Map of the speed ring of the autodrome.

1928 painting of Albert Divo taking on the banking at Montlhery in a Delage torpedo

Autodrome de Montlhéry (established October 4, 1924) is an automobile racetrack, officially called L’autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry, located across the towns of Linas Bruyères-le-Châtel and Ollainville, outside Paris in the southside.

Industrialist Alexandre Lamblin hired René Jamin to design the 2,548.24 metres (1.58 mi) oval shaped track for up to 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) vehicles at 220 km/h (140 mph). It was initially called Autodrome parisien, and had especially high bankings. A road circuit was added in 1925.

The first race (the 1925 French Grand Prix) was held July 26, 1925 and organised by The Automobile Club de France Grand Prix. It was a race in which Robert Benoist in a Delage won; Antonio Ascari died in a Alfa Romeo P2. The Grand Prix revisited the track in 1927 and each year between 1931 and 1937.

In 1939 the track was sold to the government, deprived of maintenance, and again sold to Union technique de l’automobile et du cycle (UTAC) in December 1946.

The "Coupes du Salon", "Grand Prix de l'Age d'Or" and the "1000 km" were arranged irregularly since then, as the track has had several high-speed problems.

Fatal accidents at Autodrome de Montlhéry include Benoît Nicolas Musy (1956), and the one in which Peter Lindner, Franco Patria and three flag marshalls died in 1964.

The last certification for racing was gained in 2001.

Map of the entire autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry.

[edit] Other events

In 1933 the circuit hosted the UCI Road World Championships for cycling.

[edit] Further reading

• William Boddy, Montlhéry, the story of the Paris autodrome ISBN 1-84584-052-6

[edit] External links

• Montlhery.com Website about Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry
• Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry on Stades Mythiques
• Association pour la sauvegarde de l'autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry

Coordinates: 48°37′20″N 2°14′08″E / 48.622187°N 2.235546°E / 48.622187; 2.235546