Rouen-Les-Essarts
Rouen, France · 5 races held
Race History
| Year | Grand Prix | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | French Grand Prix | Jacky Ickx | Ferrari |
| 1964 | French Grand Prix | Dan Gurney | Brabham-Climax |
| 1962 | French Grand Prix | Dan Gurney | Porsche |
| 1957 | French Grand Prix | Juan Fangio | Maserati |
| 1952 | French Grand Prix | Alberto Ascari | Ferrari |
About Rouen-Les-Essarts
Rouen-Les-Essarts was a fast, sweeping road circuit set in wooded countryside south of the city of Rouen in Normandy, France. Running over public roads through a valley, it was characterised by its plunging downhill sweepers and a fearsome, fast cobbled hairpin, and was widely regarded as one of the finest and most challenging road courses of its day.
The circuit hosted the French Grand Prix five times between 1952 and 1968, attracting the leading drivers of two distinct eras of Formula 1. Its blend of high speed and natural terrain demanded great bravery, and victories there were prized accordingly.
Like many of the great natural road circuits, Rouen ultimately fell foul of rising safety concerns, and its 1968 race proved to be its last as an F1 venue, leaving it a treasured but bygone part of the championship's heritage.
Memorable Moments
- 1952: Alberto Ascari won for Ferrari during his utterly dominant championship-winning season.
- 1962 & 1964: Dan Gurney won twice at Rouen, the 1962 victory giving the Porsche marque its only Formula 1 World Championship win as a constructor.
- 1968: Jacky Ickx scored his first F1 victory for Ferrari in a rain-soaked race, but the day was overshadowed by tragedy when Jo Schlesser was killed in a fiery crash aboard the experimental air-cooled Honda RA302.
Track Character
Rouen was a thrilling test of nerve and precision. From the start the road swept downhill through a series of fast, partly blind curves into the valley, building enormous speed before the famous cobbled Nouveau Monde hairpin demanded heavy braking and careful placement. With trees, banks and minimal run-off lining the route, the margin for error was tiny, and the high-speed sweepers rewarded only the bravest and smoothest drivers. The fearsome combination of speed, gradient and exposure made Rouen one of the great drivers' circuits, and also one whose dangers ultimately ended its time in Formula 1.