Opened in 1970, Circuit Paul Ricard is a 5.842-km FIA Grade 1 circuit located in Le Castellet, France.
The track is known for its distinctive blue and red abrasive run-off areas, long straights, and wide layout that encourages multiple racing lines.
Paul Ricard features 15 corners, including the famous Signes and the long Mistral Straight, making it a popular venue for GT World Challenge Europe, ELMS, Formula testing, endurance racing, and of course sim racing events.
Its combination of slow technical corners and high-speed sections rewards precision, stability, and strong braking technique – making it an excellent benchmark track for GT3 cars.
Paul Ricard even played host to the FIA Motorsport Games in 2022, where all track activities and sim racing activites took place during the game.
Verrerie (Turn 1 and 2)
Turn one and two is a fast to medium speed left into right chicane sequence, which requires precision and good knowledge of track limits. There is a relatively long straight on the exit of turn 2, where you can gain or lose a lot of time.
On the approach turn 1 keep your focus ahead as you look out for your braking board. Position the car over to the right hand side of the straight and look out for the braking marker. For T1 this will be just before the 100m board or where the red and white curbing ends on the right.
Get most of your braking done in a straight line as you shift down to 3rd gear. A certain amount of trail braking is needed as you feed the car into the first apex which is in line with the middle sausage curb on the inside. There is a green bollard on the inside curb but chances are this will be removed by a car cutting the inside curb. When aiming for the apex try to mount the inside curb and picture trying to get your outside wheels to apex where the curb starts.
Be patient on the throttle as you try to stay in the middle to left hand side of the track to open the entry for T2. The direction change is sudden from left to right. It’s important to be smooth with both your steering and throttle inputs here to keep the balance of the car predictable. Explore using the inside curb of T2 as well to allow you to carry that extra apex speed. Don’t get too greedy though as the curb will cause the car to bottom out, sending you into a spin. On the exit use as much as possible while keeping 2 wheels inside the white line.
Hotel (Turn 3 and 4)
Another chicane sequence however this one goes from right to left. It is also much tighter than the first sequence.
On the approach keep left and use the blue piece of tarmac beyond the red and white curbing to open up the entry. Brake just after the 100m board on the left and shift down to 3rd gear. Use the 50m board as a turning in reference and aim to cut the inside curb. Carrying good speed without running too wide on the exit is crucial. The whole sequence is about positioning the car in the correct part of the track on the exit.
For the left hander you’ll need to apply some more brakes while gearing down to 2nd gear. Get your inside tires to sit on the inside of the apex curb. It’s one of those curbs that can unsettle you so don’t use it half heartedly. Either commit or stay away from it. Using it gives the car a little more rotation and helps to get the car oriented correctly on exit.
Be gentle once again on the throttle inputs here and focus more on carrying momentum. You don’t want to end up too far right as this will heavily compromise your Turn 5 entry.
Camp (Turn 5)
Turn 5 is a medium-speed right-hander that sets up your run into the technical double-right sequence of Ste Baume. Because Ste Baume determines your minimum speed before the Mistral Straight, the exit of Camp becomes more important than it looks.
On approach, keep the car mid to left after Turn 4 and brake just after the end of the left-side curb. Downshift to 3rd gear and turn in with a late-apex mindset. Aim to place the inside wheels just on the painted curb but avoid climbing over the top of it. The inside is slightly raised and will unsettle the rear.
You want a clean car balance here: minimal steering, no sudden throttle stabs. Let the car breathe on exit and use as much track as possible while keeping two wheels inside the white line. This puts you in the ideal place to attack Ste Baume.
Ste Baume (Turns 6 & 7)
A long, tricky, double-right sequence that rewards patience over aggression. The goal here is simple: maintain momentum for the Mistral Straight.
As you approach, position the car left and look for the 100m board as your cue to prepare. Brake just after it, shifting down to 3rd gear, and trail brake into the first right-hander.
The first apex is subtle. You’re not looking to clip hard. Instead, allow the car to rotate across the inside edge while holding steady, progressive throttle. Avoid running too wide between the two apexes; staying mid-track allows you to re-rotate the car for the second right.
For the second apex, you want to carry more speed while using a touch more curb. Apply throttle gradually as the car straightens. Any over-rotation or traction control cut will kill your exit speed and that means a massive time loss on the Mistral Straight.
Your goal is simple: fast, stable exit with early throttle and full commitment onto Mistral.
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Mistral Straight
One of the longest full-throttle sections in sim racing. It’s where your exit from Ste Baume pays off. In GT3 cars, this is a breath, a reset, and a setup period for Signes.
Stay left to minimize distance, and prepare for the braking markers approaching. You’ll reach top speed here, so avoid unnecessary steering inputs which scrub speed and increase tire temp.
Montréal Chicane (Turns 8 & 9)
A heavy-braking chicane halfway down the Mistral. Precision and stability are key.
Brake hard at the 100m board and shift down to 2nd or 3rd gear depending on setup and rotation style. The turn-in for the first left is later than you think; aim to cut the inside curb with your left wheels. This curb is safe to attack, but avoid launching the car.
Immediately transition right while keeping the car settled. Use a small amount of inside curb at the right-hand apex but be careful as too much will bounce the car sideways. Focus entirely on a clean exit because the acceleration zone is long and leads directly toward Signes.
Stay left on exit and get to full throttle as early as possible.
Signes (Turn 10)
One of the fastest and most iconic corners in Europe. A flat, or near-flat right-hander depending on conditions.
Approach at full speed and use the left-side curbing or the last marshal light as your turn-in reference. A small lift is usually needed in race trim or with worn tires; in qualifying trim you may be able to take it flat with a confident turn-in.
Aim to skim the inside curb without climbing it. You want to arc the car smoothly from left to right, letting it run wide all the way to the painted exit curb. Stability is everything here and any correction costs huge time.
Prepare immediately for heavy braking into Beausset.
Double Droite du Beausset (Turns 11 & 12)
A long, double-apex right-hander that destroys laps when overdriven.
Brake hard just after the road dips, shift to 3rd gear, and trail brake into the first apex. Clip it lightly, the goal is rotation, not speed.
Let the car drift mid-track and patiently wait. This is the part where most drivers add throttle too early. Instead, coast briefly and let the front settle.
As you enter the second half, start reintroducing throttle and aim for the second, tighter apex. This one is the important one. Get your inside wheels on the painted curb, rotate the car, and push out to the exit curb smoothly.
Beausset rewards calm hands and punishes impatience.
Bendor (Turns 13 & 14)
A quick right-left chicane that requires confidence in direction change.
Stay left and brake at the start of the right-side curb. Drop to 3rd gear and attack the first right apex aggressively. The curb is safe and helps rotate the car.
Immediately flick left, but avoid overusing the left curb; it’s flatter but can still push the car wide if taken half-heartedly.
Garlaban (Turn 15)
A 90-degree left with a deceptively late apex.
Brake just after the 50m board in a straight line. Shift to 2nd gear and turn in later than you expect. Hug the inside curb tightly and avoid running out too wide because you need a clean setup for Lac.
Smooth throttle application helps keep traction control from activating.
Lac (Turn 16)
A medium-speed right-hander that begins the final rhythm section.
Stay left, brake lightly, and aim for a shallow apex. The priority isn’t raw speed, it’s positioning for Pont. Keep the wheel as straight as possible to get to throttle early.
Pont (Turn 17 — Final Corner)
The last corner before the start/finish. Absolutely crucial.
Brake just before the end of the left-side curb and shift to 2nd gear. Turn in assertively and aim to ride the inside curb with confidence. Pont rewards commitment. A hesitant entry leads to massive understeer.
Open your hands early and run the car out wide while staying valid on track limits. The earlier you can apply full throttle, the better your run onto the straight.
A perfect Pont can gain you 0.2–0.4 seconds before the line.
This will complete a lap around Paul Ricard tailored to the LMGT3 machines.
