Motor racing at Reims started in 1926 with the second Grand Prix de la Marne, relocating the race from the 22 km Circuit de Beine-Nauroy. The original 7.816 km (4.857 mi) circuit placed the start/finish line on road D27, approximately 1.6 km (0.99 mi) east of the Gueux village center, where it would remain for the duration of the circuit. This variant of the circuit was made up of long straights, fast kinks, and two tight angular corners with a sharp hairpin. Gradual improvements in track width to a few sections including the Garenne-Gueux / Thillois corners prior to the 1932 Grand Prix de France contributed to a new published circuit length of 7.826 km (4.863 mi) after which the circuit remained essentially the same until 1937.
Prior to the 1938 French Grand Prix, the Thillois-Gueux straight was widened, involving the felling of trees and demolition of structures to increase speed. The circuit hosted the French Grand Prix in 1938 and 1939 before a hiatus due to World War II.
Racing at Reims-Gueux resumed in 1947 with the 16th Grand Prix de Reims, effectively ending the Grand Prix de la Marne series except for a last edition in 1952. 1948 and 1949 saw the first Formula 1 cars at Reims-Gueux for two non-championship rounds. By 1950, after hosting the sixth round of the inaugural World Drivers' Championship, the circuit needed extensive renovations to comply with accelerating Formula 1 technology.
For 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 renaming it "Circuit de Reims." Further improvements continued in preparations for 1953, the inaugural year of the 12 Hours of Reims series, which featured a new D26 track extension from the Virage de la Hovette (Annie Bousquet corner) to a new intersection with the La Garenne straight (Muizon corner), resulting in a preliminary circuit length of 8.372 km (5.202 mi). The last major modifications were before the 1954 season, re-profiling the Muizon corner and the Thillois corner to a larger and faster radius, establishing a final circuit length of 8.302 km (5.159 mi).
The last year for Formula One at Reims came in 1966, with final sports car competitions held in 1969 and motorcycle racing continuing for another 3 years. In 1972, Reims-Gueux closed permanently due to financial difficulties. A planned historic race in 1997 was cancelled for technical reasons. By 2002, portions of the track were demolished. A few sections of the old circuit are still visible today around the pit lane, at the D26 / D27 round-about and a part of the D26 extension at the Hovette corner.
Today, the old RN31 straight between Muizon and Thillois is a wider dual carriageway, following the same line as the original road. It is still possible to drive a lap around the 1926 and 1952 variants of the circuit, except for the old Garenne junction which was demolished. It is no longer possible to complete a lap of the circuit used from 1953 onwards as the tarmac between Bretelle Nord and Muizon has been removed. Les Amis du Circuit de Gueux is working to preserve the old pit building, grandstands and other remaining structures of the circuit and actively support historic meetings which use the 1952 Circuit d'Essais.
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