Maps of the Gods

Sir,

Our touring holiday in France had been planned for some time before your brilliant series showing former circuits in their current state. Irrespective of the views of the rest of my party, as navigator I was able to take us to two old race circuits Reims and Rouen which it has long been my wish to see.

Two questions occur following my visit, and I wonder if any readers can shed any light on either of them. I have a video of the 1962 French GP at Rouen, and views of the pits show no separation between the pitlane and the circuit. There is now a wide pitlane, and a grass verge between the two. The pits have obviously been rebuilt, but can anyone say when that was?

My second problem has bothered me for years. I have several books of circuit maps, including the Autosport Directory, published in 1955, no less. In all these tomes, the Reims circuit map is wrong. The incorrect map shows the turn past the pits to be more than 90 degrees, Followed by a longish straight, then a gentle right/left ‘S’. In fact, the first turn is somewhat less than 90 degrees, and there is no ‘S’ bend, simply a right bander leading to a straight which ends in a left hander running up to the hairpin.

My question is, was there ever a circuit with the ‘incorrect’ shape? And if there was, when was it altered? I am not confused with the pre-war track here, which ran through the village of Gueux, and joined the Thillois straight halfway down.

I am, yours, etc. Barry J. Boor, Llandegfan, Anglesey