Albi Circuit

Rent the Circuit

The Albi circuit offers the rental of the track and / or paddocks, several options are available to you to receive your guests or organize your event, for developments and car development, in a unique and original setting for a day or half a day.

History

In 1929, the Comité de l’Automobile Moto Camping Club Albigeois (AMCCA) organized the “Tarn circuit”, a rally-walk of endurance. Building on this success, he created the Mascrabière hill race, near Albi, which attracted many spectators in 1930, 1931 and 1932. Full of ambition, the AMCCA decides to seek a circuit combining straight lines and spectacular turns and where a large audience would find themselves.

This will be the Planques circuit.

In 1934, the organizers removed the pin turn, considered too dangerous, by tracing a strap. Stands were built along this new road by the members of the AMCCA, a bridge in 1935, as well as a timekeeping station in 1936. Given all these arrangements and the competence of the organizers, the Grand Prix d’Albi – Saint-Juéry is included in the international car and motorcycle calendar. Success exceeds all expectations (40 000 spectators).

During this pre-war period (1933-1939), the greatest pilots of the moment came to compete. But this beautiful adventure is interrupted by the Second World War.

In 1946, the circuit was reborn. The members of the AMCCA replace the old wooden stands with concrete stands, dig an underground passageway and replace the first wooden timing station with a masonry building, the only remnant still in place.

The public competes to attend the show of Formulas 1, excluding championship. The first winner of the post-war Albi Auto Grand Prix is Tazio Novulari. In 1947, for the first time, the sidecars are on track; they attract 80 000 spectators.

In 1951, the motorcycle world championship was set for July 15. The day before, during the tests, the Italian driver, world champion, Dario Ambrosini loses his life on the circuit. The next day, Alfredo Milani won the 500 category and broke the lap record on his bike Gilera 500cc, at an average of 162 km/h. Similarly, on sidecar, Ercole Frigerio takes the record of the lap on his Gilera, at 134 km / h average.

The Grand Prix autos which takes place on August 5 is won by Maurice Trintignant on Simca-Gordini. In tribute to Raymond Sommer who died in September in Cadours, the circuit of the Planques is now called Circuit Raymond Sommer.

1954 marks a turning point for the Automobile Moto Camping Club Albigeois (AMCCA) which faces a significant deficit. Armand Brouzes, its president, then proposes to organize a Monomill race (small single-seater of 55hp and 850cc) on a track reduced to 2,991 km, which creates dissent within the club.

In 1955, the tragic accident of Pierre Levegh at the 24h of Le Mans causing the disappearance of the driver and more than 80 spectators – resulted in the ban on races that year and gave rise to new safety rules, which the AMCCA was not able to observe. She therefore suspends the organization of her tests.

At the restart in 1960, the circuit is prohibited for vehicles exceeding 250km/h, excluding Formula 1 and Formula 2. On June 12, 1960, Albi’s 19th Grand Prix was the last race on the Raymond Sommer circuit, with homologation being increasingly difficult to obtain.

After two years of study and work, the Albi circuit was inaugurated on 7 September 1962 by the Prefect of Tarn Pierre Malvy, accompanied by Laurent Mathieu (mayor of Albi), Armand Brouzes (president of the AMCCA), Roger Clar (AMCCA and creator of the circuit of Albi) and Maurice Pezous (AMCCA).