The circuit is characterised by its long Mistral straight (1.2 km) and elongated track design. It is unusual in that it is built on a plateau, and very flat. The length of the full track is around 3.610 miles (5.8 km). In 1986 the track was modified to shorten the circuit. This shorter circuit is known as the GP short circuit and its length is 2.369 miles (3.8 km). According to its official home page, the track has 180 possible configurations. Because of this many teams use this track for testing.The track also is known for its distinctive black and blue runoff areas known as the Blue Zone, which is used instead of gravel traps of other circuits, the runoff surface consists of a mixture of asphalt and tungsten. Should that not prevent the car from stopping, there is the Red Zone, a more abrasive run off area, which would require a car to return to the pits for a new tyre.
Time Zone : (GMT +1:00 hour) Brussels, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris
Major Events : FIA GT, Historic Racing
Circuit Length : Full circuit: 5.8km
GP short circuit: 3.8km
180 configurations
Lap Record : TBA
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Please contact this circuit using the information panels below.
FIA GT1, Euro GT3 and GT4 at Paul Ricard HTTT - 3rd and 4th July Posted on: 08/06/2010
The FIA GT1 is now a world championship in 2010. Thanks to Stephane Ratel, this is the first world championship event on the track du Var since it was renovated, modernized, and finally reopened to the general public in 2009.
The FIA GT1 World Championship brings together six of the largest automobile manufacturers currently involved in endu... Read More >>
10 Hours Cycling at Paul Ricard! Posted on: 13/05/2010
Skoda, official car of the Tour de France, is organizing a new event in partnership with Cardiac Surgery Patronage: 10 Hours Heart Cycling, Sunday, May 16 at the Circuit Paul Ricard.
Endurance Race 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., solo or in teams, with 250 bikes on the track.
McNish & Capello Steer Audi R15 Plus To Debut Victory In Le Mans Series Posted on: 12/04/2010
• Audi Sport Team Joest wins Le Mans Series opener
• Clear victory by 5 laps for Dindo Capello and Allan McNish
• Yardstick for the 24 Hours of Le Mans?
The Audi R15 TDI, model year 2010 (internally labeled "R15 plus") has won its race début at Le Castellet (France) and in doing so left a... Read More >>
Experience 24 Hour Endurance Racing in the Open Paul Ricard 24 Heures du Karting - 8th and 9th May 2010 Posted on: 11/03/2010
Take up the challenge of endurance racing and experience an unforgettable human adventure!
The Paul Ricard 24 Heures du Karting - 8th and 9th May 2010
At the 24 Hours Karting Test Track, your only concern will be to control and manage your relay for the rest, our team takes care of everything. The event is for teams of 4 to 8 driver... Read More >>
Matech Ford GT1 - Le Mans Series official tests Posted on: 11/03/2010
Following the 2 successful days of LMS testing held on March 7 and 8TH at Paul Ricard HTTT in the south of France, where testing continued way until midnight, Matech Competition completed as much as 990km on day 1 in one of their Ford GT1 cars.
A shorter schedule was planned for the 2nd day of tests due partly as a result of extremely cold tempera... Read More >>
Audi Plans Test Run At Le Castellet Posted on: 02/02/2010
Racing debut of latest specification Audi R15 TDI brought forward
Participation in 8-hour race at Le Castellet (France)
Total of three starts in 2010 Le Mans Series
To further prepare for the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi Sport is planning an additional racing commitment with the Audi R15 TDI that has undergon... Read More >>
Historic F1 at Paul Ricard - 30Oct - 1Nov 2009 Posted on: 21/10/2009
The sight and sound of a field of classic Formula 1 cars is unforgettable, so if you are down in the South of France next weekend and need a petrol injection, then why not drop in to Circuit Paul Ricard and catch the Historic F1 Championships final round?
Audi driver Scheider with special “talisman” Posted on: 08/10/2009
• Audi board member keeps fingers crossed for title defender at Dijon
• Prémat and Kristensen hosted by mayor
• Country-specific advertising on Oliver Jarvis’ A4 DTM
The eagerly awaited DTM debut at Dijon-Prenois (Sunday starting at 1:45 ... Read More >>
Corvette C6R wins GT1 at Paul Ricard! Posted on: 07/10/2009
The seventh and penultimate round of the 2009 FIA GT Championship saw Sangari Team Brazil's nr 8 Corvette Z06 of Bernoldi and Streit take their first victory.
This is both the first time the Brazilian flag has flown over the FIA GT podium, and Enrique Bernoldi's first race win since 2004! Bernoldi, who started sixth on the grid after... Read More >>
Corvettes aim for GT championship glory at penultimate round Posted on: 03/10/2009
FIA GT1, FFSA and FIA GT3 race this weekend at Paul Ricard.
The 2009 FIA GT Championship had a first taster of the circuit back in April, when the official media and test days were held at the circuit. Thanks to those tests – and to the results of the race back in 2006 – the circuit has gained a reputation as b... Read More >>
FIA GT Championship at Paul Ricard - 3rd & 4th October Posted on: 04/09/2009
After a summer break, the Circuit Paul Ricard HTTT prepares for its biggest sporting event of the season: the seventh and penultimate round of the FIA GT Championship, on 3 & 4 October.
The only competition of the 2009 season held under the auspices of the International Federation of Automobile, the FIA GT International Championship i... Read More >>
Autumn Race Season Begins At Paul Ricard! Posted on: 01/09/2009
After the summer break in August, the green light for racing is back on at Circuit Paul Ricard!
After 3 weeks of calm the sound of cars and motorcycles will echo from the Circuit du Var in the coming weeks before the main autumn season event on 3rd and 4th October: the 7th round of the FIA GT Championship.
Paul Ricard circuit closes in August f... Read More >>
Great success for the first public GT driving day at Le Castellet Posted on: 22/07/2009
Circuit Paul Ricard in partnership with ORECA held its first multi-day GT driving course for the general public on Saturday 18 July.
The first day was attended by over 200 people - a hundred of them completed between 5 & 11 laps of the circuit, in one of GT cars available (Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo, Porsche 997 GT3 and Audi R8) while ... Read More >>
Event newsflash from Le Castellet Posted on: 10/07/2009
Circuit Paul Ricard HTTT a regret to inform that the event "Castellet American Cars" scheduled for Sunday 12 July 2009 is cancelled.
The organizer, for technical reasons, is unable to present this event.
All pre-sold tickets are refundable or exchangeable until 31 December 2009.
Other future events are currently for sale ... Read More >>
FIA GT official tests Posted on: 07/04/2009
The 2009 season of the FIA GT Championship got underway with the official media launch, which took place at the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit, within two days of official testing. Cars from the FIA GT Championship, the FIA GT3 European Championship and the GT4 European Cup were entered for the test days, with a total of 49 cars expected to take part over the two... Read More >>
Located in the heart of Provence, in the department of Var, the Paul Ricard HTTT is 8 km from the mediaeval village of Le Castellet, not far from the Mediterranean.
MotorwayA50, exit 11 towards Le Beausset - Aubagne - Circuit du Castellet
Railway stations
- Bandol (20 km)
- Toulon (30 km)
- Marseille TGV (45 min)
Airports
- Marseille Marignane (66 km)
- Toulon Hyères (55 km)
- Nice Côte d’Azur (176 km)
- Le Castellet (adjacent)
2010 Event Calendar
March 7 - Le Mans Series official tests: season's launch (Prototypes and GT cars). Entry ticket: 10 or free if you have bought a weekend pass for the 8 Hours of Le Castellet.
April 4 - Sunday Ride Classic: meeting of historic motorbikes from 1970 to 1990, with famous French motorbikers. Entry ticket: 10 .
April 10&11 - 8 Hours of Le Castellet: first race of Le Mans Series' new season. Expected drivers: Olivier Panis, Jean Alesi, Mansell father and son, Giancarlo Fisichella... Entry ticket: 20 /day or 30 weekend pass.
April 24 - Optic 2ooo Tour Auto: the competitors of the French car tour will drive on track. Entry ticket: 10 .
July 3&4 - 4th round of FIA GT World Championship: second biggest international meeting of the season. Entry ticket: 20 /day or 30 pass weekend.
July 18 - 40 years of legend: we will celebrate the circuit's birthday with motorsport personnalities who made the circuit's history.
September 4&5 - V de V Endurance: VHC challenges, Tourism and Proto, with endurance cars of 40' to 80'.
September 18&19 - GT Sprint SuperStars: Grand Tourism new series with some cars such as Audi RS4 - S5,BMW M3 - M5 ou 550i, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Jaguar Type R, Mercedes, Maserati and F430 of Ferrari Challenge Europe.
October 2 - Dark Dog Moto Tour: the competitors of the world biggest motorbike road rally will make a stop on the track, before the final arrival in Toulon.
October 9&10 - 10 thousand laps of Le Castellet: new historic meeting of GT and sportcars of before 1966, and sport prototypes and GT of 63 and 66.
October 30&31 - Historic Grand Prix of Provence: the inevitable historic meeting of the circuit's end of season.
Note: the circuit will open its doors to spectators on Sundays from March : the entry ticket will cost 5 euros/pers. (special events excepted, see above) to see car and bike clubs meetings.
Free access for children inder 10. On spot: snacks, drinks, pic-nic and game areas. Activities: go-karting, F1 simulators (tickets sold on spot).
