Rouen-Les-Essarts

Circuit de Rouen-Les-Essarts
Location	Orival, France
Time zone	CET (UTC+1); CEST (DST)
Opened	1951
Closed	1994
Major events	French Grand Prix; (1952, 1957, 1962, 1964, 1968); Formula 2 (1970–1973, 1975–1978); French motorcycle Grand Prix (1953); Sidecar World Championship (1953); French Touring Car Championship; French F3 (1980–1993)
Final configuration (1972–1994)
Surface	Asphalt, cobblestones
Length	5.543 km (3.444 miles)
Turns	13
Race lap record	1:46.310 ( Ingo Hoffmann, March 782, 1978, Formula Two)
Second configuration (1955–1971)
Surface	Asphalt, cobblestones
Length	6.542 km (4.065 miles)
Turns	12
Race lap record	2:00.800 ( Tim Schenken, Brabham BT30, 1970, Formula Two)
Original configuration (1951–1954)
Surface	Asphalt, cobblestones
Length	5.100 km (3.169 miles)
Turns	10
Race lap record	2:09.900 ( Maurice Trintignant, Ferrari 625, 1954, Formula One)

49°19′50.3″N 1°0′16.5″E / 49.330639°N 1.004583°E / 49.330639; 1.004583

Rouen-Les-Essarts was a 5.543 km (3.444 mi) motor racing circuit in Orival, near Rouen, France.

From its opening in 1950, Rouen-Les-Essarts was recognized as one of Europe's finest circuits, with modern pits, a wide track, and spectator grandstands. The street circuit (which ran on public roads) had a few medium straights, a cobbled hairpin turn (Nouveau Monde) at the southernmost tip, and a few blind corners through a wooded hillside The appeal was greatly enhanced by the climb from Nouveau Monde at 56 m (184 ft) to Gresil at 149 m (489 ft), with gradients over 9%.

Rouen hosted five Formula One French Grand Prix races, the last one in 1968 resulting in the tragic burning death of Jo Schlesser, at the fast downhill Six Frères curve. The circuit continued to host major Formula 2 events until 1978, after which it was used for various French Championships.

The circuit had a number of different configurations. From its construction in 1950 until 1954 it was 5.100 km (3.169 mi) in length. In 1955 major works increased the circuit's length to 6.542 km (4.065 mi), its most famous configuration. Construction of a new Autoroute across the circuit saw a new section of track built and the length of the circuit reduced to 5.543 km (3.444 mi). Finally, in 1974 a permanent chicane was built at Six Frères and this part of the circuit was renamed Des Roches.

The circuit was closed down in 1994 due to economic and safety reasons, since it is very hard to organize a race on public roads if modern safety standards are to be met. In 1999, following the circuit's closure all evidence of area's racing past was demolished, including grandstands, pits, Armco and track signs. The cobbled Nouveau Monde hairpin was also asphalted but it is still possible to drive around on the original circuit configuration.

The name "Les Essarts" comes from a village, which was included into the commune of Grand-Couronne in 1874.

Layout history

Original layout of Rouen-Les-Essarts (1951–1954)
Second configuration of Rouen-Les-Essarts (1955–1971)
Third configuration of Rouen-Les-Essarts (1972–1994)

Lap records

The official race lap records at the Rouen-Les-Essarts are listed as:

Category	Time	Driver	Vehicle	Event
Grand Prix Circuit: 5.543 km (1972–1994)
Formula Two	1:46.310^[1]	Ingo Hoffmann	March 782	1978 Rouen F2 round
Formula Three	1:50.470^[2]	Emmanuel Clérico	Dallara F393	1993 Rouen French F3 round
Grand Prix Circuit: 6.542 km (1955–1971)
Formula Two	2:00.800^[1]	Tim Schenken	Brabham BT30	1970 Rouen F2 round
Formula One	2:11.400	Jack Brabham	Brabham BT7	1964 French Grand Prix
Grand Prix Circuit: 5.100 km (1951–1954)
Formula One	2:09.900^[1]	Maurice Trintignant	Ferrari 625	1954 Rouen Grand Prix

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Rouen-les-Essarts". Retrieved 4 January 2022.
^ "1993 Rouen Grand Prix". Retrieved 8 May 2022.

External links

[msportmagazine_rouen-1] "Rouen-les-Essarts". Retrieved 4 January 2022.

[2] "1993 Rouen Grand Prix". Retrieved 8 May 2022.

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Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	United States