Formula One French Grand Prix - Magny Cours

The French Grand Prix (Grand Prix de France) is a race held as part of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's annual Formula One automobile racing championships.

Grand Prix motor racing originated in France and the French Grand Prix, open to international competition, is the oldest Grand Prix races, first run on June 26, 1906 under the auspices of the Automobile Club de France in Sarthe, with a starting field of 32 automobiles.

The first World Championships were organized in 1925 with the French Grand Prix, the Italian Grand Prix, the Belgian Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500. The French Grand Prix has been part of the Formula One championships since their inception in 1950. The race has been held at various racetracks throughout France, such as the Autodrome de Montlhéry. Since 1991 it has had its permanent home at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. The move to Magny-Cours was an attempt to stimulate the economy of the area, but many within Formula One complain about the remote nature of the circuit.

The 2004 and 2005 races were in doubt because of financial problems and the addition of new circuits to the Formula One calendar. These races went ahead as planned, but it still has an uncertain future.

On 29th March it was announced by the FFSA, the race promoter, that the 2008 French Grand Prix was put on an indefinate "pause". This suspension was due to the financial situation of the circuit, known to be disliked by many in F1 due to the circuits remote location.

Further, on 31 May, Bernie Ecclestone confirmed that the 2007 French Grand Prix will be the last to be held at Magny-Cours. -- source www.wikipedia.org

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French Grand Prix - facts and figures

Linked from http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2007/6/6370.html
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The French Grand Prix has been a fixture on the Formula One calendar for over fifty years, but just how much do you know about its history?

- The French Grand Prix is one of the most historic races on the Formula One racing calendar, having been staged every year bar one (1955) since the inception of the world championship in 1950. Magny-Cours, which hosted its first race in 1991, is one of seven circuits to have held the event.

- The original Magny-Cours track, opened in 1960, was just over a mile in length and by 1969 the track record stood at just 49 seconds. The current circuit is 2.7 miles, or 4.411 kilometres, long.

- Nigel Mansell won the first French Grand Prix to be held at Magny-Cours for Williams, after a fierce battle with the Ferrari of Alain Prost. Williams remain the second most successful squad at the track, having clinched five wins, eight poles and five fastest laps. Ferrari have won the most at the Nevers circuit, with six victories, all courtesy of former driver Michael Schumacher.

- Magny-Cours is one of the toughest circuits on the calendar for brakes. The Adelaide hairpin alone sees drivers subjected to up to 4g as they brake from 300 km/h to 60 km/h. The French circuit also boasts an exceptionally smooth surface, which means the teams can run cars with stiff suspension and a very low ride height.

- In 1961, Ferrari driver Giancarlo Baghetti made history after winning the French Grand Prix on his world championship debut. Baghetti had started the race 12th on the grid. Ralf Schumacher (2001), Damon Hill (1993), Jochen Rindt (1968) and Lorenzo Bandini (1966) all scored the maiden pole position of their Formula One careers at the French Grand Prix.

- Red Bullâs David Coulthard has scored the greatest number of fastest laps at Magny-Cours. Coulthard clocked the best time at the French circuit every year from 1998 to 2002 for former team McLaren.

- This year, Formula One racingâs official tyre supplier, Bridgestone, will take 2,200 soft and medium compound tyres to Magny-Cours.

- Michael Schumacher has had the most success in France with eight wins. Alain Prost is the second most successful driver with six victories. Of the gridâs current crop of drivers only David Coulthard (2000), Ralf Schumacher (2003) and Fernando Alonso (2005) have won the French race.

- Although Rubens Barrichello has been on the French Grand Prix podium four times, he has never won the race. Fellow Brazilian Ayrton Senna was equally unlucky in France, only appearing on the podium three-times during his 11 year career.

- There are nine right-hand corners and eight left-hand corners at Magny-Cours. Drivers will spend 64 percent of the lap at full-throttle and will change gear a total of 37 times.

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