FRANCE
With eight circuits in total, no country has used more venues than France for its 500cc world championship races, the first of which took place on the public roads of Albi in 1951, Alfredo Milani giving Gilera the victory around the 8.9km (5.5 mile) circuit. Rouen and Reims took turns to hold it briefly but in subsequent years it found a new home in Clermont-Ferrand. The Charade Circuit was a daunting 8km (5 mile) circuit in the Auvergne Mountains built around the sides of an extinct volcano, the course being described as an even twistier and faster version of the Nürburgring. By the turn of the 1970s, the French GP was alternating between Clermont-ferrand and Le Mans until the former was struck off the calendar after the 1974 season. As a result, the new Paul Ricard circuit was used more regularly alongside Le Mans after the championship had made its maiden visit there in 1973, Jarno Saarinen taking victory on the new 500cc Yamaha. Dominated by the 1.8km (1.1 mile) Mistral straight followed by the highspeed, right-hand Signes corner, its innovative facilities made it one of the safest motor racing circuits in the world at the time of its opening. However, when owner Ricard died, the track was sold to a company owned by Bernie Ecclestone and it was used solely as a test track. Le Mans has subsequently hosted the French GP every year since 2000. Nogaro was used in both 1978 and 1982, but the latter was boycotted by the leading teams due to the general conditions both on and off the circuit, Swiss rider Michel Frutschi (pictured) giving the Italian Sanvenero manufacturer, who’d enjoyed great success in the 125cc division, their one and only win, or indeed podium, in the 500cc category. Magny-cours was used just once in 1992.