Paul Ricard HTTT

vyselegend · Post 01 Mar 2007, 20:15

Hi everyone.

I'm back from short hollidays seeing some familly in south France. As the Paul Ricard HTTT was only 20 km away, I decided to go to the track to see the GP2 test session (21/02). It was a huge disappointment. First I called them and the girl on the phone told me public wasn't allowed, she even refused to communicate the calendar of the track. Still, we decided to go to try to catch a glimpse of the action by standing around the circuit area, but the whole place is surrounded by hills (probably artificials) and a resonably high wall.

When you park at the entrance and enter the office, there is a gorilla in security uniform who looks you like you entered the wrong door, and before you can even reach him you have to go past a big board saying public can't see the track. sigh.
I perfectly understand that this track is designed for private tests and not for public, but it is a bit harsh to rule it as a fortress, you're not even allowed to visit the track when there's no test.

Anyway, that's not what brings me here.

Something surprised me with the geographical position of the Paul Ricard. In south France there is a famous wind called "mistral", wich gain its strengh from descending the valley of the Rhone (vallée du Rhône) from the north (in germany), to the mediteranean sea. It is quite a strong wind (I'd say it can reach 120 kph easily), and most of all it comes very often.
That day we got there this wind was strong, and the track was obviously in the axle of it. That's what I dont understand. I think if I were to build a test track I'd avoid windy places at all cost. It must be difficult to validate any aero concept in such conditions.
Why did they build the track in the windiest place of the country? Surely not on purpose. I don't get it.

Principessa · Post 01 Mar 2007, 20:22

Did you ever think that those artificial hills may be to protect the track from too much wind?? That's my idea.

When I visited France, we didn't have troubles with the Mistral, but that's because of this:
"Mistral is an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs mostly in the winter and spring in the Gulf of Lion."

manchild · Post 01 Mar 2007, 20:26

Well, Paul Ricard is an old circuit built in 1969 when cars relied mainly on mechanical grip so wind wasn't considered I guess.

vyselegend · Post 01 Mar 2007, 20:31

Yes, you're right, I mentioned hills, but they didn't seem convincing against the wind.

My argument is that you can see that the trees on the other side are as much affected by the wind as the other trees of the area, I meant in this zone all trees are growing in diagonal (like the tower of Pise), because of the mistral. As for this wind, from my experience, it can happen at any times through the year, I've witnessed it in all seasons, although it probably happen more frequently in winter and spring if you found that. I guess I have to check that on wikipedia.

dumrick · Post 01 Mar 2007, 20:43

Well, some reason is there for the main straight on the circuit (the one opposed to the pits) to be called "Mistral"...

Oh, joyful souvenirs of being at Paul-Ricard in the Shell Eco-Marathon, getting drunk in the pits with some french teams and cycling my way around the circuit in the middle of the night...