Motor racing at Reims began in 1926 with the relocation of the Grand Prix de la Marne from the 22 km (14 mi) Circuit de Beine-Nauroy to Reims-Gueux. The original 7.816 km (4.857 mi) circuit used a triangular layout of public roads between the villages of Thillois and Gueux, intersecting Route nationale 31 at La Garenne / Gueux. The start/finish line was positioned on road D27, approximately 1.6 km (0.99 mi) east of the Gueux village center, a location that remained consistent throughout the circuit’s history. This initial configuration consisted of long straights, flat-out kinks, two tight corners, and a sharp hairpin, presenting a considerable challenge to engines, brakes, and fuel consumption.
Prior to the 1932 Grand Prix de France, improvements were made to the track width in certain sections, notably the Garenne-Gueux / Thillois corners, resulting in a revised published length of 7.826 km (4.863 mi). The circuit remained largely unchanged until 1937. Organizational changes before the 1938 GP de France involved extensive widening of the Thillois-Gueux straight, requiring the felling of trees and demolition of structures to further increase speed. This concluded the Grand Prix era with the 1938 and 1939 editions of the French Grand Prix. Racing resumed in 1947 with the 16th Grand Prix de Reims, effectively ending the Grand Prix de la Marne series, though a final edition was held in 1952. The years 1948 and 1949 saw the first Formula 1 cars compete at Reims-Gueux in non-championship rounds. Temporary grandstands were established at the Gueux / La Garenne and Thillois corners, and after hosting the sixth round of the inaugural 1950 World Drivers' Championship, it became apparent that substantial renovations were needed to accommodate the accelerating technological advancements in Formula 1.
The original circuit’s defining characteristics were its long straights and relatively few corners. The sharp hairpin presented a significant braking challenge, while the kinks demanded precision at high speed. Later modifications introduced faster sweepers at Muizon and Thillois, further increasing the circuit’s overall pace. The “Virage de la Hovette” became known as the “Annie Bousquet corner” after a significant event, though details of that event are not provided in the corpus. These corners, particularly the faster sweepers added in later configurations, demanded considerable driver skill and courage.
In 1952, the track was re-configured to bypass Gueux via the new D26 section, shortening the circuit to 7.152 km (4.444 mi) and leading to its renaming as “Circuit de Reims.” Further improvements were made in preparation for 1953, the inaugural year of the 12 Hours of Reims. A new D26 track extension was built from the Virage de la Hovette to a new intersection with the La Garenne straight (Muizon corner), approximately 1.2 km (0.75 mi) west of the former Gueux / La Garenne junction, bringing the circuit length to 8.372 km (5.202 mi). The final major modifications occurred before the 1954 season, involving the re-profiling of the Muizon and Thillois corners to create larger, faster radii, establishing a final circuit length of 8.302 km (5.159 mi). These changes transformed the circuit from one primarily composed of straights and slow corners to a faster, more flowing layout.
The corpus does not detail specific crashes that directly drove circuit modifications, though it notes the need for “extensive renovations” after the 1950 World Drivers’ Championship to comply with accelerating Formula 1 technology, implying safety concerns.
Beyond Formula 1, Reims-Gueux hosted a diverse range of motorsport events. The 12 Hours of Reims became a prominent sports car race, beginning in 1953. The circuit also hosted motorcycle racing for several years, continuing until 1972. Sports car competitions continued until 1969.
The last Formula One race at Reims-Gueux was held in 1966, with sports car racing concluding in 1969 and motorcycle racing ending in 1972. Financial difficulties led to the circuit's permanent closure in 1972. A planned historic race in 1997 was cancelled due to technical issues. By 2002, demolition of portions of the track had begun. Today, sections of the old circuit remain visible around the pit lane, at the D26 / D27 roundabout, and along the D26 extension at the Hovette corner. The RN31 straight between Muizon and Thillois has been widened into a dual carriageway but still follows the original road's alignment. It is still possible to drive a lap around the 1926 and 1952 configurations, though the Garenne junction has been demolished. The tarmac from 1953 onward is no longer present between Bretelle Nord and Muizon. The non-profit organization "Les Amis du Circuit de Gueux" actively works to preserve the remaining structures, including the pit building and grandstands, and supports historic meetings that utilize the 1952 Circuit d'Essais.
Gallery · 4 related images
