🇫🇷Circuit de Magny-Cours

Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours is a 4.411 km, 17-corner motor racing circuit at Magny-Cours in the Nièvre department of central France, just south of Nevers. The site was originally the Circuit Jean Behra, but was completely demolished and rebuilt at considerable cost in 1988–1989 as French president François Mitterrand wanted a major motorsport venue in his rural home département. The new Magny-Cours opened in 1989, and from 1991 — at the height of Alain Prost's career — it took over from Paul Ricard as host of the French Formula One Grand Prix, holding the race continuously through 2008. The first French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours in 1991 was won by Nigel Mansell (Williams) ahead of Prost in the Ferrari. A signature feature of the modern layout is that several of its corners are deliberate facsimiles of famous corners elsewhere: Adelaide (a tight hairpin homage to the Australian Grand Prix street circuit), Estoril (a long parabolic right-hander), and the Imola-style chicane Lycée. Other named corners include Grande Courbe, Estoril, the 180°/Adelaide hairpin, Nürburgring, Château d'Eau, Lycée chicane and the final Imola chicane. Magny-Cours hosts the French round of the FIM Superbike World Championship, the French national championship and a substantial trackday programme. Its technical layout, smooth surface and good infrastructure make it one of the most respected club racing venues in France.