Circuit de Lédenon
Circuit de Lédenon at a glance
- Location
- Lédenon, Gard
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 3.151 km (1.958 mi)
- Turns
- 13
- Direction
- counter-clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Elevation change
- 112 ft
- Opened
- 1973
- Owner
- Bondurand family / Association Sportive du Circuit de Lédenon
- Website
- ledenon.com
Track map and layout
Circuit de Lédenon sits in a natural bowl in the Gard hills northeast of Nîmes, running counter-clockwise over 3.151 km (1.958 mi) and 13 corners with roughly 34 metres of elevation change, making it the most undulating major circuit in France. Its counter-clockwise direction is also unusual, as almost every other significant French circuit runs clockwise, giving it a distinctive feel for drivers and riders used to the more common layout. The combination of blind crests, downhill braking zones and tightening corners makes Lédenon a demanding, technical track prized by club racers and motorcycle riders despite, or because of, its short lap length.
Named corners and sections
- La Bascule. A crest near the top of the circuit's climb where the track breaks over a blind rise before dropping away on the far side.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Full circuit | 3.15 km | the standard 13-turn layout used for national racing and track days |
Events and race weekends
Lédenon hosts French national championship racing rather than international events, including rounds of the FFSA GT Championship, French F4 Championship and TC France touring cars, alongside national Superbike and Supersport motorcycle racing. The circuit is especially well known within France as a leading motorcycle track-day venue, drawing large numbers of road riders for organised trackday and coaching sessions throughout the season.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FFSA GT Championship round | FFSA GT | varies | |
| French F4 Championship round | French F4 | varies | |
| National Superbike/Supersport round | French motorcycle championships | varies |
Getting there and parking
Lédenon is about 20 km northeast of Nîmes and 40 km from Avignon in the Gard department. Nîmes-Alès-Camargue-Cévennes Airport, roughly 30 minutes away, is the closest airport, though it has limited scheduled flights; Marseille Provence Airport offers a much wider range of connections a little further away. Nîmes railway station has TGV links to Paris, Lyon and Marseille, with a hire car or taxi needed for the final leg since the circuit has no public transport service on non-event days.
- Nîmes-Alès-Camargue-Cévennes Airport (FNI) · about 30 min drive
- Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) · about 75 min drive
Parking
General parking is included with most event tickets in fields around the circuit; arrive early for national championship weekends and popular motorcycle trackday events.
Take the TGV to Nîmes and hire a car or taxi for the roughly 20-minute final leg, as the circuit is not served by public transport on non-event days.
Hotels and camping near Circuit de Lédenon
Most visitors base themselves in Nîmes, a short drive away with a large choice of hotels and easy TGV access, or in the historic town of Uzès, a scenic base a little further out that suits visitors combining a track visit with sightseeing in the Gard. There is no significant trackside camping culture at Lédenon comparable to France's larger endurance venues.
Where to look
Nîmes, about 20 minutes away, offers the widest choice of hotels with TGV access; Uzès, a little further out, is a popular and picturesque alternative base for visitors combining the circuit with a trip through the Gard.
Camping
No large official campsite at the circuit; this is primarily a day-visit venue for both racing and track days rather than a camping destination.
RV
No dedicated year-round motorhome facilities at the circuit.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Lédenon is one of the most popular motorcycle track-day venues in southern France, with multiple organisers running coached stage de pilotage sessions and open trackdays for riders of all levels throughout the season, typically split into beginner, intermediate, advanced and expert groups. Car track days and driving courses are also available, taking advantage of the circuit's hilly, technical layout, which is widely rated as excellent driver and rider training ground precisely because of its demanding blind crests and elevation changes.
Who runs days here
- BMC Moto (stage de pilotage moto)motorcycle
- H2S Motomotorcycle
- Nomad Driving Eventcar
Typical cost: Motorcycle trackday sessions typically from around €100-€200 per day; car track days from roughly €200-€300 per day
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GT1 | 1:17.762 | Soheil Ayari | Saleen S7-R | 2007 |
| Formula Renault 2.0 | 1:19.064 | Jules Bianchi | — | 2007 |
Spectator guide
The circuit's natural bowl setting means much of the lap can be seen from elevated general admission areas around the venue, a rarity among French club circuits. Grandstands and viewing areas cluster near the start-finish straight, with informal banking elsewhere in the bowl giving views across several corners at once.
Seating
Grandstand capacity is modest and concentrated near the pits and start-finish straight; general admission areas take advantage of the natural bowl for wider views.
Best places to watch
Elevated general admission spots around the bowl's rim give sightlines across multiple corners, including the blind crest at La Bascule.
Weather
- Spring-autumn (main race and trackday season): warm and dry Mediterranean climate, highs commonly 22-30°C in summer months
History of Circuit de Lédenon
Built by racing enthusiasts in the Gard hills
Circuit de Lédenon was the creation of Jean-Claude and Sylvie Bondurand, motorsport enthusiasts who set out in 1970 to build a permanent circuit in the hilly countryside near Lédenon, northeast of Nîmes. The circuit was completed and approved for competition use on 16 June 1973, taking advantage of the site's naturally undulating, bowl-shaped terrain to create a track unlike almost anything else in France.
A deliberately different layout
From the outset, Lédenon set itself apart by running counter-clockwise, a rarity among major French circuits, and by embracing rather than flattening its site's roughly 34 metres of elevation change. The result is a short but intensely technical lap of blind crests, downhill braking zones and tightening corners that has made the circuit a respected proving ground, drawing national and regional championship racing across cars, GT machinery and motorcycles over the decades, including drivers who went on to international careers.
A club and track-day institution today
While Lédenon has never hosted top-tier international racing on the scale of France's Grand Prix circuits, it has built a strong reputation within the country as one of its best-loved club and track-day venues, particularly for motorcycle riders. Its technical, undulating character is widely considered excellent training for car control and racecraft, and it continues to host FFSA GT, French F4 and national motorcycle championship rounds alongside a busy year-round programme of coached and open track days for both cars and bikes.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Lédenon circuit?+
The circuit is 3.151 km (1.958 miles) long with 13 corners.
Why does Lédenon run counter-clockwise?+
It was built that way from the outset in 1973 and remains unusual among major French circuits, most of which run clockwise, giving Lédenon a distinctive character for drivers and riders.
Is Lédenon a hilly circuit?+
Yes. Built in a natural bowl with around 34 metres of elevation change, it is widely regarded as the most hilly and technical major circuit in France.
Can the public ride or drive Lédenon?+
Yes, it is one of the most popular motorcycle track-day venues in southern France, with regular coached and open sessions for riders and drivers of all levels.
How do you get to Lédenon?+
Nîmes-Alès-Camargue-Cévennes Airport is about 30 minutes away; Nîmes railway station has TGV links to Paris, Lyon and Marseille, with a hire car or taxi needed for the final leg to the circuit.
Does Lédenon host international racing?+
No, it focuses on French national championships such as FFSA GT and French F4 rather than international series, alongside a strong club racing and track-day programme.
Other tracks nearby
- Circuit Paul Ricard · 128 km · road course
- Circuit d'Albi · 192 km · road course
- Circuit de Charade · 233 km · road course
- Circuit de Monaco · 235 km · street circuit
- Circuit du Mas du Clos · 283 km · road course
- Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya · 319 km · road course
Facts checked against 5 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.