Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours

Circuit guide by Chris Pollitt · dates updated 2 November 2026

Magny-Cours lies in the Nièvre countryside about 14 km south-east of Nevers, roughly in the middle of France. It began as a small club track in 1960 and was rebuilt to host the French Grand Prix from 1991 to 2008, and World Superbikes still race here today. The 4.411 km Grand Prix layout has 17 corners, many of them named after other circuits (Estoril, Adelaide, Nürburgring and Imola), and around 30 metres of height change across the lap.

For UK drivers it's one of the easiest of the big French circuits to reach, being motorway nearly all the way from Calais. Car and bike days run through the season, with organisers from France, Germany, Switzerland and the UK. The surface is flat and smooth, which makes it a comfortable place for less experienced drivers, while the fast Grande Courbe and the big stops for Adelaide and Lycée give the quick drivers something to work on.

A lap of Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours

Layout: Grand Prix, 4.411 km (2.74 miles)

From the pit straight you head downhill into the Grande Courbe, a long, fast left that's flat or close to it in most track cars. It leads straight into Estoril, a long, sweeping right that goes round almost 180 degrees. Estoril is about patience, as you need to keep the speed up and hold a tight line, because the exit leads onto Golf, the longest and fastest part of the lap. Golf curves gently right, so it's flat but not quite straight.

At the end of Golf is the Adelaide hairpin (Turn 5), a tight right and the biggest stop on the lap. Formula One cars took it in first gear, and in any car it's the obvious overtaking spot, so keep an eye on your mirrors. Brake in a straight line and don't turn in too early, because getting a good exit matters more than entry speed here.

The quick Nürburgring chicane, a right-left, follows. It's fast enough to need only a light brake or a lift in most cars, and if you take it smoothly you'll carry real speed down to the 180, a second-gear left-hand hairpin. A strong exit there sets you up for the next straight and the Imola chicane, a fast right-left where the track dips. Keep the car settled over the dip and use the kerbs carefully.

Château d'Eau is a long right where you'll be braking and turning at the same time, so it's easy to unsettle the car. Then you run up a gentle rise to Lycée, a tight right taken in a low gear after a long run, and the last right-left onto the pit straight. Lycée is where people lock up and run wide, so pick a braking marker and stick to it.

Track day tips

• The track is flat and smooth, so there are few bumps to worry about, but that also means few reference points. Pick your braking markers on the first sighting laps.
• Adelaide and Lycée are heavy braking zones after long, fast runs. Use fresh fluid and good pads, and watch for fade late in the day.
• Estoril is long and loads the outside front tyre for a long time. Check your pressures and watch for understeer as the tyres heat up.
• The Sports Promotion days run to 100 dB. Check your organiser's limit before you book.
• Mixed days can have big speed differences on the Golf straight. Be ready to point faster cars by on the exit of Estoril.
• Fuel up in Magny-Cours or Nevers before the day starts, as the circuit is out in the countryside.

Getting there

Magny-Cours is roughly 600 km from Calais, about six hours of driving on French motorways via the A26 to Reims and then south past Troyes and Auxerre, or through Paris on the A6 and A77. The A77 runs right past the circuit, so it's an easy run off the Dover to Calais ferry or Eurotunnel. Paris has the most UK flights and is around three hours away. Nevers has plenty of hotels, and there are guesthouses in the villages around the circuit.