Charade opened in 1958 on volcanic public roads outside Clermont-Ferrand. The original eight-kilometre lap was fast, undulating and unforgiving; loose stones and the lack of modern safety provisions ended its Formula 1 use after 1972, before a shorter permanent circuit was created.
Jackie Stewart dominated the 1969 Grand Prix. In 1972 a stone thrown up by another car struck Helmut Marko's visor, permanently damaging his eye and ending his driving career.
Across 8.055 km, its 38 corners create a distinct rhythm between braking, precision and acceleration. As a road circuit, it asks drivers and teams to adapt setup, tyre management and race strategy to the venue's particular constraints, while its clockwise direction shapes the sequence of its most demanding sectors.
