Revived once again with over 400,000 visitors in the last two years, if the French circuit were a cat it would certainly be in its fourth life by now, such is its ability to come back from the moribund.

Originally a 510m kart track, Magny Cours was extended to 2km in 1961 for cars and in 1971 to 3.8 km, by which time its popularity allowed it to stage international F2 and F3 events and graduates from its racing school included Cervert, Lafitte, Jarrier and Arnoux. But lack of investment meant that by 1985 competition had to end because the track had deteriorated so much.

Rescued by the département of the Nièvre, Magny Cours, (for Britons, half way down France on the left) was completely rebuilt with the aim of securing F1, which objective was accomplished in 1991. But by 2005, the circuit was in financial trouble again and the Formula 1 circus left for good after the 2008 race leading to much talk of building a new F1 track nearer Paris.

Once again though the circuit has managed to reinvent itself and in 2011 has a full programme of events including superbikes and truck racing. For classic fans the big meeting is the Classic Days, 30 April-1 May, second only to Le Mans Classic for size and variety.

Spokesman Gilles Alegoet reminds everyone that the circuit still has its F1 homologation and that given the political uncertainty surrounding  some of the new GP venues, there are high hopes that F1 could even return in a couple of years.  

www.classic-days.fr
www.magnyf1.com