View source for Pau Grand Prix

{{Short description|Motor race held in Pau}}
{{F1 race 
| Name                  = Pau Grand Prix
| Flag                  = Flag of France.svg
| Circuit               = Circuit de Pau-Ville
| Circuit_image         = Carte circuit de Pau.png
| Laps                  = 16
| First_held            = 1933
| Last_held             = 
| Times_held            = 73
| Circuit_length_km     = 2.760
| Circuit_length_mi     = 1.714
| Race_length_km        = 91.1
| Race_length_mi        = 56.562
| Most_wins_driver      = {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Jim Clark]] (4)
| Most_wins_constructor = {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Dallara]] (12)
| Current_year          = 2023
| Winner                = {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Enzo Peugeot]]
| Winning_team          = [[French Federation of Automobile Sport|FFSA]]
| Winning_time          = 00:46:06.988
| Second                = {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Evan Giltaire]]
| Second_team           = [[French Federation of Automobile Sport|FFSA]]
| Second_time           = +2.750&nbsp;s
| Third                 = {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Yani Stevenheydens]]
| Third_team            = [[French Federation of Automobile Sport|FFSA]]
| Third_time            = +6.007&nbsp;s
| Pole_driver           = {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Kevin Foster (racing driver)|Kevin Foster]]
| Pole_team             = [[French Federation of Automobile Sport|FFSA]]
| Pole_time             = 1:24.426
| Fastest_lap_driver    = {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hiyu Yamakoshi]]
| Fastest_lap_team      = [[French Federation of Automobile Sport|FFSA]]
| Fastest_lap           = 1:18.852
}}

{{Motorsport venue
| Name          = Circuit de Pau-Ville
| Location      = [[Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques|Pau]], [[France]]
| Time          = [[Central European Time|CET]] (UTC+1)<br />[[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] ([[Daylight saving time|DST]])
| Coordinates   = {{Coord|43|17|33|N|000|21|47|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| FIAGrade      = 3
| Image         = [[Image:Carte circuit de Pau.png|230px]]
| Events        = '''Former:'''<br />[[TCR Europe Touring Car Series|TCR Europe]] (2023)<br />[[French F4 Championship|French F4]] (2011–2019, 2022–2023)<br />[[FIA ETCR – eTouring Car World Cup|FIA ETCR]] (2022)<br />[[FFSA GT Championship|FFSA GT]] (1999, 2001–2003, 2005, 2017–2019)<br />[[World Touring Car Cup|WTCR]] ''[[FIA WTCR Race of France|Race of France]]'' (2022)<br />[[Euroformula Open Championship|Euroformula Open]] (2019, 2022)<br />[[World Touring Car Championship|WTCC]] ''[[FIA WTCR Race of France|Race of France]]''<br>(2007–2009)<br />[[Formula Renault Eurocup]] (2017)<br />[[FIA Formula 3 European Championship]] (2011–2012, 2014–2018)<br />[[Formula 3 Euro Series]] (2003–2005, 2008)<br />[[FIA European Formula 3 Cup]] (1999–2003)<br />[[International Formula 3000|F3000]] (1985–1998)<br />[[European Formula Two Championship|European F2]] (1964–1984)
| Opened        = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1933|02|19}}
| Layout1       = Grand Prix Circuit (1935–present)
| Length_km     = 2.769
| Length_mi     = 1.721
| Turns         = 15
| Record_time   = 1:09.788
| Record_driver = {{flagicon|GER}} [[Maximilian Günther]]
| Record_car    = [[Dallara F312|Dallara F316]]
| Record_year   = [[2017 FIA Formula 3 European Championship|2017]]
| Record_class  = [[Formula 3|F3]]
| Layout2       = Original Circuit (1933)
| Length_km2    = 2.649
| Length_mi2    = 1.646
| Turns2        = 14
| Record_time2  = 2:04.000
| Record_driver2= {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Philippe Étancelin]]
| Record_car2   = [[Alfa Romeo in motorsport|Alfa Romeo Monza]]
| Record_year2  = [[1933 Pau Grand Prix|1933]]
| Record_class2 = [[Formula Libre]]
}}

[[Image:Paucircuit.jpg|thumb|Brazilian driver [[Átila Abreu]] drives the picturesque Pau Circuit in 2005]]

The '''Pau Grand Prix''' ({{langx|fr|Grand Prix de Pau}}) is a [[Motorsport|motor race]] held in [[Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques|Pau]], in the [[Pyrénées-Atlantiques]] department of southwestern [[France]]. The [[French Grand Prix]] was held at Pau in 1930, leading to the annual Pau Grand Prix being inaugurated in 1933. It was not run during [[World War II]] and in 2020–2021 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

The race takes place around the centre of the city, where public roads are closed to form a [[street circuit]], and over the years the event has variously conformed to the rules of [[Grand Prix motor racing|Grand Prix racing]], [[Formula One]], [[Formula Two]], [[Formula 3000]], [[Formula Three]], [[Formula Libre]], [[sports car racing]], and [[touring car racing]].

In 2021, ''[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]]'' included the Pau Grand Prix in its list of "The 10 best street circuits in the world".<ref>{{Cite web|title=The 10 best street circuits in the world|url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motorsport-news/10-best-street-circuits-world|access-date=2021-05-26|website=Autocar|language=en}}</ref>

==Circuit==
The race is run around a {{convert|2.769|km|mi|abbr=on}} long street circuit, the "Circuit de Pau-Ville" laid out around the French town, and is in many ways similar to the more famous Formula One [[Monaco Grand Prix]]. About {{cvt|20|km|mi|adj=on}} to the west of the city, there is a {{convert|3.030|km|mi|abbr=on}} long club track named [[Circuit Pau-Arnos]].

For the event, cars are set up with greater suspension travel than is typically utilised at a purpose-built racing circuit to minimise the effect of running on the more undulating tarmac of the street circuit.<ref name="Track Reveal #4:Pau">{{cite news|url=http://videogames.atari.com/racepro/#/uk/home/|title=Track Reveal #4:Pau|access-date=2009-03-29|date=n.d.|publisher=atari.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318051457/http://videogames.atari.com/racepro/#/uk/home/|archive-date=2009-03-18}}</ref>

==History==
{{Refimprove section|date=July 2018}}

===''Circuit du Sud-Ouest'' (1900–1901)===

In 1900, as part of the 'Semaine de Pau', the newly created ''Automobile-club du Béarn'' held a race on a {{cvt|300|km|mi|adj=on}} road circuit, called the ''Circuit du sud-ouest'' (Pau–Tarbes–Bayonne–Pau). The race was given the same name as the circuit, and was won by [[René de Knyff]].

In 1901, for the second event, the race had individual prizes for the four separate classes of entrants:
* The ''Grand Prix de Pau'' (cars 650&nbsp;kg or over) was awarded to [[Maurice Farman]] ([[Panhard|Panhard 24 hp]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gpw1.htm |title=Grand Prix Winners 1895–1949: Part 1 (1895–1916) |first=Hans |last=Etzrodt |date=2013-06-09 |access-date=2017-03-10 |archive-date=2009-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413060254/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gpw1.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=TNF>{{cite web |url=http://forums.autosport.com/lofiversion/index.php/t57839.html |title=Autosport, The Nostalgia Forum, Robert Dick quoting (translating) from ''La France Automobile'' (March 1901), and from ''L'Histoire de l'Automobile'' by Pierre Souvestre (published in Paris in 1907) |date=2003-09-06 |access-date=2017-03-10}}</ref><ref group="N">By the turn of the 20th century the term ''Grand Prix'' had become common parlance in France, having been used since the [[Grand Prix de Paris]] horse race in 1886 (e.g. the Grand Prix de Paris for Cyclists in 1895) ([https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1895/07/18/102465759.pdf New York Times, July 18, 1895, Grand Prix de Paris for Cyclists]). Thus in the Anglophone world the main winner's prize (''Grand Prix de Pau'') subsequently became synonymous with the event.({{cite web |url= http://forix.autosport.com/8w/f06.html |title= The first Grand Prix |author= Leif Snellman |work= 8W |publisher= FORIX |date= 2002-05-27 |access-date= 2011-01-28}})</ref>
* The ''Grand Prix du Palais d'Hiver'' (400–650&nbsp;kg 'Light car' class) was awarded to [[Henri Farman]] ([[Automobiles Darracq France|Darracq]]).<ref name=TNF/>
* The second ''Grand Prix du Palais d'Hiver'' (under 400&nbsp;kg ''Voiturettes'') as awarded to [[Louis Renault (industrialist)|Louis Renault]] ([[Renault]]).<ref name=TNF/>
* The ''Prix du Béarn'' was awarded to Osmont in a '[[De Dion-Bouton|De Dion]]' tricycle.<ref name=TNF/>

===French Grand Prix (1930)===

The [[French Grand Prix]] was held at Pau in 1930.<ref name=GPW2>{{cite web |url=http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gpw2.htm |title=Grand Prix Winners 1895–1949: Part 2 (1919–1933) |first=Hans |last=Etzrodt |date=2018-01-01 |access-date=2018-07-16 |archive-date=2013-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629083011/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gpw2.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Starts of the ''Grand Prix de Pau''===

[[File:Circuit de Pau 1933.svg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Map of the Pau circuit in 1933]]
[[Image:Tazio Nuvolari winning the 1935 Grand Prix de Pau.jpg|thumb|Nuvolari wins 1935 Pau Grand Prix]]
The 1933 Grand Prix de Pau was held in February with snow still on the ground.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} The race was won by Marcel Lehoux driving a [[Bugatti]].<ref name=GPW2/>

There was no Grand Prix in 1934, and in 1935 the event returned with a modified route that bypassed Beaumont Park – the route that is still in use today – and the location of the pits was also moved. In 1937, the regulations were changed and Grand Prix cars were restricted to 4500 cc. In 1938, the Pau Grand Prix was the scene of a symbolic duel between French [[René Dreyfus]] ([[Delahaye]]) and the German [[Rudolf Caracciola]] ([[Mercedes-Benz]]). In 1939, another duel took place between two Mercedes teammates, [[Hermann Lang]] and [[Manfred von Brauchitsch]]; Lang won the race.

The event took place regularly with a race almost every year, except during [[World War II]], but returned to the calendar in 1947. The 1947 and 1948 events were very successful keeping the public in suspense from start to finish. In 1948, the young [[Nello Pagani]] won, defeating many of the famous drivers of the time, such as [[Raymond Sommer]], [[Philippe Etancelin]] and [[Jean-Pierre Wimille]].

=== 1950s and early 1960s ===
In 1949, [[Juan Manuel Fangio]] won by dominating the event. He started from pole position as in the previous year, but also achieved the fastest lap and gained victory. 

The Frenchman [[Jean Behra]] won in 1954, before a record crowd, driving a [[Simca]]-[[Gordini]]. His win was a result of a duel with Ferrari driver [[Maurice Trintignant]] at a time when many French manufacturers were no longer present at the GP.

On 11 April 1955, the Italian [[Mario Alborghetti]] died in a racing accident, the [[Maserati]] driver apparently confused his pedals after being distracted and crashed against some hay bales. His death was announced to spectators after the race.

The 1956 race was cancelled following the tragic accident at [[1955 Le Mans disaster|Le Mans]] the previous year. Improvements to the circuit were made for the 1957 event, both in terms of safety and the comfort of competitors and spectators.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grandprixhistorique.com/05_historique/historique_02.htm |title=La domination italienne en grand prix: 1947–1959 |trans-title=Italian domination in the Grand Prix: 1947–1959 |publisher=grandprixhistorique.com  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304203341/http://www.grandprixhistorique.com/05_historique/historique_02.htm |archive-date=2009-03-04 |url-status=dead |access-date=2017-03-10}}</ref>

After being run to Formula Two regulations in 1958–1960, limiting the capacity to 1500&nbsp;cm<sup>3</sup> Formula One in 1961 allowed the Grand Prix de Pau back in the spotlight ahead of the [[Monaco Grand Prix]]. In the early 1960s, the event was won by such famous drivers as [[Jack Brabham]], [[Maurice Trintignant]], and [[Jim Clark]] (who achieved his first victory in a Formula One car in Pau Grand Prix in 1961, and went on to win the Pau Grand Prix three more times in 1963–1965).

=== Formula Two period (1964–1984) ===
[[File:Jacques Laffite 1982 Pau.jpg|thumb|Jacques Laffite in F1 roadshow in Pau (1982)]]

In 1964, after switching the format of the Grand Prix again from Formula One to Formula Two, [[Jim Clark]] won the Grand Prix for the second consecutive year, repeating his success for the third time in a row the following year. In 1967, drivers such as [[Jean-Pierre Beltoise]] and [[Henri Pescarolo]] made their debut at Pau. [[Jochen Rindt]] won his first Grand Prix de Pau that year before winning twice more in 1969 and 1970. In 1968, [[Jackie Stewart]] won with [[Matra Sports]].

During this period, several former and future world champions also raced at the event: [[Graham Hill]], [[Jackie Stewart]], [[Jack Brabham]], [[Denny Hulme]], and [[Emerson Fittipaldi]]. There also appeared more young French drivers like [[Johnny Servoz-Gavin]], [[Jean-Pierre Jarier]], [[Jean-Pierre Jabouille]], [[Patrick Depailler]] and [[François Cevert]], as well as other drivers such as [[Reine Wisell]] and [[Peter Gethin]], who won the Grand Prix in 1971 and 1972 respectively.

In 1973, the event was threatened by problems with the [[Homologation (motorsport)|homologation]] of the circuit, it was quickly brought up to standard by the personal intervention of the Mayor [[André Labarrère]] (who had been in office since 1971). François Cevert won that year.

Drivers such as [[Jacques Laffite]], [[Patrick Depailler]] and [[René Arnoux]] won in Pau, and many F1 drivers at the time continued to race in [[Formula Two]]. In 1980, the 40th Grand Prix de Pau was won by the French driver [[Richard Dallest]].

=== Formula 3000 (1985–1998) ===

In 1985, [[Formula 3000]] replaced [[Formula Two]] as the "second-division" formula below [[Formula One]] and the Grand Prix de Pau became part of the new Formula 3000 European Championship. That same year, [[Alain Prost]] became co-organiser of the race.<ref name="F3000">{{cite web |title=Génération F3000 |website=grandprixhistorique.com |url=http://www.grandprixhistorique.com/05_historique/historique_05.htm |access-date=2013-02-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306013525/http://www.grandprixhistorique.com/05_historique/historique_05.htm |archive-date=2009-03-06 }}</ref>

In 1989, [[Jean Alesi]] took his first victory after a turbulent start (the race was restarted four times because of successive problems on the grid, and a spectacular crash).{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

In 1994, French driver [[Nicolas Leboissetier]] had a spectacular accident at the ''Virage de la gare'' ("train station corner"), reviving the climate of tension that followed the deaths of [[Ayrton Senna]] and [[Roland Ratzenberger]] at [[Imola]] during the [[1994 San Marino Grand Prix]].

The Pau-born driver [[David Dussau]] participated in the race in 1996. He was well-positioned on the grid, but was forced to retire because of a crash.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

Colombian [[Juan-Pablo Montoya]] won the race twice, in 1997 and 1998.

The [[French Supertouring Championship]] was a support event from 1993 to 2000.

At the end of 1998, it was decided that all Formula 3000 races would be organised exclusively as the curtain-raiser of European-based Formula One Grand Prix,<ref name="F3000"/> and thus the event in Pau could no longer be run as a Formula 3000 race.

=== Formula Three (1999–2006) ===

Following the disappearance of the Formula 3000 race in Pau, the [[FIA]] organised the new [[FIA European Formula Three Cup|European Formula Three Cup]] in 1999. Formula Three, however, had already come to Pau before as part of the French championship and a support race of F3000. The Grand Prix format also changed completely: the race became shorter (40 minutes instead of 1.5 hours in F3000).

The switch to a more junior formula raised an outcry from the passionate spectators because at that time the European Cup Formula Three was not sufficiently popular in motorsport.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} The first edition of the European Cup is won by [[Benoît Tréluyer]]. This event also included the [[French Formula Three Championship]] race, which was a non-championship race.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

In 2000, the European Cup is stopped and replaced by the new championship [[Formula 3 Euro Series]], a fusion of the French and German championships. Over the years the Grand Prix became a very important race in the Formula Three calendar. In 2001 the race was won by [[Anthony Davidson]] from the pole position, driving a Carlin Dallara-Honda. Davidson went on to win the Euro F3 series that year.

The 2005 edition saw victory for a young [[Lewis Hamilton]], who went on to become a Formula One World Champion three years later.

In 2006, Formula Three was back on the calendar but within the [[British Formula 3 International Series|British Championship]], and the two races were won by [[Romain Grosjean]] who was not a regular competitor in the championship.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

The [[French Supertouring Championship|FFSA Silhouettes]] was a support event from 2001 to 2004, whereas the [[FFSA GT Championship]] raced in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2005. The [[British GT Championship]] visited Pau in 2006 with a few FFSA GT guests.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

=== WTCC (2007–2009) ===
[[File:Yvan Muller SEAT Leon 2007 Pau.jpg|thumb|[[Yvan Muller]] in [[Seat León]] at the 2007 Pau Grand Prix]]
From 2007 to 2009, the event changed to touring cars, hosting the [[World Touring Car Championship]] (WTCC) for the [[FIA WTCC Race of France|Race of France]]. The F3 Euro Series returned to support the WTCC during the 2008 event which saw the Brazilian driver [[Augusto Farfus]] (WTCC) involved in a crash in the Foch Chicane.

In 2009, after a number of incidents on the opening lap of the second race, the decision was made to deploy the safety car.  However, the 'SC' boards informing the drivers of a safety car period had only just been displayed when the safety car driver drove onto the track without being given the order to do so. [[Franz Engstler]], leading the race at the time, was in the process of slowing down when he came around the first corner and had a heavy collision with the safety car which was nearly stopped in the middle of the track. The FIA subsequently sanctioned the officials in charge of the safety car at the event.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crash.net/wtcc/news/147026/1/fia_confirms_safety_car_didnt_get_go_ahead.html |title=Safety car shouldn't have been on track &#124; WTCC News &#124; May 2009 |publisher=Crash.Net |date=2009-05-19 |access-date=2014-02-04}}</ref>

The 2009 event featured the [[Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup]]; the [[French Formula Renault]] had last raced at Pau in 2006.

Following a decision taken by the municipality for financial reasons, the Grand Prix was suspended in 2010, and the WTCC was no longer from this point.

=== Return of Formula Three (2011–2012) ===
The event was revived in 2011 by [[Peter Auto]] and with the return of Formula Three with the [[FIA Formula 3 International Trophy|International Trophy]] as the main event. However, the race was shorter than in previous years and only had fifteen drivers on the entry list, so there were few spectators. In addition, the only French driver, [[Tom Dillmann]], retired on the fourth lap of the race, which was won by the German [[Marco Wittmann]].<ref>{{cite web|title=F3 : 2011 Pau – Marco Wittmann wins FIA Formula 3 International Trophy race|url=http://www.f1sa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29226:f3--2011-pau-marco-wittmann-wins-fia-formula-3-international-trophy-race&catid=35:f3&Itemid=240|work=F1SA.com|publisher=FOSA cc|access-date=31 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129151906/http://f1sa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29226:f3--2011-pau-marco-wittmann-wins-fia-formula-3-international-trophy-race&catid=35:f3&Itemid=240|archive-date=29 November 2011}}</ref>

One of the most important support races of the weekend was the first electric Grand Prix, run with cars with full electric drivetrains. The category included mostly French drivers such as [[Soheil Ayari]], [[Franck Lagorce]] and [[Olivier Panis]]. Also, the [[Formula Renault 2.0 Alps]] made their first visit to Pau.

In 2012, the organisers announced that in addition to the International Trophy there would also be a round of the [[British Formula 3 International Series|British Formula Three Championship]]. But on March 9, 2012, the World Motor Sport Council of the FIA announced that it would be part of a new [[FIA Formula 3 European Championship]], revived from the previous series which ended in 1984.  The Italian [[Raffaele Marciello]] won the Grand Prix after dominating qualifying and the race sprint. This victory made him one of the youngest winners of the Pau Grand Prix at only 18 years of age. There were no French drivers in the event

The [[Porsche Carrera Cup France]] was also added to the program for 2012 and one of the drivers was [[Sébastien Loeb]] and his team [[Sébastien Loeb Racing]]. The Alsatian dominated the weekend and impressed when he won both races with leads of over ten seconds.

At the second Grand Prix de Pau electric, the two races were won by the same winners as the previous year, but in reverse order; the first race was won by [[Adrien Tambay]], the second by [[Mike Parisy]]. The participants included the Canadian driver [[Marc-Antoine Camirand]] (from [[Quebec]]) who, with his car in the colours of the [[Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières]], was present to pay tribute to the Formula One driver [[Gilles Villeneuve]] and to bring the electric GP to Trois-Rivières.
 
The 2012 event received between 22,000 and 23,000 spectators, 10 to 15% more than in 2011.

=== Formula Renault 2.0 Pau Trophy (2013) ===
The 2013 event took place on 18, 19 and 20 May. At the Whit Monday holiday, an historical tradition of Pau Grand Prix, the headliner should have been the [[British Formula 3 International Series|British Formula Three Championship]]. But this series, with a lot of concurrence with the [[FIA Formula 3 European Championship]], was forced to reduce its calendar to 4 events and so cancelled many rounds including Pau.  The headliner would, therefore, take place as a non-championship "special" race for [[Formula Renault]] 2.0 open to several European championships teams and drivers: the Formula Renault 2.0 Pau Trophy.

At the end of January 2013, the organisers announced that [[Sébastien Loeb]] and [[Jacques Villeneuve]] would be present in Pau in the Mitjet 2L category.

=== Return of European Formula Three (2014–2022) ===

From 2014 to 2018, the Pau Grand Prix was headlined by the [[FIA Formula 3 European Championship]]. The [[Formula Renault 2.0 Alps]] also returned to Pau in 2014. The [[GT4 European Series]] joined the event in 2016, being replaced by the [[FFSA GT Championship]] from 2017 to 2019. For 2019 and 2022, the [[Euroformula Open Championship]] became the new headlining formula race. 2020 race was cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], and there was no race planned for 2021. The [[World Touring Car Cup]] and [[FIA ETCR – eTouring Car World Cup]] joined the event in 2022.

=== Formula Four (2023) ===

Also in 2023, the [[Euroformula Open Championship]] was intended to be the headlining formula race, however the Euroformula Open race was cancelled on 5 May due to a misunderstanding between the organisers of Euroformula and Pau GP organizers linked with the possibility to run on sustainable fuel during the weekend.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://formulascout.com/the-inside-story-of-the-2023-pau-grand-prix/106943 | title=The inside story of the 2023 Pau Grand Prix | date=16 May 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |title=Euroformula adjusts 2023 calendar to include Pau Grand Prix |url=https://formulascout.com/euroformula-adjusts-2023-calendar-to-include-pau-grand-prix/103089 |website=Formula Scout |date=24 January 2023 |access-date=13 May 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Euroformula Open forced to withdraw from 2023 Grand Prix de Pau for technical reasons |url=https://www.euroformulaopen.net/en/news/4871/euroformula-open-forced-to-withdraw-from-2023-grand-prix-de-pau-for-technical-reasons |website=Euroformula Open |date=5 May 2023 |access-date=13 May 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref> After the cancellation of Euroformula race, the weekend program was updated and [[French F4 Championship]] was designated to be the titular race, in which the third [[Formula 4]] race would be considered the Grand Prix.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Ida |title=French F4 chosen to be the titular race for this weekend's Pau Grand Prix |url=https://formulascout.com/french-f4-chosen-to-be-the-titular-race-for-this-weekends-pau-grand-prix/106731 |date=9 May 2023 |access-date=13 May 2023 |website=Formula Scout |language=en-US}}</ref> Besides French F4 Championship, [[TCR Europe Touring Car Series]] joined the event in 2023.

==Events==

; Former

* [[Euroformula Open Championship]] (2019, 2022)
* [[European Formula Two Championship]] (1964–1984)
* [[FFSA GT Championship]] (1999, 2001–2003, 2005, 2017–2019)
* [[FIA ETCR – eTouring Car World Cup]] (2022)
* [[FIA European Formula 3 Cup]] (1999–2003)
* [[FIA Formula 3 European Championship]] (2011–2012, 2014–2018)
* [[Formula 3 Euro Series]] (2003–2005, 2008)
* [[Formula Renault 2.0 Alps]] (2011–2012, 2014–2015)
* [[Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup]] (1971–1972, 1975–2006, 2008–2009)
* [[Formula Renault Eurocup]] (2017)
* [[Formula Renault Northern European Cup]] (2018)
* [[French F4 Championship]] (2011–2019, 2022–2023)
* [[French Formula Three Championship]] (1964–1971, 1973, 1984–1998, 2000)
* [[French Supertouring Championship]] (1977–1983, 1986, 1988, 1990–1991, 1993–2005)
* {{ill|Grand Prix de Pau historique|fr}} (2001–2019, 2022–2023)
* [[International Formula 3000]] (1985–1998)
* [[International Formula Master]] (2007–2009)
* [[Porsche Carrera Cup France]] (1987–1992, 1995–1997, 2002–2006, 2012–2013)
* [[TCR Europe Touring Car Series]] (2023)
* [[World Touring Car Championship]]
** ''[[FIA WTCR Race of France|FIA WTCC Race of France]]'' (2007–2009)
* [[World Touring Car Cup]] 
** ''[[FIA WTCR Race of France|Race of France]]'' (2022)

== Lap records ==

The outright unofficial all-time track record is 1:08.600, set by [[Andrea Montermini]] in a [[Reynard 92D]], during qualifying for the [[1992 International Formula 3000 Championship|1992 Pau Grand Prix]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Pau - Motorsport Magazine |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/circuits/pau/ |website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport Magazine]] |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> As of May 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the Pau Grand Prix street circuit are listed as:

{| class="wikitable"
!Category!!Time!!Driver!!Vehicle!!Event
|-
! colspan=5 | Grand Prix Circuit (1935–present): 2.769&nbsp;km 
|-
| [[Formula Three|F3]] || '''1:09.788'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2017 Pau European F3 |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/2017-pau-european-f3/ |website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport Magazine]] |date=21 May 2017 |access-date=13 January 2023}}</ref> || [[Maximilian Günther]] || [[Dallara F312|Dallara F316]] || [[2017 FIA Formula 3 European Championship|2017 Pau F3 European Championship Race 2]]
|-
| [[Formula 3000|F3000]] || '''1:09.820'''<ref>{{cite web |title=1992 Pau Grand Prix |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1992-pau-grand-prix/ |website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport Magazine]] |date=8 June 1992 |access-date=13 January 2023}}</ref> || [[Emanuele Naspetti]] || [[Reynard 92D]] || [[1992 International Formula 3000 Championship|1992 Pau Grand Prix]]
|-
| [[Euroformula Open Championship|Euroformula Open]] || '''1:10.608'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2022 EuroFormula Open Pau (Race 1) |url=https://www.racingyears.com/race.php?GP=2022%20EuroFormula%20Open%20Pau%20(Race%201) |date=7 May 2022 |access-date=28 November 2022}}</ref> || [[Oliver Goethe]] || [[Dallara 320]] || [[2022 Euroformula Open Championship|2022 Pau Euroformula Open Race 1]]
|-
| [[International Formula Master]] || '''1:11.703'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2009 Pau Formula Master |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/2009-pau-formula-master/ |website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport Magazine]] |date=17 May 2009 |access-date=29 June 2022}}</ref> || [[Fabio Leimer]] || [[Tatuus N.T07]] || [[2009 International Formula Master|2009 Pau Formula Master round]]
|-
| [[Formula Two|F2]] || '''1:12.370'''<ref>{{cite web |title=1982 Pau Grand Prix |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1982-pau-grand-prix/ |website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport Magazine]] |date=31 May 1982 |access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> || [[Kenny Acheson]] || [[Ralt RH6|Ralt RH6/82]] || [[1982 Pau Grand Prix]]
|-
| [[Formula Renault#Formula Renault 2.0|Formula Renault 2.0]] || '''1:13.812'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2015 Formula Renault Alps Pau (Race 2) |url=http://www.racingyears.com/race.php?GP=2015%20Formula%20Renault%20Alps%20Pau%20(Race%202) |date=17 May 2015 |access-date=14 July 2022}}</ref> || [[Martin Kodrić]] || [[Tatuus#Racecars|Tatuus FR2.0/13]] || [[2015 Formula Renault 2.0 Alps Series|2015 Pau Formula Renault 2.0 Alps round]]
|-
| [[Formula 4|F4]] || '''1:17.091'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Grand Prix de Pau 2023 - F4 FIA by FFSA - Race 1 Final Classification |url=https://www.ffsaacademy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/PAU_Race-1-Final-ranking.pdf |date=13 May 2023 |access-date=17 May 2024}}</ref> || [[Enzo Peugeot]] || [[Mygale M21-F4]] || [[2023 French F4 Championship|2023 Pau French F4 round]]
|-
| [[Group GT1#GTS "GT1" (2000–2009)|GT1 (GTS)]] || '''1:18.346'''<ref>{{cite web |title=FFSA GT Championship Pau 2003 |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Pau-2003-06-09.html |date=9 June 2003 |access-date=3 January 2023}}</ref> || [[Boris Derichebourg]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Boris Derichebourg - Driver Database |url=https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/boris-derichebourg/ |access-date=3 January 2023}}</ref> || [[Chrysler Viper GTS-R]] || [[FFSA GT Championship|2003 Pau FFSA GT round]]
|-
| [[Porsche Carrera Cup]] || '''1:19.200'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2012 Porsche Cup France Pau (Race 2) |url=https://www.racingyears.com/race/2012_Porsche_Cup_France_Pau_(Race_2) |date=13 May 2012 |access-date=17 May 2024}}</ref> || [[Côme Ledogar]] || [[Porsche 911 GT3#997 GT3 Cup 3.8 (2009–2013)|Porsche 911 (997 II) GT3 Cup 3.8]] || [[Porsche Carrera Cup France|2012 Pau Porsche Carrera Cup France round]]
|-
| [[Formula Renault#Formula Renault 1.6L|Formula Renault 1.6]] || '''1:19.832'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2015 French Formula 4 Pau (Race 3) |url=https://www.racingyears.com/race/2015_French_Formula_4_Pau_(Race_3) |date=17 May 2015 |access-date=25 May 2024}}</ref> || [[Sacha Fenestraz]] || [[Signatech|Signatech FR 1.6]] || [[2015 French F4 Championship|2015 Pau French F4 round]]
|-
| [[TCR Touring Car]] || '''1:21.331'''<ref>{{cite web |title=WTCR 2022 » Pau Round 2 Results |url=https://www.touringcars.net/database/race.php?id=4368 |date=8 May 2022 |access-date=8 May 2022}}</ref> || [[Mikel Azcona]] || [[Hyundai Elantra N TCR]] || [[2022 World Touring Car Cup|2022 FIA WTCR Race of France]]
|-
| [[SRO GT4|GT4]] || '''1:21.806'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Championnat de France FFSA des Circuits - Grand Prix de Pau 2019 FFSA GT - GT4 France - Race 2 Final Classification |url=https://ffsagt.gt4series.com/images/results/9/Pau%20-%20Race%202%20-%20Final%20ranking.pdf |date=19 May 2019 |access-date=18 April 2022}}</ref> || [[Simon Gachet]] || [[Audi R8 (Type 4S)#R8 LMS GT4|Audi R8 LMS GT4]] || [[FFSA GT Championship|2019 Pau FFSA GT round]]
|-
| [[Silhouette racing car]] || '''1:22.130'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2002 French Super Touring Championship Round 3: Pau, 19th-20th May, Race 1 |url=http://www.dlg.speedfreaks.org/archive/2002/frtc.html |date=20 May 2002 |access-date=13 January 2023}}</ref> || [[Anthony Beltoise]] || [[Ford Mondeo#Motorsport|Ford Mondeo Silhouette]] || [[French Supertouring Championship|2002 Pau French Supertouring round]]
|-
| [[Group GT3|GT3]] || '''1:22.158'''<ref>{{cite web |title=FFSA GT Championship Pau 2006 |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Pau-2006-06-05.html |date=5 June 2006 |access-date=3 January 2023}}</ref> || [[Arnaud Peyroles]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Arnaud Peyroles - Driver Database |url=https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/arnaud-peyroles/ |access-date=3 January 2023}}</ref> || [[Dodge Viper Competition Coupe]] || [[FFSA GT Championship|2006 Pau FFSA GT round]]
|-
| [[Super 2000#Touring cars|Super 2000]] || '''1:22.682''' || [[Augusto Farfus]] || [[BMW 3 Series (E90)#Motorsports|BMW 320si]] || [[2008 FIA WTCC Race of France]]
|-
| [[FIA ETCR – eTouring Car World Cup|ETCR]] || '''1:23.894'''<ref>{{cite web |title=FIA ETCR France 6-8 May 2022 Pool Fast - Quarter Final 1 - 300 kW Final Classification |url=https://www.its-results.com/etcr/2022/d689df0e-3ec1-4d91-923a-4b63b4ef3eae |date=7 May 2022 |access-date=8 May 2022}}</ref> || [[Tom Blomqvist]] || [[SEAT León#León e-Racer (ETCR)|Cupra e-Racer]] || [[2022 FIA ETCR – eTouring Car World Cup|2022 Pau FIA ETCR round]]
|-
| [[Renault Clio Cup]] || '''1:28.255'''<ref>{{cite web |title=Championnat de France des Circuits - Grand Prix de Pau 19-21 May 2017 Clio Cup Series Race 2 Provisional Classification |url=https://www.its-results.com/gt4/2017/7418b11c-06d7-47fd-9e8b-15a890ae84e1 |date=21 May 2017 |access-date=31 July 2023}}</ref> || [[Nicolas Milan]] || [[Clio Renault Sport#Clio IV RS|Renault Clio R.S. IV]] || [[Renault Clio Cup#Renault Promotional Cups|2017 Pau Renault Clio Cup France round]]
|-
| [[Formula One|F1]] || '''1:33.400'''<ref>{{cite web |title=1962 Pau Grand Prix |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1962-pau-grand-prix/ |website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport Magazine]] |date=23 April 1962 |access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> || [[Jim Clark]] || [[Lotus 24]] || [[1962 Pau Grand Prix]]
|-
| [[Group 3 (motorsport)|Group 3]] || '''1:43.100'''<ref>{{cite web |title=3 h Pau [GT+2.0] 1958 |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Pau-1958-04-07-4914.html |date=7 April 1958 |access-date=5 January 2023}}</ref> || [[Olivier Gendebien]] || [[Ferrari 250 GT]] || [[1958 3 Hours of Pau]]
|-
| [[Grand Prix motor racing#The Pre-WWII years|GP]] || '''1:46.800'''<ref>{{cite web |title=1939 Pau Grand Prix |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1939-pau-grand-prix/ |website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport Magazine]] |date=2 April 1939 |access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> || [[Manfred von Brauchitsch]] || [[Mercedes-Benz W154]] || [[1939 Pau Grand Prix]]
|-
| [[Formula Libre]] || '''1:51.700'''<ref>{{cite web |title=1935 Pau Grand Prix |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1935-pau-grand-prix/ |website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport Magazine]] |date=24 February 1935 |access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> || [[Tazio Nuvolari]] || [[Alfa Romeo P3|Alfa Romeo Tipo B]] || [[1935 Pau Grand Prix]]
|-
! colspan=5 | Original Circuit (1933): 2.649&nbsp;km 
|-
| [[Formula Libre]] || '''2:04.000'''<ref>{{cite web |title=1933 Pau Grand Prix |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1933-pau-grand-prix/ |website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport Magazine]] |date=19 February 1933 |access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> || [[Philippe Étancelin]] || [[Alfa Romeo in motorsport|Alfa Romeo Monza]] || [[1933 Pau Grand Prix]]
|-
|}

== Historic Grand Prix ==
[[File:Courbe tribunes GP pau.JPG|thumb|2012 Historic Races, view from the grandstand]]
Since 2001, races for historical cars are held one week before or after the "modern" Grand Prix. Races include events for former Formula One cars of the 1960s amongst others.

Notable races during the ''Grand Prix Historique de Pau'' since 2001:

* ''Trophée Argentin'' ([[Formula Two]] for cars built between 1950 and 1960, the event named in honour of [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]).
* ''Trophée de Pau'' ([[F1]] of 1950 and 1960).
* ''Trophée Junior'' ([[Formula Junior]]).
* ''Trophée des Pyrénées'' ([[Formula Three]], [[Formula Ford]] and [[Formula France]]).
* ''Trophée Légende'' (Grand Prix cars before World War II).
* ''Trophée [[Phil Hill]]'' (Grand Touring Endurance 1950 and 1960).
* ''Trophée [[Mini]] Classic'' (Touring, monotype reserved to [[Mini Cooper]]).
* ''Trophée Flat4'' (Touring, monotype reserved to the old [[Porsche]] with Flat 4 engines).

== Winners ==

{{For|a full list of race winners from 1933 till present|List of Pau Grand Prix winners}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{reflist|group=N}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==

{{Commons category|Pau Grand Prix}}
* {{Official website|http://www.grandprixdepau.fr/}}
*[https://archive.today/20140219182940/http://goo.gl/maps/g0NQ2 Circuit du Sud-Ouest – Pau Grand Prix Circuits on Google Maps] (Historic Grand Prix)

{{Navboxes
|state=expanded
|list1 =
{{Euroformula Open circuits}}
{{TCR Europe circuits}}
{{WTCC circuits}}
{{ETCR circuits}}
{{FIA F3 European Championship circuits}}
{{F3 Euroseries circuits}}
{{International Formula 3000 circuits}}
{{European Formula Two circuits}}
{{FIA F3 seasons}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pau Grand Prix}}
[[Category:Pau Grand Prix| ]]
[[Category:Formula Three races]]
[[Category:Motorsport competitions in France]]
[[Category:World Touring Car Championship circuits]]
[[Category:1933 establishments in France]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1933]]