Circuit Jules Tacheny Mettet

The Circuit Jules Tacheny Mettet is a 2.310 km (1.435 mi) motorsport racing circuit in Mettet, Wallonia (Belgium), 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Charleroi.[1] The circuit was finalized in 2010 near the old street circuit.

Circuit Jules Tacheny Mettet
Modern Circuit (2010–present)
LocationMettet, Belgium
Time zoneCET (UTC+1)
CEST (DST)
Coordinates50°18′14.51″N 4°39′27″E / 50.3040306°N 4.65750°E / 50.3040306; 4.65750
OperatorRoyal Union Motor Entre Sambre et Meuse
Opened1927 (as original circuit)
12 March 2010; 14 years ago (2010-03-12) (as modern circuit)
Major eventsCurrent:
FIA World Rallycross Championship
World RX of Belgium (2014–2018)
World RX of Benelux (2024)
FIA European Rallycross Championship
Euro RX of Belgium (2014–2018)
Euro RX of Benelux (2023–present)
Former:
TCR Benelux Series (2016–2017)
Formula 750 (1975)
Modern Car Circuit (2010–present)
Length2.310 km (1.435 miles)
Turns10
Race lap record1:05.252 (Hungary Norbert Michelisz, Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK2), 2016, TCR)
Modern Bike Circuit (2010–present)
Length2.280 km (1.417 miles)
Turns11
Grand Prix Circuit (1949–1961)
Length8.368 km (5.200 miles)
Turns8
Race lap record3:17.000 (Italy Alberto Ascari, Ferrari 166 F2, 1950, F2)
Grand Prix Circuit (1932–1948)
Length8.500 km (5.282 miles)
Turns8
Original St. Donat Circuit (1927–1948)
Length2.800 km (1.740 miles)
Turns5
Race lap recordMaxime Haubruge

History

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Motorcycle racing

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During the early 1920s motorcycle racers started to race around a circuit composed of local streets surrounding the Belgian city of Mettet. The first motorcycle Grand Prix Entre Sambre et Meuse was held in 1928. Belgian driver Albert Breslau won the first race on an AJS. The last edition of the original motorcycle Grand Prix of Mettet was run in 1937. After World War II Jules Tacheny was appointed president of the Royal Motor Union de l’Entre Sambre et Meuse (RMUESM). Tacheny won the Senior category of the first post-war version of the Grand Prix in 1946. The overall Grand Prix was won by Roger Laurent on a Norton.

In 1947 the FIM motorcycle racing governing body decided each country could only host one Grand Prix. Therefore, the title Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix was awarded to the race at Spa-Francorchamps. The race at Mettet was renamed Circuit de l'Entre Sambre et Meuse in 1947 and the race was again renamed to "Grand Trophy". Legendary motor and auto racing driver John Surtees won the race in 1958 in the 350cc and 500cc classes.

Between 1972 and 1979 the street circuit hosted the Mettet 1000 km motorcycle endurance race. Jean-Claude Chemarin was the most successful rider of the Mettet endurance race, winning the event four times. The circuit also hosted the Belgian round of the 1975 Formula 750 championship won by Patrick Pons. The street circuit was last used in 2006.

 
World RX layout of Circuit Jules Tacheny Mettet, used in 2014-2018

Formula 2

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The RMUESM hosted non-championship Formula Two races twice, in 1950 and 1951. In 1950 the first edition Grandee Trophée Entre Sambre et Meuse was held at the 7.387 km (4.590 mi) street circuit. Of the 24 competitors only ten drivers made it to the finish. Robert Manzon won the final race in his factory entered Simca Gordini Type 15. Stirling Moss and Lance Macklin finished second and third in for HW Motors.[2] The second edition of the Grandee Trophée was again won by Manzon. Gordini completed the podium with factory drivers André Simon and Maurice Trintignant finishing second and third.[3]

Development of the new circuit

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The new 2.310 km (1.435 mi) permanent circuit was opened on 12 March 2010. In the initial years Mettet was mostly used by motorcycle racers. The track was first used in the FIA European Rallycross Championship and FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2014.

Lap Records

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Category Time Driver Vehicle Event
Modern Car Circuit: 2.310 km (2010–present)[4][5]
TCR Touring Car 1:05.252[6] Norbert Michelisz Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK2) 2016 Mettet TCR Benelux round
Grand Prix Circuit: 8.368 km (1949–1961)[4][5]
Formula Two 3:17.000[7] Alberto Ascari Ferrari 166 F2 1950 Grandee Trophee Entre Sambre Et Meuse

Motorcycle Grand Prix

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Year Winner
500cc
1928   Albert Breslau
1929   Marcel Debay
1930   René De Keyser
1931   Pol Demeuter
1932   Robert Grégoire
1933   Pol Demeuter
1934   Pol Demeuter
1935   "Grizzly"
1936   René Milhoux
1937   "Grizzly"
1946   Roger Laurent
1947   Fergus Anderson
1948   David Whitworth
1949   Auguste Goffin
1950   Enrico Lorenzetti
1951   Geoffrey Duke
1952   Rod Coleman
1953   Leslie Graham
1954   Fergus Anderson
1955   Fergus Anderson
1956   John Surtees
1957   Dickie Dale
1958   John Surtees
1959   Tom Phillis
1960   Dickie Dale
1961 edition canceled
1962   Silvio Grassetti
1963 edition canceled
1964   Bror Erland Carlsson
1965 edition canceled
1966   Chris Conn
1967   John Blanchard
1968 edition canceled
1969   Keith Turner
1970   Gérard Debrock
1971   Dave Simmonds
+500cc
1972   Gilbert Argo
1973   Oronzo Memola
1974   John Dodds
1975   Patrick Pons
1976   Giacomo Agostini
1977   Giacomo Agostini
1978   Michel Rougerie
500cc
1979   Alan North
1980   Alain Nies
+500cc
1981   Mike Baldwin
1982   Patric Orban
1983   Dieter Heinen
Supercup
1984   Michel Siméon
1985   Leslie Simoens
1986   Patric Orban
Open
1987   Michel Siméon
1988   Paul Ramon
Superbike
1989   Stéphane Mertens
Open
1990   Michel Simul
1991   Michel Simul
1992   Stéphane Mertens
1993   Michel Simul
Superbike
1994   Alain Kempener
Stocksport
1995   Alain Kempener
Supersports
1996   Alain Kempener
1997   Louis Wuyts
1998   Michaël Paquay
1999   Louis Wuyts
2000   Wim van Achter
2001   Sébastien Le Grelle
2002   Yvan Batens
2003   Sébastien Le Grelle
2004   Tom Vanlandschoot
2005   Sébastien Le Grelle
  Marc Fissette
Superbike
2006   Stéphane Mertens
  Stéphane Mertens
2010   Grégory Fastry
  Grégory Fastry

[8]

Formula 2 results

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Year Heat 1 Heat 2 Final
1950   Alberto Ascari   Stirling Moss   Robert Manzon
1951 not contested not contested   Robert Manzon

FIA World Rallycross Championship

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Season Date Driver Car Report
2014 12–13 July   Toomas Heikkinen Volkswagen Polo report
2015 16–17 May   Toomas Heikkinen Volkswagen Polo report
2016 14–15 May   Mattias Ekström Audi S1 report
2017 13–14 May   Johan Kristoffersson Volkswagen Polo GTI report
2018 11–13 May   Sébastien Loeb Peugeot 208 report

Since 2019 the World RX of Belgium was renamed Spa World RX of Benelux and takes place at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Mettet Circuit Track Days". trackdays.co.uk. 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
  2. ^ "I Grandee Trophée Entre Sambre et Meuse 1950". F2 Register. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  3. ^ "II Grandee Trophée Entre Sambre et Meuse 1951". F2 Register. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Mettet - Racing Circuits". Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Mettet - Fastlane". Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  6. ^ "TCR BE 2016 » Circuit Jules Tacheny Round 23 Results". Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  7. ^ "1950 Mettet F2". Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Le Grand Prix / Circuit / Trophy de l'Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse". Moto Mettet. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Spa to join World Rallycross calendar from 2019".
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