Circuit de Charade

Circuit guide by Chris Pollitt · dates updated 2 November 2026

Charade sits in the hills of the Auvergne just west of Clermont-Ferrand, among the extinct volcanoes of the Puy-de-Dôme. The original 8.055 km road circuit opened in 1958 and hosted the French Grand Prix, earning comparisons with the Nürburgring for the way it wound across the hillside. Today's 3.975 km, 18-corner circuit opened in 1989 and keeps part of the old road course, so plenty of the original character survives.

It's a proper old-school drive. The lap climbs and falls constantly, the corners come thick and fast, and there isn't a great deal of run-off, with concrete walls closer than you'll be used to at most modern tracks. Experienced car drivers and bikers love it for exactly that reason. It's open for both cars and bikes, but a novice should take tuition and build speed slowly, because a mistake here costs more than it would at a flat airfield circuit.

A lap of Circuit de Charade

Layout: Current circuit, 3.975 km (2.47 miles)

Out of the pit area the first corner is a very fast and committing bend that needs a few laps before it stops being intimidating. Then comes the long downhill approach to the Virage de Manson, a slow, second-gear corner that's not quite a hairpin. It pushes everything into understeer, so brake early, be patient and don't fight it. A slightly downhill chicane follows, where you can use the kerbs on the way in but expect to run out wide on exit.

Next is a left-right at the top of a steep climb, and the second part is hidden. People often think they're heading onto a straight and get caught out, so learn this one carefully. Brake hard for the Puy de Charade, a short right then a left with some off-camber tarmac in the middle that can unsettle the car. Get on the power early for the steep drop down to the Epingle de Champeaux, a late-braking hairpin that tests front grip. Clip the apex in second, take the quick left, then shift up and flick right into the fastest section.

This is a long uphill run that flattens out in the middle, with only a hint of an apex. Keep your foot in. Quick cars see around 130 mph here before a huge stop, down from fifth to second, for the Virage du Petit Pont, an off-camber left.

Straight from there you reach the Epingle Marlboro, an uphill, off-camber right-hand hairpin in second gear with a wall waiting for anyone who arrives too fast. Thèdes is next, an uphill left with a kink on the way in that opens into a flowing right, and it's all about balancing the car on the throttle. The last corner, the Virage Rosier, drops downhill into a second-gear entry with a long exit onto the main straight and a wall close by.

Track day tips

• There's very little run-off and lots of concrete. Build your speed gradually, and if you're new to the circuit, book a day with tuition.
• Learn the blind left-right at the top of the climb before you push. It catches out plenty of first-timers.
• Manson will make the car understeer whatever you do. Brake early and accept a slower entry for a better exit.
• The circuit sits high in the Auvergne hills, so weather can change quickly and mornings can be cold and damp outside summer.
• Brakes work hard on the downhill approaches to Manson and Champeaux and the big stop for Petit Pont. Fresh fluid and good pads are essential.
• Fill up in Clermont-Ferrand on the way in, as there's not much on the hill roads around the circuit.

Getting there

Charade is a long way from the Channel ports, the best part of 700 km from Calais, via the A26 and A1 to Paris and then the A71 south to Clermont-Ferrand. That's a full day's driving, so many people break the trip. The circuit is a short drive west of Clermont-Ferrand, up into the hills towards Saint-Genès-Champanelle. Lyon has the widest choice of UK flights and is about two hours away. Clermont-Ferrand has plenty of hotels, and there are gîtes and B&Bs in the villages around the volcano park.