Friday movie: Charade Circuit Clermont-Ferrand

This story of the stunningly beautiful yet ill-fated “French Nürburgring”, and Sir Stirling’s first experience of it in 1959.

The 1955 Le Mans disaster saw all French race meetings cancelled immediately, however it was during the following year that the French Federation commissioned Jean Auchataire to craft an all-new racetrack. History tells us that the concept was to be a “French Nürburgring”, and the result did not disappoint.

Charade Circuit opened in 1958, and consisted of an 8km-long switchback, 51 corners and barely a straight worth mentioning. Unsurprisingly, these features alongside the track’s dramatic location made it immensely popular. Whilst racing there for the first time in 1959, Sir Stirling Moss exclaimed “I don’t know a more wonderful track than Charade”. It was an unforgiving venue, with Ivor Bueb being tragically killed following an accident shortly after.

The track would go on to make appearances in Frankenheimer’s film Grand Prix, and played host to the French GP numerous times between 1965 and 1972. It’s main weakness would come to be known as the crumbling stones and pieces of volcanic rock that surrounded the edges of the circuit, one of which cost Helmut Marko his eye in ’72. The track was last used in full form in 1988.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the sights and sounds of Sir Stirling Moss and the golden days of this glorious circuit.