Circuit Paul Armagnac
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Circuit Paul Armagnac, also known as Circuit de Nogaro, is a motorsport race track located in the commune of Nogaro in the Gers department in southwestern France. The track is named in honor of Nogaro-born racing driver Paul Armagnac, who died in an accident during practice for the 1962 1000 km de Paris at the Montlhéry circuit.
History
Motorsports racing events in Nogaro were first organized when racing driver Paul Armagnac and Robert Castagnon created the Association Sportive Automobile de l'Armagnac. In 1953, the Rallye de l'Armagnac was held on a street circuit using public roads around Nogaro. Public safety concerns after the 1955 Le Mans disaster caused the number of road racing events on public roads in Europe to decrease. Plans were made to create a permanent race circuit and construction began in 1959 at a site near the Nogaro airport.[citation needed]
The race circuit opened on 3 October 1960 as the first purpose-built race circuit in France. The first race held at the new circuit was the Nogaro Grand Prix for Formula Junior cars, won by Bruno Basini. Initially 1.752 km (1.089 mi) long, it was expanded in 1973 and 1989 to its current 3.636 km (2.259 mi) length. In 2007 the circuit was modernized including a new control tower, a new pitlane and widening the track to 12 m (39 ft).[citation needed]
The venue hosted Formula Two championship races from 1975 to 1978. It also hosted the French motorcycle Grand Prix in 1978 and 1982; the 1982 race saw a boycott from major teams and riders over safety concerns, resulting in the now-MotoGP leaving the track permanently at the end of the season. The Nogaro circuit also hosted the European Touring Car Championship from 1985 to 1988.[citation needed]
Track description
The track is relatively flat, with 6 m (20 ft) difference in elevation between its highest and lowest points. It is raced clockwise and consists of two long straights, the 0.950 km (0.590 mi) long start-finish straight named after Nogaro-born motorcycle constructor Claude Fior and the almost parallel aerodrome straight, linked by sections of several slow corners. The aerodrome straight passes alongside the neighbouring Nogaro Aerodrome.
Events
Current
- April: FFSA GT Championship Coupes de Pâques de Nogaro[fr], Alpine Elf Cup Series, French F4 Championship, Renault Clio Cup Europe, TC France Series
- May: French Superbike Championship[fr]
- June: Grand Prix Camions de Nogaro
- September: Fun Cup France
Former
- Blancpain Sprint Series (2013–2015)
- BPR Global GT Series (1995–1996)
- British Formula One Championship (1979)
- European Eco-Marathon Competition (2000–2009)
- Eurocup Formula Renault (1993, 1996–1997)
- European Formula Two Championship (1975–1978)
- European Touring Car Championship (1985–1988)
- European Truck Racing Championship (2000–2016)
- F4 Spanish Championship (2017)
- FIA European Formula 3 Championship (1982–1984)
- FIA GT Championship (2007–2008)
- FIA GT1 World Championship (2012)
- FIA GT3 European Championship (2008, 2012)
- FIA Sportscar Championship FIA Sportscar Championship Nogaro (2003)
- Formula 3 Euro Series (2007)
- Formula 750 (1976, 1979)
- French Formula Three Championship (1964–1973, 1980–2002)
- French Formula Renault Championship (1971–2009)
- French Supertouring Championship (1976–2005)
- Grand Prix motorcycle racing French motorcycle Grand Prix (1978, 1982)
- GT4 European Series (2007–2008, 2015)
- International Formula 3000 Grand Prix de Nogaro (1990–1993)
- NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (2009–2013)
- Porsche Carrera Cup France (1987–2011, 2014, 2019, 2022)
- Sidecar World Championship (1978)
- V de V Series (2011–2012)
Lap records
The official lap record for the current Grand Prix circuit layout is 1:20.160, set by Alessandro Zanardi during the 1991 Nogaro F3000 round, while the unofficial all-time track record is 1:17.342, set by Franck Lagorce in the qualifying of 1993 Nogaro F3000 round. As of April 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Circuit Paul Armagnac are listed as: