Circuit d'Albi
Circuit d'Albi at a glance
- Location
- Le Séquestre, Tarn
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 3.565 km (2.215 mi)
- Turns
- 15
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1959
- Owner
- Fédération Française du Sport Automobile / Automobile Club du Tarn
- Website
- circuit-albi.fr
Track map and layout
Circuit d'Albi runs 3.565 km (2.215 mi) clockwise with 15 corners around the edge of the Aérodrome d'Albi - Le Séquestre, just west of Albi. It is a flat, flowing circuit typical of French airfield tracks built in the postwar decades, mixing medium-speed sweeps with a couple of tighter chicane-style sections, and sharing its infield with the still-active aerodrome. The layout has been revised several times since 1959, but the essential character, a fast, technical lap with few dramatic elevation changes, has stayed consistent, making it a popular venue for junior single-seater and GT racing as well as club track days.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Current Grand Prix layout | 3.56 km | 3.565 km, 15 turns, used for FFSA GT and French F4 |
Events and race weekends
Circuit d'Albi has hosted the FFSA GT Championship repeatedly (1997, 2002, 2004-2011 and 2020-2022) and rounds of French F4 and the French GT4 Cup, alongside touring car and club racing meetings through the year. It also runs regular trackdays, driving courses and club days for members of the public, continuing a motor-racing tradition in Albi that traces back to the pre-war Grand Prix d'Albi held on the old Les Planques street circuit.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FFSA GT Championship round | FFSA GT | varies | |
| French F4 Championship round | French F4 | varies |
Getting there and parking
The circuit sits beside the Aérodrome d'Albi - Le Séquestre, about 10 minutes west of Albi city centre. Toulouse-Blagnac, roughly an hour's drive away, is the nearest major international airport, though Rodez-Aveyron offers a smaller regional alternative closer to the north. Albi-Ville station has rail connections to Toulouse (around an hour) and onward TGV links from Toulouse to Paris and beyond; a taxi or hire car covers the final leg from Albi to the circuit.
- Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) · about 60 min drive
- Rodez-Aveyron Airport (RDZ) · about 70 min drive
Parking
General parking is available on site for event weekends, typically included with entry.
Take a train to Albi-Ville, then a taxi or hire car for the short final leg to Le Séquestre, about 10 minutes west of the city.
Hotels and camping near Circuit d'Albi
Albi, a UNESCO World Heritage city known for its cathedral and Toulouse-Lautrec museum, is the natural base, about 10 minutes from the circuit with a good range of hotels. Toulouse, an hour away, offers a much larger choice of accommodation and international flight connections for visitors combining a track visit with a wider regional trip.
Where to look
Albi city centre, 10 minutes away, has the widest and most characterful choice of hotels; Toulouse, an hour away, offers a larger selection for those arriving by air.
Camping
No significant on-site or trackside camping culture at Albi; the venue is a day-visit racing and trackday circuit rather than a major endurance venue.
RV
No dedicated year-round motorhome facilities; check specific event listings for any temporary arrangements.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Circuit d'Albi is a well-established trackday venue in southwest France, offering coached driving courses (stages de pilotage), club days and open-pitlane sessions for cars throughout the year, alongside its national-level GT and single-seater race meetings.
Who runs days here
Typical cost: Coached stage de pilotage sessions typically from around €150-€300
Spectator guide
Albi is a mid-sized national circuit rather than a major international venue, with modest permanent grandstands along the main straight and general-admission viewing around much of the flat, open lap given the airfield setting.
Seating
Grandstands concentrated on the main straight near the pits; general admission covers most of the rest of the circuit.
Best places to watch
The chicane and braking zones ahead of the main straight offer good overtaking-action views for GT and single-seater races.
Weather
- May-September: warm south-west French summer, highs typically 24-30°C
History of Circuit d'Albi
From the streets of Albi to a purpose-built circuit
Motor racing in Albi began on the Circuit Les Planques, a 9.2 km triangular road circuit that hosted the Grand Prix d'Albi from the 1930s and, after the war, became a fixture of the non-championship Formula One scene. The old street-based circuit also hosted the 1951 French motorcycle Grand Prix, at which Dario Ambrosini was fatally injured. In the aftermath of the 1955 Le Mans disaster, safety scrutiny across European motorsport intensified sharply, and Les Planques, run largely on public roads, was judged too dangerous and closed.
A new circuit at Le Séquestre
Racing in Albi resumed in 1959 at a new, purpose-built circuit alongside the Aérodrome d'Albi - Le Séquestre, west of the city. Laid out on flatter, safer ground than the old street course, the new circuit initially hosted Formula Two and Formula Three racing and has been revised several times since, settling into its current 3.565 km, 15-turn configuration.
A national racing and testing hub
Over the following decades Circuit d'Albi established itself as one of southwest France's principal national racing venues, hosting FFSA GT Championship rounds across multiple eras (1997, 2002, 2004-2011 and again from 2020), French F4 and GT4 Cup racing, and a steady programme of touring car and club events. Its flat, technical layout and airfield setting have also made it a popular choice for manufacturer testing and driving schools.
Albi today
The circuit remains an active national racing and trackday venue, continuing Albi's motor-racing lineage from the old Grand Prix d'Albi street races through to modern GT and single-seater competition, with regular public trackdays and driving courses running alongside its race calendar.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Circuit d'Albi?+
The current circuit is 3.565 km (2.215 miles) with 15 corners, laid out around the Aérodrome d'Albi - Le Séquestre.
Is Circuit d'Albi the same as the old Grand Prix d'Albi street circuit?+
No. The original Grand Prix d'Albi was held on Circuit Les Planques, a 9.2 km road circuit that closed after 1955 following heightened safety scrutiny after the Le Mans disaster. The current circuit, built in 1959, is a separate purpose-built track at Le Séquestre.
What racing series use Circuit d'Albi?+
The FFSA GT Championship, French F4 Championship, French GT4 Cup and various touring car and club series have all raced there in recent years.
Can the public drive Circuit d'Albi?+
Yes, the circuit runs regular trackdays, coached driving courses (stages de pilotage) and club days for cars throughout the year.
How do you get to Circuit d'Albi?+
It's about 10 minutes west of Albi city centre; Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is roughly an hour's drive away, and Albi-Ville station has rail links to Toulouse with onward TGV connections.
What happened to the old Albi circuit?+
The original street-based Circuit Les Planques closed in 1955 after being deemed too dangerous in the wake of the 1955 Le Mans disaster; racing moved to the current purpose-built circuit in 1959.
Other tracks nearby
- Circuit Paul Armagnac · 173 km · road course
- Circuit de Lédenon · 192 km · road course
- Circuit de Pau-Ville · 211 km · street circuit
- Circuit de Charade · 216 km · road course
- Circuit du Mas du Clos · 226 km · road course
- Parcmotor Castellolí · 261 km · road course
Facts checked against 4 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.