Circuit de La Châtre - Maurice Tissandier
Circuit de La Châtre - Maurice Tissandier at a glance
- Location
- Montgivray, Indre
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 2.325 km (1.445 mi)
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1956
- Owner
- Local authority / Circuit de La Châtre association
- Address
- 11 avenue du Berry, Chavy
- Phone
- +33 2 54 48 33 64
- Website
- circuitdelachatre.fr
Track map and layout
Circuit de La Châtre, renamed Circuit Maurice Tissandier in 2001, is a short but highly technical 2.325 km (1.445 mile) road course just outside La Châtre in the Indre. Its only real straight climbs uphill and is broken up by turns, while the rest of the lap winds mainly downhill through a series of fairly tight corners, rewarding precision and momentum over outright horsepower. The layout was extended from its original 1.266 km form in 1978 to the current 2.325 km configuration, and a shorter school circuit variant is also used for driver training.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix / AutoRetroSport circuit (1978-present) | 2.33 km | 2.325 km, current main layout |
| School circuit | 1.10 km | 1.267 km, used for driver training |
| Original circuit (1956-1977) | 1.27 km | 1.266 km |
Events and race weekends
La Châtre hosted its first race in June 1956 and became a fixture of French national motorsport, notably staging the FIA European Formula 3 Championship from 1980 to 1984, where future Formula One drivers Michele Alboreto, Philippe Alliot and Ivan Capelli all won rounds. Its racing licence lapsed in 1995 after modern safety standards outgrew the circuit, and it has not hosted wheel-to-wheel championship racing since. Today the site runs an annual AutoRetroSport historic demonstration weekend and is home to a Euroformula single-seater racing school.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AutoRetroSport demonstration weekend | Historic motorsport demonstration | varies | non-competitive historic car and bike demonstration event |
Getting there and parking
The circuit sits at Chavy in Montgivray, on the edge of La Châtre in the Indre department of central France. There is no direct rail link; the nearest useful station is Châteauroux, about 40 minutes away on the Paris-Toulouse line, from where a hire car or taxi covers the rest of the journey. Most visitors drive, with the circuit roughly a three-hour drive south of Paris.
- Châteauroux-Déols Airport (CHR) · about 45 min drive
- Poitiers-Biard Airport (PIS) · about 90 min drive
Parking
On-site parking is available for event and training days, generally included with entry.
Rail travellers should aim for Châteauroux station on the Paris-Toulouse line and arrange a taxi or hire car for the final leg to the circuit.
Hotels and camping near Circuit de La Châtre - Maurice Tissandier
La Châtre itself, a short drive from the circuit, offers the closest small-town hotel choice; Châteauroux, about 40 minutes north, has a wider range of accommodation and better rail access for those combining a visit with onward travel. There is no trackside camping culture at this small circuit.
Where to look
La Châtre town centre for proximity; Châteauroux for a wider choice of hotels and easier transport links.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Since losing its competition racing licence in 1995, La Châtre has operated primarily as a driver training venue, hosting a Euroformula single-seater racing school alongside car and motorcycle driving courses and occasional track day bookings. Its short, technical layout, with an uphill straight and winding downhill section, is particularly suited to precision driver coaching.
Who runs days here
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Formula 3 | 1:03.333 | Alain Ferté | Martini MK37 | 1982 |
Spectator guide
As a former national racing circuit now used mainly for training and demonstration events, La Châtre has limited permanent spectator infrastructure; most viewing at the annual AutoRetroSport weekend is from trackside fencing around the compact lap.
Seating
No significant permanent grandstands; spectating is informal from trackside areas.
Best places to watch
The winding downhill section gives a good view of several closely spaced corners within a short walk.
Weather
- May-September: typical central French summer, highs generally 20-25°C with occasional rain
History of Circuit de La Châtre - Maurice Tissandier
From hillclimb to permanent circuit
Motorsport at La Châtre began as hillclimb racing on the D943 road in the 1920s, a tradition that continued, with the tragic loss of French driver André Boillot in a 1932 practice crash, until the final hillclimb was run in 1954. A purpose-built permanent circuit replaced the road course, hosting its first race on 17 June 1956 over a 1.266 km lap.
A European Formula 3 stage
The circuit was extended to its current 2.325 km configuration in 1978, and through the late 1970s and early 1980s it became a regular fixture of French and European junior single-seater racing. La Châtre hosted the FIA European Formula 3 Championship from 1980 to 1984, with winners including future Formula One drivers Michele Alboreto, Philippe Alliot and Ivan Capelli, while touring car ace Roberto Ravaglia also raced there on his way to world championship success.
Losing its racing licence
As safety standards for national and international racing advanced through the 1980s and early 1990s, La Châtre's tight, unforgiving layout became increasingly difficult to homologate. The circuit's competition racing licence was withdrawn in 1995, ending three decades of championship motorsport at the venue.
A modern training and heritage venue
Renamed Circuit Maurice Tissandier in 2001 in honour of a local motorsport figure, the site reinvented itself as a driver training venue, home to a Euroformula single-seater racing school and a base for car and motorcycle driving courses. An annual AutoRetroSport weekend keeps the circuit's competitive heritage alive through non-competitive demonstration runs for historic racing cars and motorcycles.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Circuit de La Châtre?+
The current layout is 2.325 km (1.445 miles), extended from an original 1.266 km circuit used between 1956 and 1977; a shorter 1.267 km school circuit is also used for training.
Does Circuit de La Châtre still host championship racing?+
No. Its competition racing licence was withdrawn in 1995, and it now hosts an annual AutoRetroSport historic demonstration weekend rather than wheel-to-wheel racing.
What top drivers raced at La Châtre?+
Future Formula One drivers Michele Alboreto, Philippe Alliot and Ivan Capelli all won European Formula 3 rounds there between 1980 and 1984, and touring car champion Roberto Ravaglia also competed at the circuit.
Can the public drive at Circuit de La Châtre?+
Yes, the circuit operates a Euroformula racing school and hosts car and motorcycle driving courses and track days, though it is used mainly for training rather than open track day bookings.
How do you get to Circuit de La Châtre?+
Most visitors drive, as there is no direct rail link; the nearest station is Châteauroux, about 40 minutes away on the Paris-Toulouse line.
Other tracks nearby
- Circuit du Mas du Clos · 76 km · road course
- Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours · 93 km · road course
- Circuit du Val de Vienne · 114 km · road course
- Circuit de Charade · 123 km · road course
- Circuit des Tonnes (Moto Club Brou) · 194 km · motocross
- Circuit de la Sarthe (Le Mans) · 200 km · road course & oval
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.