Editing Circuit Paul Ricard (section)

==Track==

[[File:Pescarolo 6h.jpg|thumb|left|[[2011 6 Hours of Castellet|2011 edition]] of the 6 Hours of Castellet]]

The track is characterised by its {{cvt|1.8|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} long Mistral straight and elongated track design. The track is also unusual in that it is built on a [[plateau]]: it is very flat. In 1986 the track was modified to shorten the circuit, by adding shortcut through to the middle of the Mistral Straight. This shorter circuit was also known as the GP short circuit and was {{cvt|3.812|km|mi|abbr=on}} long. After the modifications in 2000–2005, the track offers 247 possible configurations from {{cvt|0.828|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the full {{cvt|5.858|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Circuit Paul Ricard - Tracks & Facilities |url=https://www.circuitpaulricard.com/en/pages/tracks-and-facilities/ |website=www.circuitpaulricard.com |access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref><ref name='Paul Ricard_Config'>{{Cite web |url=https://www.racingcircuits.info/assets/images/maps/Europe/France/Paul%20Ricard/Paul%20Ricard%20Track%20Layouts.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905012155/http://www.racingcircuits.info/assets/images/maps/Europe/France/Paul%20Ricard/Paul%20Ricard%20Track%20Layouts.pdf |archive-date=5 September 2014 |url-status=live |title=Paul Ricard Track Solutions |access-date=30 December 2021}}</ref> The track's elevation ranges from {{cvt|408|to|441|m|ft}} above sea level. Its flexibility and mild winter weather mean that it is used for testing by several motorsport teams, including [[Formula One]] teams.

The track is known for its distinctive black and blue [[run-off area]]s known as the ''Blue Zone''. The runoff surface consists of a mixture of [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]] and [[tungsten]], used instead of gravel traps, as common at other circuits.<ref name="marshal">Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track, ''The Marshal: Incorporating Rescue & Resuscitation'', April 2007 (Issue 21).</ref> A second, deeper run-off area is the ''Red Zone'', with a more abrasive surface designed to maximize tyre grip and hence minimize braking distance, although at the cost of extreme tyre wear. The final safeguard consists of Tecpro barriers, a modern improvement on tyre barriers.<ref name="marshal"/>

In 2019 the pitlane entry was moved following safety concerns. The entry, which was previously accessed via the main straight, is now situated between the final two corners (turns 14 and 15).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/french-pit-entry-moved-safety-fears/4328217/|title=French GP pit entry moved after safety fears|last=Mitchell|first=Scott|work=motorsport.com|access-date=25 January 2019|language=en|archive-date=25 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125183651/https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/french-pit-entry-moved-safety-fears/4328217/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Track configurations===

{{Gallery
| title        = Circuit Paul Ricard Layout History and Configurations
| align        = center
| footer       = 
| style        = text-align:center;
| mode         = packed
| File:Paul Ricard 1970.png
 | Paul Ricard Original Grand Prix Circuit (1970–2001)
| File:Paul Ricard 1986.png
 | Paul Ricard Short Grand Prix Circuit (1986–2001)
| File:Paul Ricard.svg
 | Paul Ricard 1D Circuit (2002–present)<ref name = 'Paul Ricard_Config' /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Paul Ricard - Racing Circuits |url=https://www.racingcircuits.info/assets/images/maps/Europe/France/Paul%20Ricard/Paul%20Ricard%20Track%20Layouts.pdf |access-date=29 July 2023}}</ref>
| File:Circuit Paul Ricard wtcc.png
 | Paul Ricard 3D circuit (2002–present)<ref name = 'Paul Ricard_Config' />
| File:Le Castellet circuit map Formula One 2018 without corner names English 29 06 2021.svg
 | Paul Ricard 1C-V2 Circuit (2005–2018)
| File:Le Castellet 2019 all layouts.svg
 | All layouts of Circuit Paul Ricard (2019–present)
| File:Le Castellet circuit map Formula One 2019 and 2021 with corner names June 2021.svg
 | Paul Ricard 1C-V2 Circuit (2019–present)
| File:Le Castellet circuit map Formula One 2019 no chicane English 07 07 2021.svg
 | Paul Ricard 1A-V2 Circuit (2019–present)
}}