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SAEM de Charade
Rond point de Manson
63122 Saint-Genes-Champanelle
T: 04 73 295 295
F: 04 73 295 290
Official Website
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Charade is situated just 3 miles South-West of Clermont-Ferrand, in the heart of the Auvergne region (home to the largest volcanic gouping in Europe!), and twists up and down, winding without any discernible piece of straight, around the volcanic outcrops of the Puy de Dôme. It hosted the French F1 GP for 4 years in the 60's and 70's and is obviously well suited to the Lotus as Jim Clark and Jochen Rindt proved by winning here twice.
The circuit, like Spa, has changed over the years, and we now drive on a shortened section of track measuring 2.4 miles, down from its initial 5 mile length. This is where the similarities end though, as whilst Spa has gradually been sterilised over the years by F1, Charade remains a very daunting circuit and not for the faint hearted.
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Click For Larger Map
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Due to it being built on the side of a mountain, there are
lots of high concrete retaining walls with very little
run off in almost all area's. The circuit has many
features and potential pitfalls, that will keep the
experienced driver entertained, whilst being a deterrent
to track day novice's. These include 2 steep downhill
braking zones into tight hairpins with very little run
off, a sequence of flat out blind corners due to the
concrete barriers, and keeping the best until last, the
first corner. This is an extremely fast corner, with
concrete walls right on the edge of the track, and the
apex and exit are blind on turn in due to the high
walls. Its a pleasure to drive, mixing the best bits of
Spa and the original nurburgring into a much shorter
area, which keeps the heart rate high at all times.
Words kindly
provided by Neil McKean (mckeann)
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Closest Fuel Station
Head back into Clermont-Ferrand for a Total. |
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Accommodation in the
Area
We recommend that you book accommodation in the city of
Clermont Ferrand. There are many squares packed with
bars and restaurants. A huge Cathedral and the old town
is well worth a short walk along the cobbled streets.
We stayed at the
Hotel Kyriad - central - in 2007, this is very cheap
but air conditioned and has a bar. Most rooms have a
balcony. We've also used the Holiday Inn which is a 2min
walk away. There are numerous hotels 5 mins from the
city centre |
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Holiday Inn - Clemont Ferrand 
