Located near Le Castellet in the Var region of southern France, Circuit Paul Ricard is one of the country’s most important modern racing venues.
Built with backing from pastis magnate Paul Ricard and opened in 1970, the circuit quickly became known for its advanced facilities, long straights and emphasis on safety. Over the decades, it has hosted Formula One, MotoGP, endurance racing and countless test sessions, evolving from a fast Grand Prix venue into one of the most adaptable circuits in world motorsport.
Best known for its long Mistral Straight, flat-plateau setting, and distinctive blue-and-red run-off areas, Paul Ricard has remained a major part of French racing history across multiple eras.
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Circuit Paul Ricard
| First Grand Prix | 1971 French Grand Prix |
| Number of Laps | 53 |
| Circuit Length | 5.842 km |
| Race Distance | 309.626 km |
| Lap Record | 1:32.740 Sebastian Vettel (2019) |
Circuit
When was Circuit Paul Ricard built?
Construction of Circuit Paul Ricard began in June 1969, and the circuit officially opened on 19 April 1970.
It was built near Le Castellet, close to Marseille, with financial backing from Paul Ricard, who wanted to create a world-class motorsport facility in southern France. From the outset, the venue stood out for its modern design, including an airstrip, extensive paddock facilities and multiple layout options.
These features, combined with the region’s mild winter climate, quickly made the circuit one of the most popular testing venues in Europe, especially for Formula One teams during the off-season.
The original long Grand Prix layout measured 5.809 km and was dominated by the 1.8 km Mistral Straight, one of the longest full-throttle sections in top-level racing.
What makes Paul Ricard special?
Paul Ricard is famous for its flexibility, safety innovations and high-speed layout.
The circuit can be configured into numerous different versions, making it suitable for everything from Formula One and endurance racing to junior series and manufacturer testing. Its flat plateau setting means there is very little elevation change, but the lap still offers a varied mix of long straights, fast corners and technical braking zones.
Its most recognisable features are the blue and red run-off areas. Rather than relying primarily on gravel traps, Paul Ricard uses abrasive asphalt run-off zones to slow cars while maintaining control. These surfaces became one of the circuit’s visual trademarks.
The venue is also strongly associated with the Mistral Straight and the fearsome Signes corner, one of the fastest right-handers in Grand Prix racing.
When was the first French Grand Prix at Circuit Paul Ricard?
Circuit Paul Ricard first hosted the French Grand Prix in 1971. It became one of the race’s principal venues, staging the event intermittently between 1971 and 1990, before losing it to Magny-Cours. The French Grand Prix later returned to Paul Ricard in 2018, where it remained on the Formula One calendar until 2022.
The circuit was used in two main Formula One forms. The original long layout from 1971 to 1985 and the shorter Grand Prix circuit from 1986 to 1990, created after safety changes reduced the length of the Mistral Straight
Paul Ricard also hosted the French motorcycle Grand Prix on multiple occasions and remains a major venue for endurance racing, including the Bol d’Or and the European Le Mans Series.
In 1986, following Elio de Angelis‘s fatal testing accident, the circuit was modified to improve safety.
The changes bypassed the very fast Verrerie section and introduced a shorter route linking the pit straight to the Mistral Straight. This reduced the Grand Prix layout from 5.809 km to 3.812 km, significantly cutting speeds.
Later redevelopments in the 2000s transformed Paul Ricard into an advanced test facility, known at the time as the Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track. During this period, the circuit’s configuration options were expanded dramatically.
Circuit Paul Ricard lap record
The official Formula One lap record for the current Grand Prix layout with the Mistral chicane is 1:32.740, set by Sebastian Vettel driving the Ferrari SF90 during the 2019 French Grand Prix.
Paul Ricard remains one of the most distinctive circuits in Europe — a venue that blends Formula One history, cutting-edge safety design and exceptional versatility, while continuing to play a central role in French and international motorsport.