"A real billiard table": the Luc racing circuit has been given a makeover to improve safety and the experience

" It grips well and is consistent, the car holds the corners well. And it's magnificent !" After a few laps of the track in a Mercedes AMG GT, François Delecour, 62, has a twinkle in his eyes. The 1993 World Rally Vice-Champion (four WRC victories) nevertheless seems rather unbelievable in his cycling shorts.

But not at all after remembering that he finished 10th in the Biking Man des Alpes-Maritimes at the end of June, an ultra-distance cycling race of 1,000km and 22,000 meters of elevation gain, which he completed in three days, with only two hours of sleep! " I came to the circuit from my home in Plan-de-la-Tour, it's nearby ," he assures, he who covers nearly 400km per week by pedaling. Like other motorsport enthusiasts, he did not want to miss the inauguration of the new track of the Var circuit, in Luc-en-Provence.

Stéphane Ortelli: “A real billiards table”

This Wednesday morning, elected officials and guests were able to take part in passenger rides to discover the new black ribbon, which has the advantage of offering superior sound performance and improved resistance to higher temperatures by 6 degrees, so that the track does not deteriorate up to 84 degrees. It also displays " the same characteristics as those of Le Mans, the Nurburgring or Spa Francorchamps ."

Really? We asked the question to Stéphane Ortelli from Hyères, triple GT world champion and winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1998, who drove a Porsche Cayman S for laps and thrilled his passengers: " The new asphalt brings performance, there are no bumps, it's a real pool table! The kerbs have been extended at the exit of the bends, it's safer and it gives the impression of rediscovering these bends. I'm really surprised by the visual aspect. It's clean and it's beautiful with these new paint strips. The circuit is also more open with the development of the verges. It offers visual safety. I had a great time! "

Cédric Laurent, the circuit director, is a winner. This former test driver in Germany didn't hesitate to consult regular users (Zig Zag, AGS, Oreca) to find out their expectations. Particular attention was paid to the kerbs – Melbourne and Vallelunga type for purists – their size and layout, but also to the layout of the run-off, the strip beyond the kerb " which allows you to gain the extra meter ."

It took seven weeks and €2 million to restore the track to its former glory. Funded equally by the Var Department on one side; the circuit and the Luc and Mayons communities on the other, the work also improved driver safety.

Direct and safer pit lane

The most notable is the pit lane, which now leads directly to the paddock. " It no longer allows drivers to pass each other. The deceleration lane was too short; it's now longer and wider, " says Sébastien Boulet, the boss of Zig Zag.

And much more: the installation of three safety rails across the entire track, the installation of 100 meters of additional rails at the exit of turn 8 to prevent cars from going too far out, the installation of 2,000 new tires and an FIA-certified fence in the pit straight.

On the environmental front, the noise barrier has been extended to reduce the impact of noise emissions on local residents, particularly those in Mayons, while rainwater management has been improved to cope with increasingly frequent heavy rains.

Ferrari, Aston Martin and others looking for a ride

With 300 dates booked per year, the Le Luc circuit has built a solid reputation among an international clientele and gentlemen drivers looking for thrills, as well as manufacturers such as Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Oreca. " And others whose names we can't name ," says Cédric Laurent. The AGS team has its own entrance to the track, as does Zig Zag, which offers introductory driving lessons and courses all year round.

" These developments will allow the structure to develop further as a test circuit ," says the director, who also benefits from customers from the Alpes-Maritimes and Monaco, which represent 15% of the activity.

" Despite the Covid crisis and the Gonfaron fire the following year (2021), the financial situation was able to be redressed, allowing for the investments that have been made today. Without the help of the Department and local authorities, the circuit would have ceased its activity. We saved direct and indirect jobs ," rightly pointed out the president of the structure, Pierre Bédrane. Great successes always come from somewhere darker.