Lost Circuits: A History of the Rouen-Les-Essarts street track

Rouen

The closing of Normandy’s Rouen circuit in 1994 robbed Europe of a fine track considered by many to be the equal of Spa Francorchamps. That all evidence of the facility was bulldozed in 1999 remains a particularly short-sighted act of cultural vandalism by French politicians.

Set in picturesque woodland close to the village of Orival just south of Rouen (the capital city of Normandy), this very fast, challenging and dangerous circuit ran on public roads with a fabulous mix of straights, bends and gradients.

Opened in 1950, it most famously hosted the French Formula 1 Grand Prix on five occasions between 1952 and 1968.

Blessed with wide roads and plenty of superb areas for spectators, a new pit complex and grandstands were added to the 3.2-mile circuit ahead of the 1952 Grand Prix which was won by Alberto Ascari driving a Ferrari 500.

In 1955, the track length was increased to a whisker over four miles by linking the top loop with the RN138 road. It remained in this configuration until 1971.

Juan Manuel Fangio won the 1957 Grand Prix at Rouen driving a Maserati 250F.

Dan Gurney won in 1962 and 1964, first with his Porsche 804 and then a Brabham BT7 Climax.

However, it was perhaps the 1968 Grand Prix that remains most firmly etched in history for the fiery death of Jo Schlesser. Schlesser had been drafted in to drive the new Honda RA302 as team leader, John Surtees, had refused it on safety grounds.

Heading down the fast Six Freres curve that approached the famous cobbled hairpin at Nouveau Monde, Schlesser lost control on lap two. His Honda, brimmed with fuel, ploughed into the bank and exploded upon impact.

Jacky Ickx won the race in his Ferrari 312, but Rouen-Les-Essarts would never host such a high profile event again.

Following the deaths of Denis Dayan and Jean-Luc Salomon at a Formula 3 event in 1970, chicanes were added at Virage Gresil and Virage de la Scierie.

More wholesale changes were made in 1972 when a new Autoroute cut through the top loop.

In 1973, Gerry Birrell died during final practice for the European Formula 2 race at Rouen. Driving his works Chevron B25, a front tyre deflated as Birrell entered Six Freres at 155mph. With both front wheels locked, the car failed to take the corner and smashed head on into the armco.

Poor Gerry Birrell succumbed to his injuries shortly afterwards.

Rouen-Les-Essarts continued to host major Formula 2 events until 1978. Afterwards it was used mainly for domestic racing until closure in 1994 on grounds of cost and safety.

When the old pits were demolished in 1999, practically all evidence of this once great circuit disappeared.

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed