Circuit Paul Armagnac (Nogaro), Racing Circuit

The Circuit Paul Armagnac, widely known as the Circuit de Nogaro, is a permanent racing track in the commune of Nogaro in the Gers department of Gascony, southwestern France, roughly halfway between Bordeaux and Toulouse. It opened on 3 October 1960 as the first purpose-built racing circuit in France, the work of local club founder Robert Castagnon, who built it on aerodrome land after public-road racing in the region became impossible following the 1955 Le Mans disaster. The track was renamed in 1962 to honour Nogaro-born driver Paul Armagnac, killed in practice for the 1000 km de Paris at Montlhéry. Originally a tight 1.752 km club layout loosely inspired by Sebring, it was extended in 1973 and again in 1989, and comprehensively modernised in 2007 with a new pit lane, control tower and a widening to 12 metres, reaching its current 3.636 km Grand Prix length. The relatively flat circuit pairs two long parallel straights, the Claude Fior start-finish straight and the aerodrome straight, with tighter twisty sections at each end, and is raced clockwise. It enjoyed international prominence hosting European Formula Two in the 1970s, the French motorcycle Grand Prix in 1978 and 1982, the European Touring Car Championship, Formula 3000 and later FIA GT and Blancpain GT rounds. Today it anchors the French national scene, staging the FFSA GT Championship, French F4, French Superbike and the hugely popular Easter Coupes de Pâques meeting begun in 1968. It also hosts long-running truck racing. Drivers from Alain Prost to Christian Fittipaldi and Alessandro Zanardi have raced here.

Operated by: ASAC Armagnac-Bigorre