The circuit of Reims-Gueux was used for the first
time in 1926 for the "Grand Prix de Marne". For this event they
closed the public road and three roads formed the famous triangle
shape. Later that year the "12 Heures du Reims-Gueux" (12 Hours of
Reims Gueux) was held for the very first time. Between 1950 and 1966
the French Grand Prix was held eleven times at Circuit de Reims-Gueux.
Click on the map for a lap around the track.
The fast triangle shaped circuit contained two
long straights and a more twisty part. Originally a part of the
circuit was going trough the village of Gueux. Later a new version
was used where the circuit turned right just before the village. The
long straights where a test for the engines but the twisty part with
some very fast sweeping corners and elevation was a real challenge
for the drivers. This combination made the circuit very popular. For
his time Reims-Gueux had the best facilities! A big landmark was the
huge score-board which could turn so that everybody on the
grandstands could see it.
Reims-Gueux was very popular by the drivers and
public. In spite of that Formula 1 bosses decided after the 1966
Grand Prix to move the French Grand Prix to another circuit because
of the high cost of the organisation at this street circuit. Until
1972 the circuit was used for national races but on June the 11th
1972 the very last race was held there. The major then gave the
order to start the demolition from all the circuit facilities
immediately after the race! Fortunately for the circuit there where
elections that year. A new major came and stopped the demolition!
But a part of the pits was already destroyed ...
Here you can see that a part of the pits has been demolished!
More than thirty year nothing happened with the
site and it was falling into ruins! Project developers already made
plans to build villas on the site. Fortunately a group of
enthusiasts founded the foundation "Les amis du Circuit de Gueux"
(Friends of the Gueux Circuit) to save the holy ground. The
foundation get the guaranty from the current major of Gueux, owner
of the site, that no more buildings would be demolished and the
permission to restore the existing buildings! They also have
ambitious plans to build a museum in the future.
