Disturbing news from France that yet another circuit is under threat: following the curbing of activity at the Nagaro track and the recent restrictions at le Mas du Clos, le Circuit de Charade in the stunning Auvergne is the latest victim.

As at Spa, a handful of locals has objected to noise levels. Slack management of the circuit, run by a committee of  business interests and the local authority, has allowed the 55dB limit imposed in 2008 to be exceeded rather too often and magistrates have closed the circuit until this can be adhered to and an 80,000€ fine paid.

Enthusiasts complain that the circuit authority should have seen off these threats long before. It had already failed to build the gravel traps demanded in an earlier judgement and singularly failed to contest the limit of 55dB when 67dB would have been more normal. A regional politician is even proposing that the site be reveloped for ‘non automobile’ use.

Just west of Clemont Ferrand the 8km switchbackm Charade track, opened 1958 was immediately dubbed the French Nürburgring. Innes Ireland won the inaugural three hour race in a Lotus XI. With 51 corners  and barely a straight anywhere Charade rapidly became popular.

Stirling Moss thought it was the “most beautiful circuit in the world” and by 1965 it was hosting the French Grand prix. The following year, crowd scenes from Frankenheimer’s film Grand Prix were shot there and the French Grand prix held three more time until 1972. Maintaining the track’s infrastructure proved problematic, in particular the crumbling stone sides of the track – a rock thrown up during the 1972 GP almost blinded Helmut Marko. This and other safety concerns caused the F1 circus to decamp to the altogether more sanitised Paul Ricard in 1973 and Charade went into decline. Rescued from total disuse in 1988 by the construction of a 4.4km circuit, Charade seemed assured of a future, holding events as diverse as truck racing and a Tour de France stage and in 2003, a new control tower with camera vision of all the corners was opened.

Alas, lack of promotion and mediocre management meant that there were never enough high profile money making events to sustain the circuit and its facilities and a local lobby sensing a huge real estate killing is now at the door.

An association of enthusiasts, Agissons pour Charade, is fighting back, but seems at best destined to a long struggle. 

www.charade.fr