A HELLISH F1 track at the base of a volcano was abandoned after several serious incidents.
Located near the mountains of Clermont-Ferrand in central France, the circuit first played host to the French Grand Prix in 1965.
The Circuit de Charade – better known by many as Clermont-Ferrand – is something of an oddity nowadays.
Nicknamed the “Green Hell of France” after Germany’s Nurburgring, this 50 turn track was absolutely terrifying.
The 8km abandoned route – which twists around the extinct Puy du Charade volcano – catapults you into the good old days of motorsport.
Despite it’s harsh turns and lack of run-out zones, the British racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart managed to win two out of the four GPs held there.
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But an unusual accident on the circuit also ended the career of the renowned Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko.
The Austrian driver was hit in the head by a dark volcanic rock thrown up by the car in front, driven by Bengt Peterson.
The stone pierced the visor of Marko, permanently blinding him in one eye.
Years before in 1959, British F2 racer Ivor Bueb lost his life during a race after being thrown from his car.
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The treacherous turns and volcanic debris littering the track were concluded as the main cause of the deadly crash.
As years went by the circuit started to become a safety hazard to spectators.
As a result, Formula One left Clermont-Ferrand and never returned.
Although a shorter version of the track was unveiled in 1989 and again in 2000, it never returned to its former glory.
Today, the Circuit de Charade offers training days, racing schools and classic car events.
In December 2020 the Departmental Council of Puy-de-Dôme unveiled a new plan to revitalise the circuit and safeguard its future as a centre for sport cars.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
