Aix les Bains Circuit du Lac

Aix les Bains, Savoie, France had a temporary race track, called Circuit du Lac, that hosted Formula 2, Formula Junior and Motorcycle Grand Prix races. It hosted events from 1949 to 1961.

Introduction

The Circuit du Lac d'Aix les Bains (the lake race track) was designed along the lake of Aix les Bains. Its length, convert|2400|m|mi|abbr=on, was typical of race tracks established in a city [ [http://www.motorsport-stats.com/f1/circuits/nonchamp/aixlesbains/map.html] map 1 ] [ [http://www.formula2.net/Aix2.gif] map 2 ] . A slightly different track [ [http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/tracks/aixlesbains_1953.jpg] (fr) Map 1953] was reported to be in use since 1953. It was the sole race track in Savoie - the nearest ones were Geneva's Circuit des Nations, Lausanne's Circuit du Léman, and Lyon. Many drivers and spectators attended from neighboring Switzerland and Italy, and even from the UK.

Racing events

Many races were held from 1949 to 1960:

Automobile

1949 1st Grand Prix du Lac (Formula 2)

* winner Eugène Martin with a Jicey-BMW,
* followed by Ernesto Tomqvist with a Simca Gordini T11
* and René Bonnet with a DB Citroën [ [http://www.formula2.net/F249_14.htm] Formula 2 1949]
* best l
Maurice Trintignant, 1min 19sec

1950 2nd Grand Prix du Lac (Formula 2)

* winner Raymond Sommer with a Ferrari 166-F2,
* followed by André Simon with a Simca Gordini T16 [ [http://www.formula2.net/F250_10.htm] Formula 2 1950]
* and Maurice Trintignant with a Simca Gordini T16
* best l
Harry Schell, 1min 20sec .4"

1951 3rd Grand Prix du Lac (Formula 2)

* winner Rudolf Fisher (CH) with a Ferrari 212/166,
* followed by Stirling Moss (GB) with an HWM Alta [ [http://www.rhonealpespeople.com/sortieImages2004/fetes/aix_lac/21.jpg] HWM Alta]
* and André Simon with a Simca Gordini T16 [ [http://www.formula2.net/F251_9.htm] Formule 2 1951]
* best l

1952 4th Grand Prix du Lac (Formula 2)

* winner Jean Behra with a Gordini T16,
* followed by Lance Macklin with an HWM Alta F2
* and Emmanuel de Graffenried with Maserati-Plate 4CLT/48 [ [http://www.formula2.net/F252_19.htm] Formula 2 1952]
* best l
Robert Manzon, 1min 36sec .4"

1953 5th Grand Prix du Lac (Formula 2)

* winner Élie Bayol [ [http://memoiresdestands.hautetfort.com/tag/circuit+du+lac+d%27aix-les-bains] (fr) Elie Bayol] with an Osca 20 [ [http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/5354/195253osca20nl4.jpg] Osca 20] ,
* followed by Louis Rosier with a Ferrari 500
* and Lance Macklin with an HWM 53 Alta.
* best l
Jean Behra, 1min 20sec

..........

1960 Circuit Prix du Lac (Formula junior)

* The race had to be stopped after the collapse, on the race track, of a bridgeway built for the media and the organizing committee. This led to the crash of the ELVA of Chris Threlfall in the remains of the structure, killing him on the spot as well as 4 other spectators. The race was cancelled without results being published [ [http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=1553] Details of the accident] .

This will be the last event on this race track....

Motorcycle

* In 1950: winner in 125cc : Jacques Vaque with MV Agusta, in 350cc : Georges Monneret with AJS, in 500cc : Nello Pagani, (Italy) with [Gilera] and in sidecar : Hans Haldemann / Josef Albisser, (Switzerland) with Norton.
* In 1951: winner in 350cc : Werner Gerber (Switzerland) on AJS, in 500cc : Werner Gerber (Switzerland) on Gilera and in sidecar : Eric Oliver / Lorenzo Dobelli, (UK/Italy) on Norton.
* In 1952 : winner in 350cc : Werner Gerber (Switzerland) on AJS, in 500cc : Werner Gerber (Switzerland) on AJS and in sidecar : Jacques Drion / Bob Onslow, (UK) on Norton.
* In 1953 : winner in 175cc : Gaston Gaury on Morini, in 350cc : Pierre Monneret on AJS, in 500cc : Giuseppe Colnago, (Italy) on Gilera and in sidecar : Eric Oliver / Stan Dibben, (UK) on Norton.
* In 1954 : winner in 175cc : René Bétemps on MV Agusta, in 350cc : Luigi Taveri, (Switzerland) on Norton, in 500cc : Werner Gerber, (Switzerland) on Norton, and in sidecar : Hans Haldemann / Luigi Taveri, (Switzerland) on Norton.

* In 1955 : the accident in Le Mans will cause many event cancellations.
* In 1956 : new safety rules prevent old tracks to be used without major safety modifications............
* In 1960 : the race is canceled because of a Formula Junior accident that happened four days before.
* In 1961 : the event is canceled.

References

External links

* [http://www.123savoie.com/article-48778-1-aix-les-bains-et-les-rallyes.html Aix les Bains and motorsports Fr icon]
* [http://www.rhonealpespeople.com/sortie/p5aix_lac.html The legend of the Circuit du Lac; 2004 Revival of the Crand Prix du LacFr icon]
* [http://racingmemo.free.fr/M%20FRANCE/MOTO%20FRANCE%201961.htm GP moto in France Fr icon]