Silverstone, Monza, Monte Carlo, Spa-Francorchamps, Indianapolis, Daytona… several of the most famous tracks in the world have a name referring to the city or region in which they are located.
The same is true of some of the newer racetracks, but this is not the case with a classic Formula 1 such as Circuit Paul Ricardwhere F1 has already run a Grand Prix 17 times and will do so again in French GP 2022.
Who was Paul Ricard?
Paul Rickard He was not a figure in the French or European racing environment, nor in sports, much less a historical figure of the country, but rather a businessman. Born on Marseille in 1909, less than 50 kilometers from where the circuit is located, which is located at Le Castelletand he had a love of art, but in a family dedicated to the wine industry he ended up inventing a new recipe for pasty, an innovation in an anise-based drink that was successful in the south of France and allowed him to earn a lot of money.
During the Second World War he had to face the ban of the Vichy regime and devoted himself to cooperation with the resistance against the Nazis and the fascists. development of a substitute fuel oil based.
In 1975 his company joined forces with its main competitor, Pernod, to make Pernod Ricard, one of the world’s best-selling alcoholic beverages. Paul Rickard died in 1997 in the town of Signeswhere he was mayor between 1980 and 1988.
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Why is the French GP circuit called Paul Ricard?
Paul Ricard was not an athlete, but someone closely connected to the environment in his role as a patron. He founded a rugby club called Marsella XIII who won several national titles, was his sponsor The Tour de France Moreover He ordered the construction of a circuit which was inaugurated in 1970 and which bears his name: It’s about Circuit Paul Ricardnear an airport he built for his business in the area.
The circuit was purchased 1999 from the company Excelis, with Bernie Ecclestone as a representative, but the name of the track, which is already a classic, did not change.
