The 1967 French Grand Prix was the only Formula One race ever held on the Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans, and the first French Grand Prix at Le Mans since 1929.
Key Facts
- Race date
- 2 July 1967
- Championship round
- Race 5 of 11
- Circuit length
- 4.2 km (approx.)
- Attendance
- Approximately 20,000
- Previous French GP at Le Mans
- 1929
- Circuit opened
- 1965
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The Automobile Club de France selected the newly opened Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans as the venue for the 1967 French Grand Prix. The circuit, opened in 1965, used the main pit straight of the famous 24 Hours layout but routed cars through a short infield section rather than the full Circuit de la Sarthe, making it notably shorter than most contemporary Grand Prix venues.
On 2 July 1967, Formula One competitors raced at the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans in the fifth round of the 1967 World Championship of Drivers and the 1967 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The compact circuit, lacking the Dunlop Chicane present in later configurations, was widely criticised by drivers and spectators alike for being uninteresting compared to the longer circuits typical of the era.
The race drew only around 20,000 spectators and was universally unpopular with drivers and crowds. Many drivers felt the full Circuit de la Sarthe should have been used instead. The Bugatti Circuit was never again used for a Formula One Grand Prix, making the 1967 race its sole appearance on the F1 calendar, though the circuit continued to host the French motorcycle Grand Prix.