Circuit de Reims-Gueux
It’s October and we’re heading towards the Circuit de Reims-Gueux from our first night stop after arriving in Calais.
We already know a little bit about this fascinating abandoned race track to the west of Reims so want to take a look. Approaching on the long straight road of the N31 brings us to the heart of the action – the former racetrack itself. This is the Circuit de Reims-Gueux in the Champagne region of France and we’re about to step inside this fascinating relic.
Free to explore
As we pull up alongside the old pit-stop buildings, where the bill board signs display fading sponsor signs, you can almost hear the ghostly roar of racing cars zooming by.
Fortunately there’s plenty of parking along the road and not too many other visitors around. We’re not too sure what’s here initially, but on venturing out of the van it soon becomes clear. This former racing circuit known as the Circuit de Reims-Gueux has much of its original buildings still standing.
Incredibly, there’s no entrance fee or restrictions on access, so we’re free to explore and it’s quite something.
The old stands – Circuit de Reims-Gueux
First we take a walk through the grounds, where the old race buildings remain. A few are restored, providing office space for volunteers who look after things here. Otherwise, there’s just the empty stands and pit stop buildings amongst the grassy grounds.
Walking through a tunnel takes us below the main road and toward the main stands opposite the pit stop buildings.
The stalls are relatively intact, with concrete steps leading to the first floor level. Here, the view of the site brings everything to life. Across from us is the pit stops where our campervan is parked up and a fine view along the N31, which was part of the Circuit de Reims-Gueux route.
Fast cars and concrete enclosures
Every so often a car passes below us along the N31, driven by over enthusiastic drivers, re-creating a little piece of their racing dream. They go fast but not that fast!
The concrete enclosure has more steps, leading upwards we venture and find ourselves on a higher level where the view expands across the old circuit. A few more people are mingling round but otherwise it’s eerily quiet.
I love the way it’s so intact, giving a brilliant insight into the buzz that must have been so magnetic.
Formula 1 and restoration
The first race at the Circuit de Reims-Gueux was in 1926 when the Grand Prix de la Marne began. Then in 1950 the first Formula 1 course was here with the last one taking place in 1966.
In 1972 the Circuit de Reims-Gueux held its final competition, before closing permanently after encountering financial difficulties.
Over the years, friends of the Circuit de Reims-Gueux have cleared overgrown areas and restored buildings, preventing further decay. Display boards show the site before restoration began, with overgrowth covering the concrete structures. A lot of work has been done to get to this stage.
A look in the pits
After taking our time exploring the former stands of the race track, we re-trace our steps. Crossing back beneath the main road brings us back to the pits and more intriguing buildings.
Steps lead up again into the empty shells, where we look out at the stands and where we have just been standing.
Just below us is the campervan along with a couple more cars parking up. It’s a great place to see, simply because it’s so unique. Also, it’s just so nice to be able to freely walk about, it seems people just respect this old relic.
Down another set of steps we walk and then into the smaller pit stop buildings beside the road. We imagine the whirling sounds reverberating through the air, along with the madness of the race and the thrill of the drive.
In the midst of our imagination, we hear the crowds roar louder and louder as the cars approach. Wow! What a sight it must have been.
We leave with this thought, before finding a place to park for the night at a lovely Camping-car park Aire in the village of Saint-Imoges. Here the Champagne region awaits, of course a little sample is too tempting to miss!
