car race, and in 1984 there was a drivers protest over track safety. Faced with increasing safety issues and with the natural topography preventing any chance of adding run-off areas, the final race on the original track was held on September 18, 1988. Modernization The General Council of Puy-de-Dôme recognized the importance of the race track to the local economy and financed the building of a new circuit utilising only the southern portion of the original, with a new link road completing the circuit. The new Circuit de Charade opened in 1989 hosting national championship races in the 1994 French Supertouring Championship and the 1998 FFSA GT Championship. Currently, the venue holds events such as track days, driving courses as well as historic motorsport events. In 2000, the roads were closed to the public, with the track becoming a truly permanent facility with new pit garages and a widened pit lane. The original sections of the street circuit are still in use as public roadways. Lap records The official race lap records at the Circuit de Charade are listed as: Notes References External links Official site Official association site to save circuit Satellite picture by Google Maps (present layout; zoom out to see the old circuit) Formula One circuits Grand Prix motorcycle circuits Charade Sports venues in Puy-de-Dôme French Grand Prix Trophées d’Auvergne Sports venues completed in 1958