The Albi Grand Prix () is a motor race held in Albi, in the Tarn department of Southern France. The first race took place in 1933 and was won by Louis Braillard in a Bugatti Type 51. After the Second World War, the Grand Prix was run to Formula One regulations for many years until, following the 1955 Le Mans disaster, racing at Circuit Les Planques came to an end.
In 1959 a new circuit was constructed around the perimeter of the nearby Le Sequestre aerodrome, west of Albi. Initially held as a Formula Junior event, the Grand Prix then took place for some years under Formula Two regulations, at a time when Formula One drivers such as Jim Clark, Jack Brabham and Graham Hill regularly took part in other formulae. It then ran under Formula Three and Formula Renault regulations for many years, but in recent times has been run as a historic or GT race.
Circuits Les Planques
The original 1933 circuit was a roughly triangular course in length running north-east from Les Planques on the east of Albi to Saint-Juéry, then south-west to meet the Route de Millau and then back to Les Planques. In 1934, the circuit length was slightly decreased to . In 1954 the distance was considerably shortened to , cutting out the run to Saint-Juéry.
Circuit d'Albi
History of the Albi Grand Prix
Voiturette years (1933–1946) The first Albi Grand Prix in 1933 was won by Louis Braillard in a Bugatti Type 51. The event was held up until the outbreak of the Second World War, other winners including B. Bira and Luigi Villoresi. Tazio Nuvolari won the first post-war race in 1946 with a Maserati 4CL.
Year Winner Car Report 1933 Louis Braillard Bugatti Type 51 Report 1934 Rupert "Buddy" Featherstonhaugh Maserati 26M Report 1935 Pierre Veyron Bugatti Type 51 Report 1936 B. Bira ERA B-Type Report 1937 Humphrey Cook Raymond Mays ERA C-Type Report 1938 Luigi Villoresi Maserati 6CM Report 1939 Johnny Wakefield Maserati 4CL Report 1940–1945No race 1946 Tazio Nuvolari Maserati 4CL Report
Formula One years (1947–1955) From 1947 to 1955 the race would mostly be held as a Formula One event. Louis Rosier won four times during this period, and future world Champion Juan Manuel Fangio won in 1949. The 1955 Le Mans disaster brought racing at Les Planques to a halt, the circuit deemed to be unsafe.
Year Winner Car Report 1947 Louis Rosier Talbot T150SS Report 1948 Luigi Villoresi Maserati 4CLT/48 Report 1949 Juan Manuel Fangio Maserati 4CLT/48 Report 1950 Louis Rosier Talbot-Lago T26C Report 1951 Maurice Trintignant Simca Gordini Type 15 Report 1952 Louis Rosier Ferrari 375 Report 1953 Louis Rosier Ferrari 375 Report 1954 Roberto Mieres DB Monomill Report 1955 André Simon Maserati 250F Report
Formula Junior years (1959–1963) Between 1959 and 1963, at the new Circuit d'Albi, the Grand Prix was run to Formula Junior regulations, with Lotus driver Peter Arundell winning twice.
Year Winner Car Report 1959 Colin Davis Taraschi-Fiat Report 1960 Henry Taylor Cooper T52-BMC Report 1961No race 1962 Peter Arundell Lotus 22-Cosworth Report 1963 Peter Arundell Lotus 27-Cosworth Report
Formula Two years (1964–1973) Between 1964 and 1973 the race was run to Formula Two regulations, apart from the 1970 event which was a Formula Three race. World Champion Jack Brabham won twice; Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart and Emerson Fittipaldi were also winners.
Year Winner Car Report 1964 Jack Brabham Brabham BT10-Cosworth Report 1965 Jim Clark Lotus 35-Cosworth Report 1966 Jack Brabham Brabham BT21-Honda Report 1967 Jackie Stewart Matra MS7-Cosworth Report 1968 Henri Pescarolo Matra MS7-Cosworth Report 1969 Graham Hill Lotus 59B-Cosworth Report 1970 Jean-Pierre Jarier Tecno 70-Cosworth Report 1971 Emerson Fittipaldi Lotus 69-Cosworth Report 1972 Jean-Pierre Jaussaud Brabham BT38-Cosworth Report 1973 Vittorio Brambilla March 732-BMW Report
Formula Renault years (1974–1978) Between 1974 and 1978 the Grand Prix was run to Formula Renault regulations. Future World Champion Alain Prost was among the winners, as were René Arnoux and Didier Pironi.
Formula Three years (1979–2002) Between 1979 and 2002 the Grand Prix was run to Formula Three regulations. Future Formula One drivers such as Philippe Alliot, Jean Alesi and Olivier Panis were among the winners.
Later years (2002–present) From 2002 the Albi Grand Prix has variously been run for Formula Renault 2.0, GT racing and historic racing events.
References