Track TimeA look at the best tracks in the worldCircuit Paul Ricard High Tech Test TrackThe town of Signes, located in the Provence area of southern France, is home to the Circuit Paul Ricard. Constructed in 1969 and funded entirely by the Ricard family (known for its aperitif), the circuit became a staple on the F1 calendar for the French Grand Prix until 1991. The circuit remains a favorite for teams and manufacturers alike. Porsche, in particular, has used the location (also known as Le Castellet), to develop nearly all of its race cars, from the RSR to the GT-1.
The Ricard family sold the entire facility to Bernie Ecclestone in 1999, who immediately enlisted the services of Philippe Gurdjian to turn the outmoded circuit into a state-of-the-art test track. To say Gurdjian achieved that goal would be an understatement. Today's Circuit Paul Ricard is equipped with perhaps the most sophisticated data technology of any track in the world. There are more than 40 possible setups available to help automotive engineers map out exactly what they are looking for.
When fully utilized, the available road course totals 3.6 miles and the Grand Prix circuit is 2.3 miles. Wet-weather testing is a major attraction for many teams. The circuit can duplicate any condition, ranging from a light sprinkle to a flash flood. Of course, what Paul Ricard is really all about is speed. Officially the circuit is titled Circuit Paul Ricard HTTT. The letters stand for High Tech Test Track, and for good reason. Few places in the world are available to provide the feedback and data Paul Ricard can provide. In preparing for a race like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the importance of having a facility available that measures a car in so many ways cannot be underestimated.
Allan McNish has literally thousands of hours pounding around the Circuit Paul Ricard. From Formula One to Porsche to Audi to the forming of the Toyota F1 project, McNish has the experience and is superbly qualified to give a description of what it is like getting around the track at speed.
Allan McNish on Today's CircuitThe newly developed Paul Ricard Test Track is very much based on the 5.8 GP circuit of old, but is now on the cutting edge of European circuits in terms of facilities and safety. The pit complex has electronic-card security on each garage door, Internet access, a hospitality/meeting room, a viewing area, bathrooms and showers, making working conditions that much easier.
The circuit, the bit I am interested in, has the same basic layout but with some alternative options-I think about 21 in total. These combinations replicate the car requirements needed on other tracks, such as the last chicane in Montreal at the Circuit Gilles Villenueve and an undulating S bend for Monaco's contours. It has massive run-off areas with increasing levels of anti-skid surfaces the closer you get to the barriers to slow spinning cars down. It has not one gravel trap or any grass-all run-off areas are tarmac. These circuit characteristics can be achieved because this a test track only. As there are no races held here, there's no need for any spectator considerations in the layout.
Finding the limits is done in a different way here when compared to most other circuits, especially circuits like Road Atlanta or Sears Point in the USA. Because of the large, safety run-off tarmac areas and low curbs, Ricard allows you to instantly push beyond the limit, attacking 110%. If it is too much or you make a mistake, you can just run wide and come back on the track without penalty. You basically go over the limit and then come back to find out where it is exactly. On normal circuits there is a big curb, grass and a very solid and unforgiving barrier at the corner exits, which punish any overexuberance or mistakes without exception. On tracks such as these, I build up from 90% to 100% during a few laps.
Once you are up to speed, the Ricard circuit flows quite well; the corners appreciate you attacking them but there are some that need a gentle touch because of negative or varying track cambers. It still has the very fast Le Beausset corner, a long, double-apex right-hander that has a very open initial phase and then tightens on exit. It also has a little bump on the second apex just as the car goes through a compression for a bit of fun. You approach the fast Le Beausset flat in fifth, brake immediately as you turn in, using the positive camber to turn the car as you slow down to third gear. As the corner tightens you need to use the brake to help pivot the car to get rid of the increasing understeer as the left front starts to give up. However, at the same time you pick up the throttle (two-pedal car) to maintain momentum before squeezing on the gas on exit. That is a cool corner and one I am never actually sure I have mastered.
The Circuit Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track is unique today, but with new circuits springing up throughout the world in emerging countries, tomorrow it will most likely be the norm. Although the circuit is no longer being used for Grand Prix racing, it is open to the public and is worth the trip, if just to marvel at how far motorsports have come in the last few years. And, if for no other reason, to appreciate an electronic testbed nestled in one of the most beautiful areas of France.
Circuit Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track2760 Route des Hauts du Camp83330 Le Beausset, FrancePhone: 33-(0)494/983-666Fax: 33-(0)494/983-998www.circuitpaulricard.com
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