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Race Tracks in France

France is one of motorsport's founding nations, home to the world's oldest endurance race at Le Mans and a road-course network stretching from the Channel coast to the Pyrenees. The Circuit de la Sarthe and its shorter Bugatti layout host the 24 Hours of Le Mans each June, while Circuit Paul Ricard in Provence and Nevers Magny-Cours anchor the country's top-tier car racing alongside Dijon-Prenois, Charade, Nogaro, Albi and Pau-Arnos. Beyond permanent road courses, France runs a dense network of hillclimbs (courses de cote), rallycross tracks led by Lohéac, pro motocross venues such as Ernée and Saint-Jean-d'Angély, and dozens of karting circuits. Monaco, though a separate sovereign principality on France's Mediterranean border, is grouped here for convenience under street circuits. Historic venues including Rouen-les-Essarts, Reims-Gueux and the Linas-Montlhéry autodrome shaped early Grand Prix racing before closing or scaling back to testing roles. Venues cluster most densely around Paris, in the Loire Valley and Poitou-Charentes, and across the southern arc from Bordeaux to Nice, feeding an active club-racing, track-day and historic-motoring scene throughout the year.

74 venues listed across 8 categories. Venues with a full RaceTrackWorld guide are linked.

Road courses in France

VenueTownLengthKnown for
Anneau du RhinBiltzheim, Haut-Rhin—Alsace circuit combining a speed track and off-road area, used for touring cars, drifting and track days.
Circuit Bugatti (Le Mans)Le Mans, Sarthe4.185 kmPermanent shortened layout within the Sarthe circuit, used for club racing, Le Mans support races and track days.
Circuit CaroleTremblay-en-France, Seine-Saint-Denis1.42 kmMotorcycle-only circuit on the northeast edge of Paris, a key training and club-racing venue for the region.
Circuit d'AlbiLe Sequestre, Tarn3.7 kmSouthern circuit hosting French Superbike and GT rounds, with a large adjoining karting facility.
Circuit d'IssoireIssoire, Puy-de-Dome1.4 kmAuvergne circuit used for karting and small-capacity club car and motorcycle racing.
Circuit de BresseFrontenaud, Saone-et-Loire—Burgundy circuit used for club car and motorcycle racing and regular track days.
Circuit de ChambleyHageville, Meurthe-et-Moselle3.6 kmFormer air base in Lorraine converted into a multi-activity motorsport and leisure park with a road circuit.
Circuit de CharadeSaint-Genes-Champanelle, Puy-de-Dome3.975 kmShortened version of the original mountain road circuit near Clermont-Ferrand that once hosted the French Grand Prix.
Circuit de ClastresClastres, Aisne2.5 kmFormer airfield circuit in Picardy hosting club racing, drifting and occasional drag-racing events.
Circuit de Croix-en-TernoisCroix-en-Ternois, Pas-de-Calais1.35 kmShort, technical circuit in the Pas-de-Calais used for rallycross, karting and club car and bike racing.
Circuit de FolembrayFolembray, Aisne2.409 kmPicardy circuit built around a former chateau estate, used for club racing and driving schools.
Circuit de Haute-SaintongeLa Genetouze, Charente-Maritime2.34 kmSouthwest circuit near Bordeaux hosting French national series and a large karting complex.
Circuit de l'Auxois (Pouilly-en-Auxois)Meilly-sur-Rouvres, Cote-d'Or1.2 kmBurgundy circuit near Pouilly-en-Auxois used mainly for karting and driver training.
Circuit de la ChatreLa Chatre, Indre2.28 kmBerry-region circuit hosting regional car and motorcycle club championships.
Circuit de la Sarthe (24 Heures du Mans)SeasonalLe Mans, Sarthe13.626 kmPart-permanent, part-public-road circuit hosting the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race every June.
Circuit de LédenonLédenon, Gard2.484 kmCompact, technical circuit near Nîmes popular for club racing, track days and driving schools.
Circuit de Lurcy-LévisLurcy-Lévis, Allier3.5 kmAllier circuit built on a former airfield, used by manufacturers for testing and by clubs for track days.
Circuit de MérignacMérignac, Gironde1.4 kmCompact Bordeaux-area circuit used for karting and small-displacement car and bike club racing.
Circuit de Nevers Magny-CoursMagny-Cours, Nievre4.411 kmFormer French Grand Prix circuit, now home to World Superbikes and the French motorsport federation FFSA's technical centre.
Circuit des ÉcuyersBeuvardes, Aisne2.4 kmAisne circuit used for club car racing, karting and driving schools near Château-Thierry.
Circuit Dijon-PrenoisPrenois, Cote-d'Or3.801 kmRolling Burgundy circuit that hosted the French Grand Prix in the 1970s-80s and still runs GT and touring car rounds.
Circuit du Grand SambucVauvenargues, Bouches-du-Rhone3 kmProvence circuit at the foot of Mont Sainte-Victoire used for car and motorcycle club racing.
Circuit du Mas du ClosDormantSaint-Avit-de-Tardes, Creuse2.7 kmPrivately owned Limousin circuit historically used by manufacturers for tyre and vehicle testing, with limited public activity.
Circuit du Val de VienneLe Vigeant, Vienne3.7 kmAlso called Le Vigeant, this Poitou circuit runs French national car and bike championships and frequent track days.
Circuit Pau-ArnosArnos, Pyrenees-Atlantiques2.483 kmSouthwest circuit near Pau used for French national racing series, karting and track days.
Circuit Paul ArmagnacNogaro, Gers3.636 kmGascony circuit long used for French Touring Car and Formula Renault racing, plus a large annual track-day programme.
Circuit Paul RicardLe Castellet, Var5.842 kmFormer French Grand Prix venue with the famous Mistral straight and runoff-heavy Blue/Red layouts, now a leading test and track-day facility.
Piste Fontenay Pole 85Fontenay-le-Comte, Vendee1.6 kmVendee circuit hosting regional car, karting and motorcycle club events.

Drag strips in France

VenueTownLengthKnown for
Circuit de Clastres (drag events)SeasonalClastres, Aisne0.402 kmFrance has no dedicated permanent drag strip; Clastres hosts occasional quarter-mile drag-racing meetings on part of its road-circuit layout.

Hillclimbs and sprints in France

VenueTownLengthKnown for
Course de côte de Bagnols-SabranSeasonalSabran, Gard—Languedoc hillclimb near Bagnols-sur-Ceze, a regular round of the French Hillclimb Championship.
Course de côte de ChamrousseSeasonalChamrousse, Isere—Alpine hillclimb near Grenoble climbing toward the Chamrousse ski resort.
Course de côte de LimonestSeasonalLimonest, Rhone—Long-running hillclimb on the outskirts of Lyon, one of the French championship's fixtures.
Course de côte de TurckheimSeasonalTurckheim, Haut-Rhin—Alsace hillclimb through vineyard roads above Colmar, a round of the French Hillclimb Championship.
Course de côte du Mont-DoreSeasonalLe Mont-Dore, Puy-de-Dome—One of France's oldest and best-known hillclimbs, run annually in the Auvergne volcano country since 1905.

Rallycross in France

VenueTownLengthKnown for
Circuit d'EssayEssay, Orne1 kmNormandy rallycross and karting venue hosting regional and national events.
Circuit de ChâteaurouxChâteauroux, Indre1 kmCentral France rallycross venue used for national championship rounds.
Circuit de FaleyrasFaleyras, Gironde1.06 kmBordeaux-area rallycross circuit, a long-standing round of the French Rallycross Championship.
Circuit de KerlaboCohiniac, Cotes-d'Armor1.1 kmBrittany rallycross and karting venue used for regional and national events.
Circuit de l'Ouest Parisien (Dreux)Dreux, Eure-et-Loir1.1 kmRallycross track west of Paris hosting French national rallycross championship rounds.
Circuit de LessayLessay, Manche1 kmNormandy rallycross venue that has hosted French national championship rounds.
Circuit de LohéacLohéac, Ille-et-Vilaine1.1 kmFrance's premier rallycross venue, having hosted World Rallycross Championship rounds and used for GT racing too.
Circuit de MayenneMayenne, Mayenne1 kmPays de la Loire rallycross track used for French championship rounds.
Circuit de Pont-de-RuanPont-de-Ruan, Indre-et-Loire1 kmLoire Valley rallycross track used for regional and national club events.

Motocross and off-road in France

VenueTownLengthKnown for
Circuit de la Chambre au LoupIffendic, Ille-et-Vilaine—Brittany motocross circuit run by the local moto club, hosting regional and national meetings.
Circuit de la VersenneVillars-sous-Ecot, Doubs—Franche-Comte motocross track used for national championship rounds.
Circuit de Saint-Jean-d'AngélySaint-Jean-d'Angély, Charente-Maritime—Charente-Maritime motocross circuit that has hosted French and international championship rounds.
Circuit des TonnesBrou, Eure-et-Loir—Centre-Val de Loire motocross venue hosting club and national events.
Circuit du Puech RampantCastelnau-de-Levis, Tarn—Tarn motocross circuit near Albi hosting club and regional championship rounds.
Circuit du Puy de PoursayMazeray, Charente-Maritime—Charente-Maritime motocross venue hosting regional and national club events.
Circuit Georges FilholLacapelle-Marival, Lot—Southwest motocross venue used for French championship and club rounds.
Circuit Raymond DemyErnee, Mayenne—France's leading motocross venue, having hosted the MXGP of France and the Motocross of Nations.

Karting in France

VenueTownLengthKnown for
Circuit de Laval-BeausoleilLaval, Mayenne—Pays de la Loire kart circuit used for club and national karting events.
Circuit International de Karting du MansLe Mans, Sarthe—Permanent international kart circuit adjoining the Le Mans motorsport complex.
Circuit Paul Ricard KartingLe Castellet, Var—International-standard karting circuit within the Paul Ricard complex, host to major national and international kart events.
Karting 2 MuretMuret, Haute-Garonne—Toulouse-area kart circuit used for club racing and driver training.
Karting d'AngervilleAngerville, Essonne—Ile-de-France kart circuit popular for club racing and driver training south of Paris.
Karting d'Aunay-les-BoisAunay-les-Bois, Orne—Normandy kart circuit hosting club and regional championship events.
Karting d'EssayEssay, Orne—Normandy karting circuit sharing its site with the Essay rallycross track.
Karting de Lyon Saint-Laurent-de-MureSaint-Laurent-de-Mure, Rhone—Lyon-area kart circuit hosting club and regional karting championships.
Karting de SalbrisSalbris, Loir-et-Cher—Sologne karting circuit used for French national championship rounds.
Karting de SoucySoucy, Yonne—Burgundy kart circuit used for regional and national club racing.
Karting de ValenceValence, Drome—Rhone Valley kart circuit hosting club racing and driver training.
Karting de Varennes-sur-AllierVarennes-sur-Allier, Allier—Central France kart circuit hosting regional and national club racing.

Street circuits and temporary in France

VenueTownLengthKnown for
Circuit de MonacoSeasonalMonte Carlo, Principality of Monaco3.337 kmNot in France: the Circuit de Monaco lies within the sovereign Principality of Monaco, an enclave on France's Mediterranean coast, and hosts the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix each May.
Circuit de PauSeasonalPau, Pyrenees-Atlantiques2.76 kmHistoric street circuit through central Pau, host to the Pau Grand Prix since 1933 and now a Formula 2 and Formula 3 round.
Circuit des Remparts d'AngoulêmeSeasonalAngoulême, Charente1.3 kmHistoric street circuit through Angoulême's old town, run annually for pre-1980s racing cars.
Paris Street Circuit (Formula E)SeasonalParis1.9 kmTemporary street circuit around Les Invalides that hosted the Formula E Paris E-Prix.

Closed and historic in France

VenueTownLengthKnown for
Autodrome de Linas-MontlhéryDormantLinas, Essonne12.5 km1924 banked-oval-and-road complex south of Paris that hosted French Grands Prix; still used by UTAC as a vehicle test track with occasional historic events.
Circuit de Clermont-Ferrand (original Charade layout)ClosedSaint-Genes-Champanelle, Puy-de-Dome8.055 kmThe original 8km mountain road layout of Charade that hosted the French Grand Prix in the 1960s-70s, superseded by today's shorter circuit for safety reasons.
Circuit de CommingesClosedSaint-Gaudens, Haute-Garonne12 kmInterwar public-road circuit in the Pyrenean foothills that hosted French Grand Prix races before falling out of use after WWII.
Circuit de MiramasClosedIstres, Bouches-du-Rhone3 kmOne of the world's first purpose-built banked autodromes (1924), now largely disused with a small test-track remnant.
Circuit de Nice (Promenade des Anglais)ClosedNice, Alpes-Maritimes3.25 kmSeafront street circuit that hosted races in the 1930s-40s including a non-championship Grand Prix; no longer used for motorsport.
Circuit de Reims-GueuxClosedGueux, Marne8.302 kmPublic-road circuit near Reims that hosted the French Grand Prix into the 1960s; abandoned by the 1970s and now a preserved ruin.
Circuit de Rouen-les-EssartsClosedRouen, Seine-Maritime6.542 kmFormer French Grand Prix circuit through wooded valleys outside Rouen, closed to major racing in 1994.

Race tracks near the big cities in France

Near Paris

  • Circuit Carole · about 30 min
  • Karting d'Angerville · about 60 min
  • Circuit de l'Ouest Parisien (Dreux) · about 75 min
  • Circuit de Folembray · about 100 min
  • Circuit de Châteauroux · about 150 min

Near Lyon

  • Karting de Lyon Saint-Laurent-de-Mure · about 25 min
  • Course de côte de Limonest · about 30 min
  • Circuit de Bresse · about 70 min
  • Circuit Dijon-Prenois · about 120 min
  • Circuit de Charade · about 150 min

Near Marseille

  • Circuit Paul Ricard · about 55 min
  • Circuit du Grand Sambuc · about 40 min
  • Course de côte de Bagnols-Sabran · about 60 min

Near Toulouse

  • Karting 2 Muret · about 25 min
  • Circuit d'Albi · about 70 min
  • Circuit Paul Armagnac · about 90 min
  • Circuit Pau-Arnos · about 110 min

Near Bordeaux

  • Circuit de Mérignac · about 20 min
  • Circuit de Faleyras · about 45 min
  • Circuit de Haute-Saintonge · about 90 min
  • Circuit du Val de Vienne · about 110 min

Near Lille

  • Circuit de Croix-en-Ternois · about 45 min
  • Circuit de Clastres · about 60 min
  • Circuit de Folembray · about 90 min

Near Nantes

  • Circuit de Lohéac · about 60 min
  • Circuit Raymond Demy · about 75 min

Near Strasbourg

  • Anneau du Rhin · about 60 min
  • Course de côte de Turckheim · about 75 min
  • Circuit de Chambley · about 120 min

Major race weekends in France

EventVenueWhenSeries
24 Hours of Le MansCircuit de la Sarthe (24 Heures du Mans)JuneFIA World Endurance Championship
Le Mans ClassicCircuit de la Sarthe (24 Heures du Mans)JulyHistoric sports car racing
Monaco Grand PrixCircuit de MonacoJuneFormula 1
Pau Grand PrixCircuit de PauMayFormula 2 / Formula 3
World Superbike round at Magny-CoursCircuit de Nevers Magny-CoursSeptemberWorld Superbike Championship
Euro RX of France (Lohéac)Circuit de LohéacAugustFIA European Rallycross Championship
Motocross of Nations (rotating host; at Ernée in 2015, 2023 and 2026)Circuit Raymond DemyOctoberMXGP / Motocross des Nations
Bol d'OrCircuit Paul RicardSeptemberEndurance motorcycle racing
Circuit des Remparts d'AngoulêmeCircuit des Remparts d'AngoulêmeSeptemberHistoric street racing

Track days and driving experiences in France

Track access in France runs through a mix of circuit-run open-pitlane days and specialist operators such as Trackdays.fr, Sport-Prestige and Ultimate Trackdays, which book sessions at Paul Ricard, Magny-Cours, Dijon-Prenois, Nogaro, Lédenon and Val de Vienne throughout the year. Open-pitlane car days typically cost EUR 150-350 depending on venue and car category, with instructor coaching and passenger laps available extra; manufacturer-run experiences (Porsche, Ferrari, Alpine) at Paul Ricard and Magny-Cours run higher. Motorcycle track days through operators like Sport-Prestige Moto or circuit-run programmes cost roughly EUR 100-200. Karting is the cheapest way onto a circuit, with arrive-and-drive sessions from around EUR 25-50 at venues like Paul Ricard Karting or Le Mans Karting. Hillclimbs and sprints run by regional automobile clubs (ASA, moto clubs) welcome road-legal and race cars for a licence and modest entry fee, a traditional route into French club motorsport.

Frequently asked questions

Does this page include horse racing courses?+

No. Hippodromes such as Longchamp and Chantilly are horse racing venues, not motorsport circuits, and are not covered on this page.

Is the Circuit de Monaco really in France?+

No. Monaco is a fully sovereign, independent principality, not part of France, even though it sits on France's Mediterranean coast and is easily reached from Nice. It is listed here for geographic convenience.

Where is the 24 Hours of Le Mans held?+

At the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, a mixed circuit combining permanent track sections with closed public roads, run every June since 1923.

Does France have a permanent drag strip?+

No. France has no dedicated, permanent quarter-mile drag strip; occasional drag-racing meetings are run on sections of road circuits such as Clastres.

Which circuit hosts French rallycross?+

Circuit de Lohéac in Brittany is France's leading rallycross venue and has hosted rounds of the FIA World Rallycross Championship, with further national-level tracks at Dreux, Châteauroux, Essay, Mayenne, Faleyras, Kerlabo, Lessay and Pont-de-Ruan.

What happened to the French Grand Prix circuits at Reims and Rouen?+

Both were public-road circuits used for the French Grand Prix through the 1950s-60s. Reims-Gueux was abandoned by the 1970s and survives as a preserved ruin; Rouen-les-Essarts hosted its last major race in 1994 and is now closed to circuit racing.

Can visitors drive on French circuits themselves?+

Yes. Most active circuits run public track days booked through the circuit or specialist operators, and regional automobile clubs run hillclimbs and sprints open to road-legal cars with a competition licence or day permit.

Venue list checked against 34 sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.

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