Circuit de Charade: the history of a legendary Formula 1 circuit

Laid out in the heart of the Auvergne volcanoes, the Circuit de Charade is one of the temples of French motorsport. It is here, where Formula 1 wrote some of its finest pages, that our historic single-seaters run today.

A circuit born among the volcanoes of Auvergne

Opened in the late 1950s on the slopes of the puys, near Clermont-Ferrand, the Circuit de Charade follows the volcanic relief of the Auvergne. Its original layout, almost eight kilometres long, strings together fast curves, climbs and dives through a spectacular landscape. Nothing like a modern autodrome: here, the road winds along the mountainside.

Charade, a land of Formula 1

Charade hosted the French Formula 1 Grand Prix four times between 1965 and 1972. The greatest drivers of the era battled here, on a track as demanding as it was beautiful. To race at Charade was to take on a total challenge: no run-off, stone walls close by, and absolute focus required at every moment.

The “little Nürburgring”

Its uninterrupted succession of corners and its tormented relief earned it the nickname of “little Nürburgring”. Famously fearsome, Charade demanded a perfect reading of the track and total commitment. A circuit with character, one that forgave nothing.

A track that is still alive

Today, Charade is driven on a shortened and safer version of the original layout, but the soul of the circuit remains intact. The fast curves, the changes in elevation and the view over the volcanoes make it one of the finest playgrounds for driving enthusiasts.

Drive where history was written

It is on this exceptional track that Classic Racing School puts you at the wheel of a genuine historic racing single-seater. Driving at Charade is not only about piloting a car: it is about following in the footsteps of the legends who shaped the history of Formula 1, in a setting unlike anywhere else.