Dijon Prenois Grand Prix
Undulating up and down the hills of Prenois, near Dijon, in France, the Dijon Prenois circuit is a 3.801 km (2.362 mi) motorsport raceway that opened its doors in 1972 and has hosted high-profile events such as the Formula 1 French Grand Prix, the Swiss Grand Prix, as well as GT1 and GT2 races. The circuit stands 262 km (162 miles) from Paris and 150 km (93 miles) away from Geneve, Switzerland, in the historical region of Burgundy, famous for its mustard, its wines, and its medieval architecture featuring magnificent chateaus, cathedrals, and abbeys. The climate in the circuit location is continental, with cold winters, hot summers, and regular precipitations 172 days a year on average.
The average speed in Dijon Prenois is 144 km/h (90 mph), as this road course consists of 12 turns, most of them fast sweepers and a long front straightaway. The track's banking is higher at the close-angled corners, and elevation constantly changes, keeping restricted visibility for the drivers during most of the trajectory. Turns one and two come immediately after the main straightaway, with an entry speed around 130 km/h (81 mph). The track then snakes up and down the natural terrain until the closed corner number seven, called Parabolique, the heaviest braking sector in Dijon Prenois. The drivers are free to accelerate from there on and will feel the G forces acting in their prime, closing the circuit at a top speed near 250 km/h (155 mph).
The Grand Prix configuration at Circuit de Dijon-Prenois delivers the full 3.801-kilometer layout through 14 turns at this historic French facility in Burgundy wine country near Dijon. The GP circuit represents the complete challenge utilizing all available track sections across the facility that hosted the French Grand Prix in 1974, 1977, 1979, 1981, and 1984. This configuration serves as Dijon-Prenois' flagship layout for club racing, historic events, and track days honoring the circuit's Formula One heritage.
What distinguishes the GP configuration from shorter Dijon-Prenois variants is the comprehensive utilization of the facility's elevation changes and corner variety that made it a challenging Formula One venue in the 1970s and 1980s. Eastern France's continental climate creates seasonal racing windows operating primarily April through October. The GP layout preserves Dijon-Prenois' historical significance while serving modern motorsport activities, maintaining the complete circuit that witnessed legendary F1 battles during French Grand Prix era.
