# Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours

Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours is a 4.411 km (2.741 mi) motor racing circuit located in central France, near the towns of Magny-Cours and Nevers, some 250 km (160 mi) from Paris and 240 km (150 mi) from Lyon.
It staged the Formula One French Grand Prix from 1991 (succeeding Circuit Paul Ricard) to 2008, and the 24-hour Bol d'Or motorcycle endurance events from 2000 to 2014 (succeeded by Circuit Paul Ricard). It hosted the French motorcycle Grand Prix in 1992, and the Superbike World Championship in 1991 and annually since 2003.
Magny-Cours has hosted several additional international championships, like the World Sportscar Championship, World Touring Car Championship, FIA GT Championship, World Series by Renault and Formula 3 Euroseries. Also, the FFSA GT Championship has visited the circuit since 1997.
A campus of the French engineering college Institut supérieur de l'automobile et des transports is also located on the circuit, as well as the museum Conservatoire de la monoplace française.

## History

Commonly dubbed Magny-Cours, it was built in 1960 by Jean Bernigaud and was home to the prestigious Winfield racing school (École de Pilotage Winfield), which produced drivers such as François Cevert, Jacques Laffite and Didier Pironi. The circuit was opened on 7 August 1960. However, in the 1980s the track fell into disrepair and was not used for international motor racing until it was purchased by the Conseil Départemental de la Nièvre in 1986.
In the 1990s, the Ligier Formula One team and its successor Prost were based at the circuit and did much of their testing at Magny-Cours.
The circuit hosted the French Formula One Grand Prix from 1991 until 2008, and the Bol d'Or from 2000 until 2014.
The circuit was re-designed in 2003 and used for a wide range of events include various sports and commercial use. For the 2003 French Grand Prix, the final corner and chicane were changed in an effort to increase overtaking, with little effect.
Michael Schumacher was able to win the 2004 French Grand Prix using an unprecedented four-stop strategy.
In 2006, Michael Schumacher became the first driver ever to win any single Formula One Grand Prix a total of 8 times and at the same circuit.
Bernie Ecclestone originally confirmed that F1 would not return to Magny-Cours in 2008, instead moving to an alternative location possibly in Paris. However in a striking U-turn, it was revealed that the 2008 French Grand Prix would take place at Magny-Cours with the release of the official calendar in July 2007.
In May 2008, Ecclestone confirmed that Magny-Cours would stop hosting the French Grand Prix after the 2008 race, suggesting that he was looking into the possibility of hosting the French Grand Prix on the streets of Paris. The venue suffered from poor attendances due to its remote location, poor access and insufficient accommodation.
In June 2008, the provisional calendar for the 2009 season was released, and a French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours appeared on it, scheduled for 28 June. However, in October 2008 the 2009 French Grand Prix was cancelled after the French Motorsports Federation (FFSA) withdrew financing for the event. In 2009 the track hosted its first Superleague Formula event. It also hosted a second event in 2010.
The circuit was used as part of stage three of the 2014 Paris–Nice cycling race, with the peloton completing almost a full lap of the circuit – in the reverse direction to its motorsport use – before the finish on the front straight.

## The circuit

The track nowadays is a smooth circuit with good facilities for the teams, although restricted access prevents spectators from reaching many parts of the circuit. Unusually, many corners are modelled on famous turns from other circuits, and are named after those circuits, i.e.. the fast Estoril corner (turn 3), the Adelaide hairpin (turn 5) and the Nürburgring and Imola chicanes (turns 7 and 12 respectively). It has a mix of slow hairpins and high-speed chicane sections which includes a long fast straight into the first-gear Adelaide hairpin, the best overtaking opportunity on the circuit. The circuit is very flat with negligible change in elevation (only a small valley at the Estoril corner and a slight hill near the Lycee corner).
The circuit provides few overtaking opportunities, despite modifications in 2003, which means the races here are commonly regarded as quite uneventful. Formula 1 races at Magny-Cours tend to have a processional nature, with most overtaking occurring during pit stop sequences.
More varied racing occurs when it rains, such as in the 1999 race, which was interrupted by a downpour. After a restart, most top contenders developed problems, which paved the way for Heinz-Harald Frentzen to claim a surprising victory in his Jordan.
Although the Bol d'Or 24-hour motorcycle endurance race was held at Magny-Cours for several years, it returned to the more popular Circuit Paul Ricard in 2015, which held the mentioned race before Magny-Cours.

## Events
### Current

* May: Fun Cup France, Grand Prix de France de Superkart
* June: French Superbike Championship [fr]
* July: FIM JuniorGP World Championship, FIM Moto2 European Championship
* August: GT World Challenge Europe, FFSA GT Championship, French F4 Championship, Alpine Elf Cup Series, Renault Clio Cup Europe
* September: Superbike World Championship, Supersport World Championship, Supersport 300 World Championship, FIM Women's Circuit Racing World Championship
* October: Ultimate Cup Series, Historic Tour Magny-Cours

### Former

* Auto GP (2003, 2007, 2009–2010)
* British Formula 3 International Series (2010)
* British GT Championship (2005–2006)
* EuroBOSS Series (2005, 2010)
* Eurocup Mégane Trophy (2007, 2010)
* European F3 Open Championship (2006–2011)
* European Touring Car Championship (2001–2004)
* European Touring Car Cup (2016)
* FIA European Formula 3 Championship (1978–1984)
* FIA GT Championship (2000–2005)
* FIA Sportscar Championship (1999–2002)
* FIM Endurance World Championship
** Bol d'Or (2000–2014)
* Formula 3 Euro Series (2003–2004, 2007)
* Formula 750 (1975)
* Formula One
** French Grand Prix (1991–2008)
* Formula Palmer Audi (2000)
* Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2007, 2010)
* Formula Renault Eurocup (1993–1996, 2000–2002, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2020)
* Formula Renault V6 Eurocup (2003–2004)
* French Formula Renault Championship (1971–1973, 1975–1987, 1989–2009)
* French Formula Three Championship (1964–1973, 1978–1987, 1989–2002)
* French Supertouring Championship (1976–1987, 1989–1990, 1992–1994, 1997–2005)
* GP2 Series (2005–2008)
* Grand Prix motorcycle racing
** French motorcycle Grand Prix (1992)
* GT4 European Cup (2007, 2010)
* International Formula 3000 (1992–1996, 1999–2004)
* International GT Open (2006–2011)
* Italian Superturismo Championship (2005–2006)
* International Touring Car Championship (1995–1996)
* Porsche Carrera Cup France (1991–1995, 1998–2010, 2012–2015, 2017–2023)
* Porsche Carrera Cup Italia [it] (2013)
* Porsche Supercup (1993–1997, 2000, 2003–2008)
* Racecar Euro Series (2009, 2011)
* Sidecar World Championship (1992, 2003, 2010)
* Supercar Challenge (2019)
* Superleague Formula
** Superleague Formula round France (2009–2010)
* Trofeo Maserati (2003–2004)
* World Series by Nissan (2000–2004)
* World Sportscar Championship
** Championnat du Monde de Voitures de Sport (1991–1992)
* World Touring Car Championship
** FIA WTCC Race of France (2005–2006)

## Lap records

The official lap record for the current Grand Prix circuit layout is 1:15.377, set by Michael Schumacher during the 2004 French Grand Prix, while the unofficial all-time track record is 1:13.698, set by Fernando Alonso in the qualifying of aforementioned race. As of September 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
| Grand Prix Circuit: 4.412 km (2003–present) ||||||
| Formula One | 1:15.377 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari F2004 | 2004 French Grand Prix |
| GP2 | 1:23.405 | Roldán Rodríguez | Dallara GP2/05 | 2007 Magny-Cours GP2 Series round |
| Superleague Formula | 1:26.722 | Yelmer Buurman | Panoz DP09 | 2010 Magny-Cours Superleague Formula round |
| Formula Renault 3.5 | 1:27.543 | Filipe Albuquerque | Dallara T05 | 2007 Magny-Cours Formula Renault 3.5 Series round |
| F3000 | 1:28.172 | Fabrizio Crestani | Lola B02/50 | 2009 Magny-Cours Euroseries 3000 round |
| Formula Nissan | 1:29.872 | Heikki Kovalainen | Dallara SN01 | 2004 Magny-Cours World Series by Nissan round |
| F2 (2009–2012) | 1:32.085 | Miki Monrás | Williams JPH1 | 2011 Magny-Cours F2 round |
| LMP3 | 1:32.476 | Alessandro Ghiretti | Ligier JS P3 | 2020 2nd Magny-Cours Ultimate Cup Series round |
| Formula Three | 1:32.972 | Sébastien Buemi | Dallara F305 | 2007 Magny-Cours F3 Euro Series round |
| Formula Regional | 1:33.943 | Franco Colapinto | Tatuus FR-19 | 2020 Magny-Cours Formula Renault Eurocup round |
| World SBK | 1:36.084 | Álvaro Bautista | Ducati Panigale V4 R | 2023 Magny-Cours World SBK round |
| GT3 | 1:36.215 | Emmanuel Collard | Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo | 2022 Magny-Cours Ultimate Cup Series round |
| LMPC | 1:36.529 | Dominik Kraihamer | Oreca FLM09 | 2009 Magny-Cours Formula Le Mans Cup round |
| GT1 (GTS) | 1:38.625 | Matteo Bobbi | Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello | 2003 FIA GT Magny-Cours 500km |
| Formula Renault 2.0 | 1:38.769 | Luciano Bacheta | Barazi-Epsilon FR2.0-10 | 2010 Magny-Cours Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 round |
| Porsche Carrera Cup | 1:39.505 | Dorian Boccolacci | Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup | 2021 Magny-Cours Porsche Carrera Cup France round |
| Formula 4 | 1:39.790 | Yani Stevenheydens | Mygale M21-F4 | 2024 Magny-Cours French Formula 4 round |
| World SSP | 1:40.027 | Stefano Manzi | Yamaha YZF-R6 | 2024 Magny-Cours World SSP round |
| GT2 | 1:40.534 | Gianluca Roda | Porsche 911 (997) GT3-RSR | 2009 Magny-Cours GT Open round |
| N-GT | 1:42.916 | Lucas Luhr | Porsche 911 (996) GT3-RSR | 2004 FIA GT Magny-Cours 500km |
| Lamborghini Super Trofeo | 1:44.117 | Max Weering [nl] | Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo EVO | 2019 Magny-Cours Supercar Challenge round |
| Formula Renault 1.6 | 1:44.737 | Victor Martins | Signatech FR 1.6 | 2017 Magny-Cours French F4 round |
| FIA GT Group 2 | 1:44.920 | Shaun Balfe | Mosler MT900R | 2005 FIA GT Magny-Cours Supercar 500 |
| GT4 | 1:45.569 | Anthony Beltoise | Audi R8 LMS GT4 Evo | 2021 Magny-Cours French GT4 round |
| Eurocup Mégane Trophy | 1:45.627 | Nicky Catsburg | Renault Mégane Renault Sport II | 2010 Magny-Cours Eurocup Mégane Trophy round |
| TCR Touring Car | 1:46.597 | Sébastien Thome | Audi RS 3 LMS TCR (2021) | 2024 Magny-Cours TC France round |
| Alpine Elf Europa Cup | 1:46.953 | Jean-Baptiste Mela | Alpine A110 Cup | 2021 Magny-Cours Alpine Elf Europa Cup round |
| Silhouette racing car | 1:47.656 | Éric Hélary | Peugeot 406 Coupé | 2003 Magny-Cours French Supertouring round |
| Super 2000 | 1:50.192 | Andy Priaulx | BMW 320i | 2004 Magny-Cours ETCC round |
| Supersport 300 | 1:52.209 | Matteo Vannucci [it] | Yamaha YZF-R3 | 2022 Magny-Cours Supersport 300 round |
| Renault Clio Cup | 1:56.806 | Jeremy Sarhy | Renault Clio R.S. IV | 2017 Magny-Cours Renault Clio Cup France round |
| Super 1600 | 2:04.461 | Tomáš Korený | Ford Fiesta 1.6 16V | 2016 Magny-Cours ETC round |
| Formula One | 1:15.045 | David Coulthard | McLaren MP4-17 | 2002 French Grand Prix |
| Group C | 1:20.346 | Yannick Dalmas | Peugeot 905 Evo 1 Bis | 1992 500 km of Magny-Cours |
| F3000 | 1:27.802 | Tomas Enge | Lola B02/50 | 2002 Magny-Cours F3000 round |
| Formula Nissan | 1:27.952 | Ricardo Zonta | Dallara SN01 | 2002 Magny-Cours World Series by Nissan round |
| LMP900 | 1:29.780 | Val Hillebrand [fr] | Dome S101 | 2002 FIA Sportscar Championship Magny-Cours |
| Formula Three | 1:32.098 | Ryo Fukuda | Dallara F399 | 2001 2nd Magny-Cours French F3 round |
| Group C2 | 1:34.879 | Ranieri Randaccio [de] | Spice SE90C | 1992 500 km of Magny-Cours |
| Class 1 Touring Cars | 1:34.918 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI | 1996 Magny-Cours ITC round |
| GT1 (GTS) | 1:35.313 | Jamie Campbell-Walter | Lister Storm | 2002 FIA GT Magny-Cours 500km |
| LMP675 | 1:35.812 | Massimo Saccomanno | Lucchini SR2-99 | 2002 FIA Sportscar Championship Magny-Cours |
| Formula Renault 2.0 | 1:36.089 | Éric Salignon | Tatuus FR2000 | 2002 Magny-Cours Formula Renault 2000 Eurocup round |
| 500cc | 1:39.273 | Wayne Gardner | Yamaha YZR500 | 1992 French motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 250cc | 1:41.418 | Loris Reggiani | Aprilia RSV 250 | 1992 French motorcycle Grand Prix |
| N-GT | 1:41.441 | Christophe Bouchut | Porsche 911 (996) GT3-R | 2000 FIA GT Magny-Cours 500km |
| Silhouette racing car | 1:43.851 | Christophe Bouchut | SEAT León Silhouette | 2001 Magny-Cours French Supertouring round |
| Super Touring | 1:44.332 | Gabriele Tarquini | Honda Accord | 2001 Magny-Cours ESTC round |
| Porsche Carrera Cup | 1:45.871 | Stéphane Ortelli | Porsche 911 (996) GT3 Cup | 2000 Magny-Cours Porsche Supercup round |
| 125cc | 1:46.674 | Ezio Gianola | Honda RS125R | 1992 French motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Super 2000 | 1:47.908 | Nicola Larini | Honda Accord | 2002 Magny-Cours ETCC round |
| Grand Prix Circuit: 4.271 km (1989–1991) ||||||
| Formula One | 1:19.168 | Nigel Mansell | Williams FW14 | 1991 French Grand Prix |
| Group C | 1:25.823 | Philippe Alliot | Peugeot 905 Evo 1 Bis | 1991 430 km of Magny-Cours |
| Formula Three | 1:36.210 | Ludovic Faure [fr] | Ralt RT35 | 1991 1st Magny-Cours French F3 round |
| World SBK | 1:44.980 | Doug Polen | Ducati 888 SBK | 1991 Magny-Cours World SBK round |
| Formula Renault 2.0 | 1:45.750 | Olivier Couvreur | Alpa FR91 | 1991 1st Magny-Cours French Formula Renault round |
| Full Circuit: 3.850 km (1971–1988) ||||||
| Formula Two | 1:20.200 | Jacques Laffite | Martini MK16 | 1975 Grand Prix de Magny-Cours |
| Formula Three | 1:23.170 | John Nielsen | Ralt RT3 | 1984 Magny-Cours European F3 round |
| Group 6 | 1:23.669 | Dominique Lacaud | Lola T298 | 1984 Magny-Cours French Group 6 race |
| Formula Renault 2.0 | 1:30.510 | Christophe Bodin | Martini MK36 | 1982 Magny-Cours French Formula Renault round |
| Group A | 1:34.640 | Fabien Giroix | BMW M3 (E30) | 1987 Magny-Cours French Supertouring Group A round |
| Original Circuit: 1.995 km (1960–1988) ||||||
| Group 4 | 0:47.900 | Paul Hawkins | Lola T70 Mk.IIIB GT | 1969 Magny-Cours Group 4 race |
| Formula Three | 0:49.000 | Patrick Depailler | Alpine A330 | 1969 2nd Magny-Cours French F3 round |
| Formula Renault 2.0 | 0:53.300 | Alain Cudini | Martini MK36 | 1970 Magny-Cours French Formula Renault round |

## Weather and climate

The Nevers area has an oceanic climate that is still influenced by its far inland position. With a yearly precipitation of over 800 mm (31 in) on average, Magny-Cours is theoretically prone to rain affecting proceedings, although in the Formula One era, it often evaded the rainfall. There was one notable exception, when both the qualifying and the race of 1999 saw a fully wet track. With the Grand Prix being held in the middle of summer, tyre wear through high asphalt temperatures was possible. Magny-Cours' main event post-Grand Prix era, Superbike World Championship is being held in autumn and as a result sees colder temperatures.
Climate data for Nevers (1981–2010 averages) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.2 (63.0) | 23.5 (74.3) | 26.7 (80.1) | 30.0 (86.0) | 31.0 (87.8) | 37.5 (99.5) | 38.7 (101.7) | 39.2 (102.6) | 35.1 (95.2) | 30.2 (86.4) | 23.5 (74.3) | 19.5 (67.1) | 39.2 (102.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.7 (44.1) | 8.3 (46.9) | 12.4 (54.3) | 15.4 (59.7) | 19.4 (66.9) | 22.8 (73.0) | 25.5 (77.9) | 25.2 (77.4) | 21.4 (70.5) | 16.7 (62.1) | 10.5 (50.9) | 7.1 (44.8) | 16.0 (60.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.2 (32.4) | −0.1 (31.8) | 1.8 (35.2) | 3.9 (39.0) | 7.9 (46.2) | 10.9 (51.6) | 12.8 (55.0) | 12.3 (54.1) | 9.1 (48.4) | 7.0 (44.6) | 2.8 (37.0) | 0.8 (33.4) | 5.8 (42.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −25 (−13) | −21.8 (−7.2) | −13.8 (7.2) | −7.5 (18.5) | −4.8 (23.4) | 0.2 (32.4) | 3.4 (38.1) | 0.3 (32.5) | −1.2 (29.8) | −8.9 (16.0) | −12.3 (9.9) | −16.8 (1.8) | −21.8 (−7.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 62.0 (2.44) | 57.8 (2.28) | 54.3 (2.14) | 68.7 (2.70) | 80.1 (3.15) | 70.1 (2.76) | 61.8 (2.43) | 60.9 (2.40) | 67.5 (2.66) | 77.6 (3.06) | 70.1 (2.76) | 73.2 (2.88) | 804.1 (31.66) |
| Average precipitation days | 12.0 | 10.0 | 10.3 | 10.7 | 11.5 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 11.0 | 11.6 | 11.7 | 122.7 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 87 | 82 | 78 | 74 | 77 | 76 | 74 | 77 | 80 | 85 | 87 | 87 | 80.3 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 65.5 | 85.6 | 147.7 | 170.3 | 197.9 | 223.2 | 235.0 | 227.5 | 180.0 | 121.0 | 65.4 | 54.9 | 1,774 |
| Source 1: Météo France ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: Infoclimat.fr (humidity, 1961–1990) ||||||||||||||