR GT (1995–1996)
F3000 (1990–1993)
ETCC (1985–1988)
Formula 750 (1976, 1979)
Sidecar World Championship (1978)
Websitewww.circuit-nogaro.com
Grand Prix Circuit (1989–present)[lower-alpha 1]
Length3.636 km (2.259 miles)
Turns14
Race lap record1:20.160 (Italy Alessandro Zanardi, Reynard 91D, 1991, F3000)
Grand Prix Circuit (1973–1988)
Length3.120 km (1.939 miles)
Turns11
Race lap record1:11.860 (Argentina Ricardo Zunino, Arrows A1, 1979, F1)
Original Circuit (1960–1973)
Length1.752 km (1.089 miles)
Turns9
Race lap record0:51.700 (France Christian Ethuin, Martini MK12, 1973, F3)

History

Motorsports racing events in Nogaro were first organized when racing driver Paul Armagnac and Robert Castagnon created the Association Sportive Automobile de l'Armagnac. In 1953 the Rallye de l'Armagnac was held on a street circuit using public roads around Nogaro. Public safety concerns after the 1955 Le Mans disaster caused the number of road racing events on public roads in Europe to decrease. Plans were made to create a permanent race circuit and construction began in 1959 at a site near the Nogaro airport.

The race circuit opened on 3 October 1960 as the first purpose-built race circuit in France.[2][3][4] The first race held at the new circuit was the Nogaro Grand Prix for Formula Junior cars, won by Bruno Basini.[2] Initially 1.752 km (1.089 mi) long it was expanded in 1973 and 1989 to its current 3.636 km (2.259 mi) length. In 2007 the circuit was modernized including a new control tower, a new pitlane and widening the track to 12 m (39 ft).

The venue hosted Formula Two championship races from 1975 to 1978. It also hosted the French motorcycle Grand Prix in 1978 and 1982. The Nogaro circuit also hosted the European Touring Car Championship from 1985 to 1988.

Track description

The track is relatively flat, with 6 m (20 ft) difference in elevation between its highest and lowest points. It is raced clockwise and consists of two long straights, the 0.950 km (0.590 mi) long start-finish straight named after Nogaro-born motorcycle constructor Claude Fior and the almost parallel aerodrome straight, linked by sections of several slow corners. The aerodrome straight passes alongside the neighbouring Nogaro Aerodrome.

Events
Current
Former

Lap records
Current Grand Prix circuit with the original start-finish line (1989–2007)[lower-alpha 1]

The official lap record for the current Grand Prix circuit layout is 1:20.160, set by Alessandro Zanardi during the 1991 Nogaro F3000 round, while the unofficial all-time track record is 1:17.342, set by Franck Lagorce in the qualifying of 1993 Nogaro F3000 round.[3][6] As of April 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the Circuit Paul Armagnac are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
Grand Prix Circuit (1989–present): 3.636 km[lower-alpha 1][2]
Formula 30001:20.160[7]Alessandro ZanardiReynard 91D1991 Nogaro F3000 round
Formula 31:22.226[8]Romain GrosjeanDallara F3052007 Nogaro F3 Euro Series round
LMP9001:23.906[9]Beppe GabbianiDome S1012003 Nogaro FIA Sportscar Championship round
LMP31:24.218[10]Nelson Panciatici[11]Ligier JS P32016 Nogaro FFSA GTP round
GT1 (GTS)1:25.326[12]Gregory FranchiSaleen S7-R2008 FIA GT Nogaro 2 Hours
Formula Renault 2.01:25.924[13]Mathieu ArzenoTatuus FR20002007 Nogaro French Formula Renault round
Formula 41:26.748[14]Ren SatoMygale M14-F42020 Nogaro French F4 round
GT31:26.982[15]Stéphane OrtelliAudi R8 LMS ultra2015 Nogaro Blancpain GT Sprint Series round
GT21:28.030[12]Andrew KirkaldyFerrari F430 GT22008 FIA GT Nogaro 2 Hours
LMP6751:28.039[9]Mirko SavoldiLucchini SR20022003 Nogaro FIA Sportscar Championship round
GT11:28.218[16]Jean-Marc GounonFerrari F40 GTE1996 4 Hours of Nogaro
Porsche Carrera Cup1:28.641[17]Marvin KleinPorsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup2022 Nogaro Porsche Carrera Cup France round
FIA-Group 21:29.379[12]Tomáš EngeAston Martin Vantage GT22008 FIA GT Nogaro 2 Hours
GT2 (GTS)1:31.581[18]Jean-Pierre JarierPorsche 911 GT21999 Nogaro FFSA GT round
Silhouette racing car1:31.979[19]Soheil AyariPeugeot 406 Coupé Silhouette2002 Nogaro French Supertouring round
GT41:32.600[20]Jim PlaMercedes-AMG GT42020 Nogaro French GT4 Cup round
Alpine Elf Europa Cup1:33.917[21]Lucas FraysinnetAlpine A110 Cup2022 Nogaro Alpine Elf Europa Cup round
Stock car racing1:34.838[22]Ander VilariñoChevrolet Camaro NASCAR2013 Nogaro NASCAR Whelen Euro Series round
TCR Touring Car1:35.262[23]Stéphane VentajaCupra León TCR2023 Nogaro TC France round
Renault Clio Cup1:40.582[24]Nicolas MilanRenault Clio R.S. IV2018 Nogaro Renault Clio Cup France round
Grand Prix Circuit (1973–1988): 3.120 km[2]
Formula One1:11.860[6][25]Ricardo ZuninoArrows A11979 Nogaro British F1 round
Formula Three1:12.120[26]Éric BernardRalt RT311987 1st Nogaro French F3 round
Formula Two1:12.390[27]Bruno GiacomelliMarch 7821978 Nogaro F2 round
Group A1:21.240[28]Klaus LudwigFord Sierra RS500 Cosworth1988 Nogaro ETCC round
500cc1:22.800Kenny RobertsYamaha YZR5001978 French motorcycle Grand Prix
350cc1:24.500Gregg HansfordKawasaki KR3501978 French motorcycle Grand Prix
250cc1:25.000Jean-François BaldéKawasaki KR2501982 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Sidecar (B2A)1:29.600Rolf BilandBeo-Yamaha1978 French motorcycle Grand Prix
125cc1:30.060Jean-Claude SeliniMorbidelli 125 GP1982 French motorcycle Grand Prix
Original Circuit (1960–1973): 1.752 km[2]
Formula Three0:51.700[29]Christian EthuinMartini MK121973 1st Nogaro French F3 round
Formula Junior1:03.000[30]Jean VinatierLotus 271963 Nogaro French Formula Junior round

Notes
  1. The start-finish line was changed in 2007, however the layout configuration has not been changed since 1989.

References
  1. Foubert, Claude. "Le circuit de Nogaro fête ses 50 ans…". Endurance-Info.com. Laurent Mercier. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  2. "Nogaro - Racing Circuits". RacingCircuits.info. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  3. "Nogaro - Circuit en Chiffres". Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  4. "Circuit Automobile Paul Armagnac". Nogaro en Armagnac. Mairie de Nogaro en Armagnac. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  5. "Shell Eco Marathon 2015". Michelin. Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  6. "Nogaro - Motorsport Magazine". Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  7. "1991 Nogaro Grand Prix". Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  8. "2007 Nogaro European F3". Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  9. "FIA Sportscar Championship Nogaro 2003". Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  10. "FFSA GTP Championship Nogaro 2016". Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  11. "Championnat de France Prototypes 2016 standings". Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  12. "FIA GT Championship Nogaro 2008". Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  13. "2007 French Formula Renault Nogaro (Race 1)". Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  14. "Championnat de France FFSA des Circuits - Nogaro 2020 Race 1" (PDF). 22 August 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  15. "Blancpain Sprint Series Nogaro 2015". Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  16. "Nogaro 4 Hours 1996". Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  17. "2022 Porsche Cup France Nogaro (Race 2)". Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  18. "1999 French GT Championship Nogaro 24-25 July Race 1: 37 laps". Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  19. "2002 French Super Touring Championship Round 4: Dijon-Prenois, 30th June Race 1". Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  20. "2020 FFSA GT - GT4 France Final Classification by category" (PDF). 23 August 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  21. "2022 Nogaro Alpine Elf Europa Cup Statistics". Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  22. "2013 Nogaro 200 Race 1". Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  23. "Championnat de France FFSA des Circuits - Coupes de Pâques - 07 - 10 April 2023 - Championnat de France FFSA TC Race 4 Final Classification" (PDF). 10 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  24. "Championnat de France des Circuits - Coupes de Pâques 29 March 2018 - 2 April 2018 Clio Cup Series Race 1 Final Ranking". 2 April 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  25. "1979 Nogaro Grand Prix". Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  26. "1987 Coupe de Pâques". Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  27. "1978 Nogaro Grand Prix". Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  28. "1988 Nogaro Grand Prix". Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  29. "1973 French Formula 3 Coupe des Paques". Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  30. "IV Grand Prix de Nogaro Formula Junior". Retrieved 15 July 2022.
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