Circuit de Croix-en-Ternois
Circuit de Croix-en-Ternois at a glance
- Location
- Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise, Pas-de-Calais
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 1.9 km (1.181 mi)
- Turns
- 10
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1973
- Owner
- Automobile Club du Nord de la France / Ligue Motocycliste Régionale
- Address
- Croix-en-Ternois BP 24
- Website
- circuitdecroix.com
Track map and layout
Croix-en-Ternois is a short, tight circuit of 1.9 km (1.181 mi) with 10 corners, built around one long main straight and a twisty, compact infield section. Opened in 1973 and slightly extended in 2012, it is a classic small French club circuit: low-speed, technical and demanding of precise car or bike placement, making it a favourite for junior single-seater racing, karting-adjacent categories and driver training. Its short lap length and simple infrastructure keep costs low for club racers and trackday organisers alike, and it has occasionally been used for Formula One testing thanks to its proximity to the Channel ports.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Current layout (2012-present) | 1.90 km | 1.900 km, 10 turns |
| Original layout (1973-2012) | 1.73 km | 1.730 km, 10 turns |
Events and race weekends
Croix-en-Ternois has historically hosted European and French Formula 3, Formula Renault and French Supertouring Championship rounds, and continues to run a busy calendar of French national car and motorcycle racing, club meetings and championship rounds through organisations such as the regional motorcycle league. It is also a regular trackday venue for both cars and bikes, drawing UK-based trackday operators given its short 37-mile drive from Calais.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| French motorcycle club championship rounds | Regional/national bike racing | varies | |
| French car club racing rounds | Regional/national car racing | varies |
Getting there and parking
The circuit sits near Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise in rural Pas-de-Calais, only about 37 miles (60 km) from Calais, making it one of the most accessible French circuits for UK visitors crossing by ferry or Eurotunnel. Lille Airport is the nearest with scheduled flights, roughly an hour away; Arras, a similar distance, offers a smaller regional rail hub. There is no direct rail link to the circuit itself, so a hire car is the practical option from either Calais or Lille.
- Lille Airport (LIL) · about 60 min drive
Parking
General parking is available on site for event and trackday weekends, typically included with entry.
UK visitors often drive from Calais via Eurotunnel or ferry, a journey of under an hour, making Croix-en-Ternois one of the most convenient French circuits for a day trip from England.
Hotels and camping near Circuit de Croix-en-Ternois
Most visitors base themselves in Arras or Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise, both a short drive from the circuit, or treat it as a day trip from Calais given the short crossing distance. There is no significant camping or trackside accommodation culture at this small club circuit.
Where to look
Arras, about 30 minutes away, has the widest choice of hotels in the region; Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise offers closer, smaller-scale options nearer the circuit itself.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Croix-en-Ternois is a popular trackday venue, especially for UK-based drivers and riders given its short distance from Calais, running regular own-car and own-bike trackday sessions for a range of experience levels on its short, technical layout.
Who runs days here
- Trackdays.co.uk (Croix en Ternois)both
- Ma Moto Sur Circuit (Croix-en-Ternois bike trackdays)motorcycle
Typical cost: Own-car and own-bike trackdays typically from around €100-€200 per day
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French F3 | 0:50.184 | Tiago Monteiro | Dallara F301 | 2001 |
Spectator guide
As a small club circuit, Croix-en-Ternois has minimal permanent spectator infrastructure; most viewing is informal, from the fencing around the compact infield and main straight, well suited to the short, easily walkable lap.
Seating
No significant permanent grandstands; spectating is largely from trackside fencing around the short lap.
Best places to watch
The infield's tight corner sequence gives close-up views of several corners within a short walk, typical of the circuit's compact layout.
Weather
- May-September: typical northern French summer, highs generally 18-23°C with a chance of rain
History of Circuit de Croix-en-Ternois
A club circuit built for accessibility
Circuit de Croix-en-Ternois opened in May 1973 near Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise in Pas-de-Calais, built as a short, low-cost club circuit rather than a major international venue. At just 1.730 km with 10 corners in its original form, it combined one long straight with a tight, twisty infield section, a formula that made it cheap to run and easy for spectators and competitors alike to navigate.
A proving ground for junior single-seaters
Through the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, Croix-en-Ternois became a regular fixture on the European and French Formula 3 calendars, as well as hosting Formula Renault and French Supertouring Championship rounds. Its short, technical lap rewarded precision over outright speed, making it a useful proving ground for junior drivers, and Tiago Monteiro's 2001 French F3 lap record of 50.184 seconds still stands as the circuit's official benchmark. Its proximity to the Channel ports, only about 37 miles from Calais, also saw it occasionally pressed into service for Formula One testing.
A minor extension and continued club use
The circuit was slightly lengthened in 2012 to its current 1.9 km, 10-turn configuration, retaining its essential character. Rather than chasing top-tier international racing, Croix-en-Ternois has settled into a role as a busy regional and national club circuit, hosting car and motorcycle championship rounds through French motorsport federations and leagues.
A trackday favourite today
Thanks to its short crossing distance from England via Calais or Eurotunnel, Croix-en-Ternois has become a particularly popular trackday destination for UK-based drivers and riders, alongside its ongoing French club racing calendar, making it one of the most accessible continental circuits for a day-trip track session.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Circuit de Croix-en-Ternois?+
The current layout is 1.9 km (1.181 miles) with 10 corners, slightly extended from the original 1.73 km layout used between 1973 and 2012.
What racing has Croix-en-Ternois hosted?+
It has hosted European and French Formula 3, Formula Renault and French Supertouring Championship rounds, and continues to host French national and regional car and motorcycle club racing.
Can the public drive or ride Croix-en-Ternois?+
Yes, it runs regular own-car and own-bike trackdays and is a popular option for UK-based drivers and riders thanks to its short distance from Calais.
How far is Croix-en-Ternois from Calais?+
The circuit is only about 37 miles (60 km) from Calais, roughly an hour's drive via Eurotunnel or ferry, making it one of the most accessible French circuits for UK visitors.
What is the lap record at Croix-en-Ternois?+
The fastest official lap is 50.184 seconds, set by Tiago Monteiro in a Dallara F301 during a 2001 French F3 event.
How do you get to Circuit de Croix-en-Ternois?+
Most visitors drive from Calais or Lille; Lille Airport, about an hour away, is the nearest with scheduled flights, and there is no direct rail link to the circuit.
Other tracks nearby
- Circuit de Folembray · 117 km · road course
- Circuit de Chimay · 146 km · street circuit
- Circuit des Écuyers · 166 km · road course
- Circuit Jules Tacheny Mettet · 168 km · road course
- Paris Street Circuit · 169 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Reims-Gueux · 171 km · historic circuit (defunct)
Facts checked against 4 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.