Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours

The Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours is a French racing circuit in central France, near the towns of Magny-Cours and Nevers in the Nièvre department, about 250 km south of Paris and 240 km north-west of Lyon. The track was originally built in 1960 on the initiative of Jean Bernigaud, the young mayor of Magny-Cours, and was initially named Circuit Jean Behra (in honour of the racing driver Jean Behra). In 1986 it was purchased by the regional government of the Nièvre department with plans to win back the French F1 Grand Prix. From 1988 to 1989 it was completely rebuilt under the name Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. Many of its corners are modelled on famous corners from other circuits worldwide and named accordingly — Estoril (Turn 3), Adelaide hairpin (5), Nürburgring chicane (7) and Imola chicane (12). In 2003 the track was extended to its current length of 4,411 m. The circuit hosted the F1 French Grand Prix from 1991 to 2008 (Schumacher won there 8 times — a record for a single driver at a single circuit) and has hosted the WSBK French round annually since 2003. The track is very flat with minimal elevation change and holds FIA Grade 1 homologation.

Home of the F1 French Grand Prix from 1991 to 2008; Michael Schumacher won there eight times — a record for a single driver at a single circuit in F1 history; many corners are replicas of famous corners from other circuits (Estoril, Adelaide, Nürburgring, Imola).