Circuit Paul Armagnac
Circuit Paul Armagnac at a glance
- Location
- Nogaro, Gers
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 3.636 km (2.259 mi)
- Turns
- 14
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Elevation change
- 20 ft
- Opened
- 1960
- Owner
- Automobile Club du Gers
- Website
- circuit-nogaro.com
Track map and layout
Circuit Paul Armagnac runs clockwise for 3.636 km (2.259 mi) over 14 corners on largely flat ground in the Gers countryside, with only about 6 metres (20 ft) of elevation change across the whole lap. Its defining feature is a pair of long straights, the 950-metre start-finish straight and an adjacent aerodrome straight, that give GT and Superbike machinery a real chance to stretch their legs before hard braking zones, while the rest of the lap is a mix of medium-speed corners typical of France's first purpose-built circuit, opened in 1960. Its flat, open layout makes it a favourite for both national championship racing and public trackdays.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Current Grand Prix layout | 3.63 km | 3.636 km, 14 turns |
Events and race weekends
Nogaro's headline fixture is the Coupes de Pâques, an Easter-weekend national racing festival run continuously since 1968 that brings together FFSA GT Championship (GT4 France), Alpine Elf Cup, French F4, TC France and several other categories across around 19 races and more than 200 cars. The circuit also hosts French Superbike Championship rounds and has a long history of national and European touring car and GT racing, including FIA GT rounds in the early 2010s, as well as a one-off round of the non-championship 1979 British Formula One series.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coupes de Pâques | FFSA French Circuit Championship (multi-category) | April (Easter weekend) | flagship national racing festival, running since 1968 |
| French Superbike Championship round | FSBK | May |
Getting there and parking
Nogaro sits in the Gers department of Gascony, about 30 minutes from Auch and roughly an hour from Toulouse. Toulouse-Blagnac is the nearest major airport with international connections, while smaller regional options exist closer by. There is no direct rail line to Nogaro; the nearest useful stations are in Auch or on the Toulouse-Tarbes line, from where a hire car is needed for the final leg.
- Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) · about 75 min drive
- Pau-Pyrénées Airport (PUF) · about 70 min drive
Parking
General parking is available on site for event weekends, typically included with entry; arrive early for the Coupes de Pâques given its size and popularity.
The Coupes de Pâques draws large national crowds each Easter, so book accommodation in Auch or Toulouse well ahead and expect busy local roads on race days.
Hotels and camping near Circuit Paul Armagnac
Auch, the Gers departmental capital about 30 minutes away, has the best choice of hotels within easy reach; Toulouse, roughly an hour away, offers a much wider selection for visitors flying in. There is no major trackside camping culture at Nogaro comparable to France's endurance venues, though local gîtes and campsites in the Armagnac countryside are popular with Coupes de Pâques visitors.
Where to look
Auch, about 30 minutes away, is the closest town with a good hotel selection; Toulouse, roughly an hour away, offers a much wider range for those arriving by air.
Camping
No large official trackside campsite; regional campsites and gîtes in the surrounding Gers and Armagnac countryside are used during major event weekends.
RV
No dedicated year-round motorhome facilities at the circuit; check specific event listings for temporary arrangements around the Coupes de Pâques.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Circuit Paul Armagnac runs open trackdays and coached driving sessions for cars and motorcycles through the year, taking advantage of its flat, flowing layout and two long straights, alongside its busy national racing calendar headlined by the Coupes de Pâques.
Typical cost: Open-pitlane car and bike trackdays typically from around €150-€300 per day
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula One (non-championship, 1979 British F1 round) | 1:11.860 | Ricardo Zunino | Arrows A1 | 1979 |
Spectator guide
Nogaro's flat, open layout gives spectators good sightlines across much of the circuit, with permanent grandstands concentrated along the long start-finish straight where GT and Superbike machinery reach top speed before the main braking zone. The Coupes de Pâques draws large national crowds each Easter, one of the biggest club and national racing weekends on the French calendar.
Seating
Grandstands line the start-finish straight; general admission areas cover much of the rest of the flat circuit.
Best places to watch
The braking zone at the end of the main straight is the best spot for overtaking action, especially during the Coupes de Pâques GT and touring car races.
Weather
- April (Coupes de Pâques): mild Gascon spring, highs typically 15-20°C, with rain a real possibility
History of Circuit Paul Armagnac
France's first purpose-built circuit
Circuit Paul Armagnac opened on 3 October 1960 near Nogaro in Gascony, and is often credited as the first purpose-built permanent race circuit in France, distinct from the public-road courses that had hosted most French racing until then. It was named for Paul Armagnac, a driver born in Nogaro who was killed in a practice accident for the 1962 Paris 1000 km at Montlhéry, a tribute that tied the circuit permanently to its home town's most notable racing son.
The Coupes de Pâques tradition
Since 1968, Nogaro's identity has been built around the Coupes de Pâques, an Easter-weekend national racing festival that has run almost every year since, growing into one of the biggest fixtures on the French club and national calendar. Today's edition typically brings together around seven categories and 19 races, headlined by the FFSA GT Championship's GT4 France class, alongside Alpine Elf Cup, French F4 and TC France machinery, drawing more than 200 entries and large crowds to the flat, fast Gascon circuit.
International and national racing
Beyond its Easter showpiece, Nogaro has hosted a wide range of national and international racing over the decades, including rounds of the FIA GT Championship in the early 2010s and a one-off appearance on the non-championship 1979 British Formula One series, won that year by Ricardo Zunino's Arrows. The circuit's two long straights and largely flat profile have made it a consistent favourite for GT and touring car competition, and it remains a fixture of the French Superbike Championship.
Nogaro today
Circuit Paul Armagnac continues as one of southwestern France's busiest national circuits, combining its flagship Coupes de Pâques weekend and Superbike rounds with a steady programme of club racing and public trackdays, keeping alive the legacy of France's pioneering purpose-built race track.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Circuit Paul Armagnac?+
The circuit is 3.636 km (2.259 miles) with 14 corners and only about 6 metres of elevation change across the lap.
Why is the circuit named Paul Armagnac?+
It is named after Paul Armagnac, a racing driver born in Nogaro who was killed in a practice accident for the 1962 Paris 1000 km at Montlhéry; the circuit opened in 1960, before his death, and later carried his name in tribute.
What is the Coupes de Pâques?+
The Coupes de Pâques is Nogaro's flagship Easter-weekend national racing festival, run almost every year since 1968, combining FFSA GT (GT4 France), Alpine Elf Cup, French F4, TC France and other categories across around 19 races.
Did Nogaro ever host Formula One?+
Nogaro hosted a round of the non-championship 1979 British Formula One series, won by Ricardo Zunino in an Arrows A1, but it has never held a round of the official FIA Formula One World Championship.
Can the public drive Circuit Paul Armagnac?+
Yes, the circuit runs open trackdays and coached driving sessions for cars and motorcycles throughout the year, alongside its national race calendar.
How do you get to Circuit Paul Armagnac?+
Nogaro is about 30 minutes from Auch and roughly an hour from Toulouse; Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is the nearest major airport, and there is no direct rail line to Nogaro itself.
Other tracks nearby
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- Circuit du Puy de Poursay · 244 km · motocross
- Circuit du Val de Vienne · 275 km · road course
- Parcmotor Castellolí · 280 km · road course
Facts checked against 4 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.