Magny-Cours is a blend of slow corners and high-speed sections, including a very fast dash to the first-gear Adelaide hairpin bend. It is the only track on the calendar where the cars go over the start/finish line in first gear. The long right-hander at Estoril is especially challenging, because the drivers need to carry as much speed as possible through it to reach the maximum speed on the run down to Adelaide. The 180deg left-hander on the return section is preceded by a deceptively fast chicane. Towards the end of the lap, the track goes downhill and it is difficult for the drivers to locate the apex for the right-left chicane just before the final right-hander.
| F1 Track | |||
| • Lenght 4 411 m • Width 10,40 m at 18m • Starting grid width 24,5 m • 297 km/h highest speed(F1) • Total distance 308,586 km |
• Race laps 70 • 2,6 G force at the Estoril bend • 10 giant screens • 14 stands |
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| Track Records | |||
| Formula One | Formula 3000 | Formula 3 | Porsche Cup |
| Michael Schumacher | Giorgio Pantano | Nico Rosberg | Fred Mako |
| BMW Williams | Durango | Dallara Opel | Carrera Cup |
| 1'13"141 | 1'28"888 | 1'34"116 | 1'42"643 |
History
Magny-Cours was built in the 1960's by the Mayor of Magny-Cours, Jean Bernigaud. At the end of the 1970’s, the track hosted its first international event, with the European Formula Three Championship, an event which remained on the calendar until the series stopped in 1984.
Badly deteriorated, the track was no longer used for international events.
In 1988, the General Council of the Nièvre region took over the circuit, and launched a major economic project for the department, with Magny-Cours the centre of all attention. Massive investments were undertaken to bring the track up to standard, and to build a large industrial zone, an 18-hole golf course and a motorsports museum. A new section of motorway was started, as well as an extension to the small Nevers-Fourchambault airport.
The Formula One French Grand Prix took place at Magny-Cours for the first time in 1991. During the first three seasons, the Williams Renault team was unbeaten, before leaving the top step of the podium to Michael Schumacher and his Benetton during two years. Damon Hill won the Grand Prix in 1996 for Williams, before another double for Schumacher, this time for Ferrari. In the rain, Heinz-Harald Frentzen created a sensation by winning with his Jordan in 1999. In 2000, McLaren claimed its first win in the Nièvre with David Coulthard, before a third Schumacher double. In 2003, after the section of the circuit around the Lycée corner was modified, Ralf Schumacher claimed a further win for Williams.
