Pau Grand Prix

Circuit

The race is run around a 2.769 km long street circuit, the "Circuit de Pau-Ville" laid out around the French town, and is in many ways similar to the more famous Formula One Monaco Grand Prix. About 20 km to the west of the city, there is a 3.030 km long club track named Circuit Pau-Arnos. For the event, cars are set up with greater suspension travel than is typically utilised at a purpose-built racing circuit to minimise the effect of running on the more undulating tarmac of the street circuit.

History

In 1900, as part of the 'Semaine de Pau', the newly created Automobile-club du Béarn held a race on a 300 km road circuit, called the Circuit du sud-ouest (Pau–Tarbes–Bayonne–Pau). The race was won by René de Knyff. In 1901, for the second event, the race had individual prizes for four separate classes: the Grand Prix de Pau (cars 650 kg or over) was awarded to Maurice Farman (Panhard 24 hp); the Grand Prix du Palais d'Hiver (400–650 kg 'Light car' class) to Henri Farman (Darracq); the second Grand Prix du Palais d'Hiver (under 400 kg Voiturettes) to Louis Renault (Renault); and the Prix du Béarn to Osmont in a 'De Dion' tricycle.

The French Grand Prix was held at Pau in 1930. The 1933 Grand Prix de Pau was held in February with snow still on the ground, won by Marcel Lehoux driving a Bugatti. There was no Grand Prix in 1934. In 1935 the event returned with a modified route that bypassed Beaumont Park – the route still in use today – and the pits were moved.

In 1937 regulations restricted Grand Prix cars to 4500 cc or 3000 cc supercharged. The 1938 Pau Grand Prix saw a symbolic duel: French René Dreyfus (Delahaye 145) defeated Germans Rudolf Caracciola and Hermann Lang who shared a Mercedes-Benz W154 with a pit stop while Dreyfus did not stop and won. In 1939 Hermann Lang beat teammate Manfred von Brauchitsch. The event resumed in 1947 after World War II.

The 1948 event was won by young Nello Pagani, defeating Raymond Sommer, Philippe Etancelin and Jean-Pierre Wimille. In 1949 Juan Manuel Fangio dominated, starting from pole, achieving fastest lap and victory. Jean Behra won in 1954 before a record crowd, driving a Simca-Gordini after a duel with Ferrari driver Maurice Trintignant. On 11 April 1955, Italian Mario Alborghetti died in a racing accident, the Maserati driver apparently confused his pedals after being distracted and crashed against some hay bales.

The 1956 race was cancelled following the tragic accident at Le Mans the previous year. After Formula Two regulations in 1958–1960, Formula One returned in 1961. Jim Clark achieved his first victory in a Formula One car at the 1961 Pau Grand Prix, and went on to win three more times in 1963–1965. In 1964 the format switched back to Formula Two; Jim Clark won again in 1964 and 1965.

Jochen Rindt won his first Grand Prix de Pau in 1967, then won again in 1969 and 1970. Jackie Stewart won in 1968 with Matra Sports. In 1973 the event was threatened by homologation problems but was brought up to standard by the personal intervention of Mayor André Labarrère; François Cevert won that year. Formula 3000 replaced Formula Two in 1985.

In 1989 Jean Alesi took his first victory after a turbulent start (the race was restarted four times). In 1994 French driver Nicolas Leboissetier had a spectacular accident at the Virage de la gare. Juan-Pablo Montoya won twice, in 1997 and 1998. Formula Three took over from 1999; the 2005 edition saw victory for a young Lewis Hamilton, who became Formula One World Champion three years later.

Historic Grand Prix

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