Circuit info
Length: 4.180 m. / 2,597 miles
Width: 13m
Left corners: 4
Right corners: 9
Longest straight: 674 m. / 0,419 miles
Constructed: 1966
Modified: 2008
Introduction:
Built in 1965 around the existing 24-Hour track, the Le Mans Bugatti Grand Prix race circuit lies 5km south of the city of Le Mans and 200km south-west of Paris. The venue has hosted Grand Prix since the late sixties but a serious accident to Spanish rider Alberto Puig in 1995 saw it struck off the calendar until 2000 whilst stringent safety improvements were carried out.
Le Mans is a tight track dominated by first gear corners that place the emphasis on late braking and hard acceleration, whilst rear end traction is also a key area. With the capacity to comfortably accommodate up to 100,000 spectators, the Bugatti circuit also plays host to the 24 hour truck race, the FIA GP2 Championship, French Touring Car and GT races.
Ellison surges to maiden top-CRT spot
After the disappointment of retiring in his last two GPs aboard the Paul Bird Motorsport Aprilia ART machine, the 31-year-old rider from Kendal, UK, overcame the treacherous conditions at the legendary circuit to claim his best result since his ninth place in Catalunya in 2006.
Speculation had been rife in the build up to the event that Ellison was to be replaced by another rider for the GP, in the form of Shane Byrne, yet this was denied by the team’s owner Paul Bird just before the race. Ellison will take heart from this performance, and will no doubt be looking for a repeat at the next round in Catalunya.
James Ellison
"The team boss Paul Bird was here this weekend and thankfully we put on a good show for him. We think we have found a setting that works in the wet or dry. It was a tough race and I'm just glad to get one for the team and I'd just like to say thanks to all my sponsors who have supported me and to the team who have done a fantastic job. I'm really looking forward to the next round and hope we can build on this result."
Paul Bird, Team Owner
"James rode a brilliant race and not only did he beat a couple of prototypes, including an ex World Champion Ben Spies on the factory Yamaha, his lap times were similar to them. The team has worked so hard and this is just what they deserved. I never thought we'd be sharing the parc ferme with the likes of Lorenzo, Stoner and Rossi but it just goes to show what can be achieved. We needed to sit down and work out a plan after Estoril, which we did, and it has worked so we now are all looking forward to Catalunya."
