French Grand Prix
France is where Grand Prix racing was born, with the French Grand Prix being
the oldest international competition in the series. The first French Grand Prix
was held in 1906, then participated in the first World Championships in 1925,
with the Italian and Belgian Grands Prix and the Indianapolis 500, and of course
was part of the first Formula One championship in 1950.
The French Grand Prix is held on the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, so named
because it is found near the towns of Nevers and Magny-Cours. Puzzling though
that such a grand event is held in rural France, and the circuit has indeed been
criticized for its remote location, but many racing enthusiasts actually enjoy
tranquil Magny-Cours, especially after the glitz of Monaco and Montreal.
The circuit was first built in 1960 and expanded later in the decade, reopening
in 1970 to become the main training ground of many French racing giants. The
track was expanded further when the Formula 1 moved to Magny-Cours, changing the
corners and lengthening the track from 3.84 km to 4.26 km. Now a modern circuit
with smooth surfaces and hardly any elevations, the Circuit de Nevers
Magny-Cours also has some of the best seats in the Formula 1, as fans are able
to see more than one corner wherever their French Grand Prix tickets place them.
The circuit, nicknamed Magny-Cours, is rather compact, making overtaking
difficult, except for the hairpin on Turn 4. Enhancements to the track were made
in 2003, particularly to the last corner and chicane, to give more possibilities
for overtaking. While it hardly achieved the desired effect, it did change the
strategies of the drivers, most notably Michael Shumacher's ingeniously unique
4-stop plan, which won him the 2004 French Grand Prix, only the seventh of eight
that he had won. Two years later, in 2006, Michael Shumacher made Formula 1
history by being the first driver to win any Grand Prix eight times on only one
circuit. This record was delayed in 2005 by Fernando Alonso.
Schumacher's 8-time win is only followed by native Frenchman Alain Prost's 6
wins between 1981 to 1993. Louis Chiron of Monaco, Juan Manuel Fangio of
Argentina and Nigell Mansell of the UK each won four times. But one need not win
multiple times at the French Grand Prix to make for a memorable race. In 1999,
German driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen won despite not being a top bet or favorite
that year. The win was helped by the weather: a considerable downpour gave most
of the other drivers problems on the track. Since then, rainy weather at
Magny-Cours had been seen as a good thing.
To get to Magny-Cours, fly into the Charles de Gaulle or Orly airports in Paris,
which is a two and a half hour drive to the circuit. You could also take a train
to Nevers, which is fifteen minutes from the track. It's actually difficult to
get around in rural France, so have a rental car arranged before you arrive in
France. Rental cars may sound like an expensive option, but they're not as
expensive as taking taxis, which are much more costly.
The great thing about rural France, on the other hand, is that there are many
cozy Bed and Breakfasts that you can stay at, which are much more cost-efficient
than hotels, and most of the time, much more comfortable. If you'd rather stay
in a hotel, there's the Renaissance Hotel in Magny-Cours, and other hotels in
Nevers and nearby Moulins. Some French Grand Prix enthusiasts even make a
camping trip of the event. Family restaurants in the surrounding villages
provide many fans, drivers and crew with hearty meals.
Although all grandstands provide great views of the circuit, the big favourite
among French Grand Prix aficionados is in front of where the lap begins, as it
gives a spectacular view of the dizzying Turn 3, as well as the Turn 4 hairpin.
French grand prix tickets are available from the Worldticketshop website.
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