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A photo tour around the old Reims Circuit in Northern France. The pictures are made by Herman Liesemeijer, on a rainy day in the summer of 2005. It shows all versions of the Reims-Gueux Circuit, inclusive the original section through the village of Gueux.

Circuit Reims-Gueux MapOn this map you see all versions of the Reims Circuit. More about the history of the track in the main article: “Circuit Reims-Gueux – A piece of Motorsport History“.

The original Reims Circuit (1926 – 1951)

Reims Circuit - Pit laneWe start in the old pit lane for a lap around the original Reims-Gueux Circuit…

Reims Circuit - HillockOn top of the first hillock. The original track went straight on here, to the village of Gueux…

Reims Circuit - Original layout through village of GueuxIn the village of Gueux the drivers need to brake hard for this slow turn, which is now a roundabout…

Reims Circuit - Original layout through village of GueuxReims Circuit - IntersectionAfter leaving Gueux we enter this intersection. Actually, we cross the 1953 – 1972 layout of the Reims Circuit…

Reims Circuit - Fast cornerLook at these beautiful fast corners on this part of the Reims Circuit!

Reims Circuit - Section used from 1926 to 1952 Reims Circuit - Section used from 1926 to 1952 Reims Circuit - Section used from 1926 to 1952 Reims Circuit - Section used from 1926 to 1952On this site was a corner called Garenne, which lead to the backstraight (N31)…

Reims Circuit - N31 BackstraightToday the N31 is a multiple lane highway…

Reims Circuit - Thillois HairpinAt the end of the long backstraight was the Thillois Hairpin, which is now the Thillois Roundabout…

Reims Circuit - Exit Thillois Hairpin and entry to the Start/Finish StraightFrom the Thillois Hairpin we accelerate on the long straight, back to Start/Finish…

Reims Circuit - Start/Finish StraightBack at Start/Finish, but we’re not finish our tour at the old Reims Circuit here…

Later versions of the circuit

Reims Circuit - Courbe de GueuxSince 1952 the section through the village of Gueux was cut off by the new corner Courbe de Gueux. Unfortunately, they changed this corner also into a roundabout!

Reims Circuit - Courbe de GueuxThe remained exit of Courbe de Gueux.

Reims Circuit - Bretelle SudThe name of this short straight is Bretelle Sud. Check also the intersection in front…

Reims Circuit - IntersectionYes, that’s the intersecetion were we have been here before! In 1952 they turned right at this point, to the part we know already. But since 1953 they went straight to a new section…

Reims Circuit - Annie BousquetThis corner on the new section was named after Annie Bousquet, a female racing driver who sadly died here during the 1956 edition of the 12 Hours of Gueux.

Reims Circuit - Bretelle NordReims Circuit - HovetteWe’re reaching the Hovette Corner. This was the only left-hander in the 1953-1972 version of the track.

Reims Circuit - Hovette Reims Circuit - Hovette Unfortunately … This beautiful corner is ending into the corn fields!

Reims Circuit - HovetteIn front was the Muizon Corner which was leading to the long back straight (N31)…

French Grand Prix 1960 - Phil Hill in his FerariPhil Hill in his Ferrari during the French Grand Prix of 1960…

Circuit Reimst - Section between Hovette and Muizon todayThe same place today! The hillock on the background is recognizable, but the track has gone.

Reims Circuit - N31 BackstraightOn the background the old backstraight (N31). Because of the reconstruction of the N31, the Muizon corner has been demolished! So our lap ends in the cornfields. Check also the main article “Circuit Reims-Gueux – A piece of Motorsport History” for more information about this lost circuit, that once hosted the Formula One French Grand Prix.

© Text & photos: Herman Liesemeijer – Map: Sylvain Regnier – Phil Hill photo: George Standaar

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