Paul Ricard - Rounds 11 & 12

Country: France Capital: Paris Population: 65 million Currency: Euro Language: French, Climate: Warm, averaging 18-30°C

France

Over the past 500 years, France has been a major power with strong cultural, economic, military and political influence in Europe. It is one of the world's most developed countries and possesses the world's fifth largest and Europe's second largest economy by nominal GDP. France is the most visited country in the world, receiving 82 million foreign tourists annually. French cuisine is one of the most celebrated and the country's wine industry is still revered as the world's greatest, of which the Loire valley is one of the key appellations.

Paul Ricard - Why Go?

Located on the southeast coast of France, Marseille is France's largest city on the Mediterranean coast and largest commercial port. It is the capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, which enjoys dry, hot summers thanks to its Mediterranean climate. Marseille is also a city that is proud of its differences from the rest of France and today is a regional centre for culture and entertainment with an important opera house, historical and maritime museums, five art galleries and numerous cinemas, clubs, bars and restaurants.
Located to the east of Marseilles in Le Castellet, the flat, fast Paul Ricard circuit is now regarded as one of the safest in the world with its year round sunshine making it a popular choice with drivers and teams wishing to test. Prior to that it was home to the French Grand Prix from 1971 for 20 years until the event moved to Magny-Cours.

Useful Information

In addition to the circuit's own air strip, the nearest international airport is Marseille Provence Airport located in Marignane, approximately an hour's drive away. An extensive network or motorways and A-roads makes it easily accessible by road (D402) whilst the closest railway station is 20km away in Bandol. For more information on the circuit click here.

Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track
Length: 5.809 km
Turns: 14

Located in the south of France to the east of Marseilles in Le Castellet, the modernised Paul Ricard circuit is now widely regarded as one of the most advanced motorsport venues in the world.

The flat, fast and dusty circuit remains popular with drivers and teams alike thanks to year-round sunshine and huge run-off areas - a characteristic now synonymous with the French venue. Indeed, the track is known for its distinctive black and blue runoff areas known as the Blue Zone, which are used instead of gravel traps and consists of a mixture of asphalt and tungsten. Should that not prevent the car from stopping, there is the Red Zone, a more abrasive run off area, which would require a car to return to the pits for a new tyre.

It is characterised by its long Mistral straight (1.2 km) and elongated track design. It is unusual in that it is built on a plateau, and very flat. The length of the full track is around 3.610 miles (5.8 km) and has a 167 possible configurations.

Earlier this year, Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone confirmed that the French Grand Prix would return to Paul Ricard meaning Formula Two travels to six contemporary F1 circuits in 2012.
 
Paul Ricard will host rounds 11 and 12 of the 2012 FIA Formula Two Championship on 20-22 July.

FRIDAY 20 JULY 
11:25 - 12:10 : Free Practice 1
16:25 - 17:10 : Free Practice 2

SATURDAY 21 JULY
09:00 - 09:30 : Qualifying 1
13:50 - 14:30  : Race 1

SUNDAY 22 JULY
09:40 - 10:10 : Qualifying 2
14:30 - 15:10 : Race 2

(NB. All timings are local times)

Click here to download the full weekend timetable

Rounds 11 and 12 of the 2012 FIA Formula Two Championship take place at Paul Ricard, France, on 21 and 22 July with races taking place on both Saturday and Sunday. A wide range of support races will also be accompanying F2. Tickets can be purchased online, and are available by clicking here

Saturday 21 July - Race 1
(UK) Motors TV - LIVE: 12:50
(Europe) Motors TV - LIVE: 13:50
(Worldwide) www.formulatwo.com - F2TV LIVE: 12:50 (UK), 13:50 (CET)

Sunday 22 July - Race 2
(UK) Motors TV - 16:00
(Europe) Motors TV - 15:00
(Worldwide) www.formulatwo.com - F2TV LIVE: 13:30 (UK), 14:30 (CET)

All times subject to change - please check throughout the week for final listings