A Formula 1 Grand Prix de France is bound to be a lot of people: this year the record should be broken with 200,000 spectators expected until Sunday on the Castellet circuit (Var). This year, not all spectators will come directly to the site. Ludovic Arnault, the “Mr Mobility” of this Grand Prix de France, confirms it: “this is the real challenge for us (…) we have an ambitious plan. We will tell the spectators not to come to the circuit but to go to the relay car parks and their 27,000 places, spread over several cities and in two different departments. It’s a large machinery with 500 cars every day, the equivalent of an urban network of a city of 500,000 inhabitants! “.
“It’s an important machinery with 500 cars every day, the equivalent of an urban network of a city of 500,000 inhabitants!”- Ludovic Arnault, mobility manager for the French Grand Prix
Indeed, the organizers have logically set up this large format organization to avoid the monster traffic jams that we experienced in 2018: the park and ride facilities installed in Saint-Cyr, Bandol, Beausset, La Ciotat, Aubagne or even Roquefort-La -Bédoule have been open since 6 a.m. this Friday morning, shuttles will run from Marseille, Toulon or Aix, and additional TER trains are planned. Access to the relay car parks is included in the price of the entry ticket to the Grand Prix. Please note that you must register.
“Only” 9,000 vehicles will finally be able to directly access the circuit… compared to 25,000 in 2018.
Traffic points all day on France Bleu Provence
If you have to go to the circuit, stay tuned for France Bleu Provence, official radio of the Grand Prix de France with some traffic points from 9 a.m. this Friday morning then live broadcasts from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, and from 2 p.m. Sunday for the Grand Prix, the start of which is announced at 3 p.m.
Several roads have been modified, such as the D402 which is now one-way towards Signes from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and towards Beausst from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. The DN8, D2, Vicinale 127 are closed and accessible only with GREEN ACCESS. To get this Green Accessthere are 4 possibilities:
- Carpool and be at least 4 spectators in the vehicle
- Use a 2- or 3-wheel mode of travel
- Buy premium parking inside the circuit
- Participate in the financing of alternative modes of transport by paying an eco-contribution and therefore park in the immediate vicinity of the Paul Ricard circuit
Also note that from this Friday, all the roads allowing access to the GP are regulated at 50 km/h. You can find all this information at the French Grand Prix website.
Grand Prix Schedules : the first free practice of F1 (2 p.m.) but also of F2 or Porsche Supercup take place this Friday. Qualifying on Saturday (4 p.m.) and the Grand Prix on Sunday at 3 p.m.