Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant Track
	AMP | Cayuga | Mont-Tremblant | Mosport | Race City | Sanair

Introduction

	colour aerial view of Le Circuit, looking north
	only north end of track is visible, Lac Moore just to the north

Set in the beautiful Laurentians, Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant is a very three-dimensional track (unlike Shannonville). The track surface is quite rough and eats up rubber. Not as initimating as Mosport despite buried tirewalls. Length is 4.27 kms (2.65 miles). Same designer created the track at Mosport.

Detailed info, maps, videos about track changes available!

Circuit Map

clickable detailed map

Driver's Description

Direction: clockwise.

Here is a walk-through for the track. The number beginning each point refers to the corner number. Written by Blake Nancarrow (before the year 2000 track renovations).

• 1: This is a barely noticeable kink to the right at the end of the front straight. In fact, corners 1 and 2 feel like one corner at speed. Stay near or slightly left of the middle of the track; if you hit the apex of 1, 2 is impossible. There's a dip at the exit which is precisely when you need to turn-in for 2. Many drivers trail-brake through 1 to improve setup for 2. A little tap may be sufficient with the right car.
• 2: The dip at turn-in helps the bite. Gravity pushes the car down into the track in the balance zone. Smooth turn-in, gradually building. Apex of 2 is at the top of the hill on the right. It's blind from the turn-in. Nevertheless you have to get in tight to it. Exit is blind as you apex. Unwind after apex so you put middle of car over a divit in middle of track, maybe a tad left of that. 4th gear. Marshal station opposite apex. You must respect this corner!
• 3: "Le Diable." Brake (if you are too quick, if you're chicken) in straight line down hill. Quick little turn-in to the right for the apex. You almost drive a straight line from the turn-in of 3 to the turn-in of 4. Still 4th gear. Big tire wall off to the left.
• 4: You are carrying a lot of speed here (particularly if you didn't break through 1, 2, and 3) and about to enter "The Esses," really a combination. Break hard and down-shift to 3rd. Stay out a bit wide here on the left or late-apex to point better in the tiny straight between the first and second part of esses. If you're early, it screws up second part. If you're too hot, same problem. This can be taken at a high speed but it makes second part too difficult--go slower than you think. Tire wall at exit. Marshal station opposite apex.
• 5: Try to get a straight as possible and as close and parallel as possible to the right of the road before the turn-in of 5. Quick, medium (not hard) brake to improve turn-in. Almost opposite lock to the left. You'll run out track if you apex early. Very bumpy road surface at right edge of exit. Unwind smoothly, in fact be smooth through all of this. Try to get as straight as soon as possible to get the power down. Try not to scrub off speed from steering action. Shift up to 4th beyond exit.
• 6: Big sweeper to the left. Watch for black marks. Long apex zone, hug it. If you're slow here it's likely you were too fast in "The Esses." Let car drift out to the right. Turtles at exit are rather severe--you could bend a rim. 4th gear. There's an alternate route (through "Corner Banane") for a shorter circuit, rarely used, turning to the right instead... Eyes up!
• 7: Blind apex on right. Off-camber in balance zone. The big bump just after apex is removed! There's new pavement at the apex... This might be treacherous in the wet... Let car drift out after apex. Oops, almost forgot: this same new material is found in the braking zone INTO 7. Much smoother now happily but may be very slippery in damp. Turtles on left at exit of turn are extreme again, rim crackers. 4th gear. Marshal station opposite apex.
• General passing zone between 7 and 8.
• 8: "The Carousel" is a huge sweeper right-hander. Is it a double-apex? There are a lot of different lines through here. Lots of braking and a down-shift is needed. There's a bumpy bit of pavement change 100 metres before the turn-in right at the left edge of the track that can unsettle the car; stay out about 1 metre. This is yet another place at Le Circuit where drivers go in too hot then end up scrubing off lots of speed through the balance of the turn. Do not let the car drift beyond the middle of the track--it will be slick with marbles. Tire wall at the mid-point. 3rd gear. Marshal station near exit.
• 9: Slight left turn at "Hump." 4th gear. Bumpy on the right side.
• General passing zone between the carousel (8) and 10. This is a good time to check the gauges, check the mirrors, listen for pops and clicks, and settle yourself down.
• 10: Right-hander. Hard braking (from highest track speed) and down-shift. Two different lines: tight inside; wide at middle of road. Wide line feels better. Watch for black marks. Look ahead. Must brake at exit for 11. 3rd gear... Marshal station at apex.
• 11: "The Gulch." Brake smoothly. Some lower powered or slower cars may down-shift to 2nd to give more umph going up the hill and through the Bridge Turn (12). Fairly sharp turn-in to the left. Look through apex and up the hill. Let it unwind to exit. Exit dips down slightly. Marshal station opposite apex. You must respect this corner!
• 12: You climb a very sharp hill to a blind apex. The apex is after the bridge--not at it. Turn-in from the right edge of the track at the bridge. Car has slowed a great deal here. Exit zone is at end of turtles. Marshal station opposite apex.
• 13: Just after exit of 11 is a slight right hand "Kink." Short little smooth turtle at apex. You'll kick up some dust if you touch it. Shift up to 3rd after.
• 14: "Namerow" is a three-dimensional hairpin right turn, the slowest corner. Be smooth. Hard brake. Some people down-shift to 2 but they often hit the rev limiter when beginning to exit the corner. Run all the way to the end of the turtles at the left before turning in. Near full-lock (!) required. Look through apex. At apex, the track falls away. Try to not apex early else you'll have to scrub off more speed through exit. Let car drift all the way out to left side of track. Tire wall surrounds this corner. Shift to 3rd at flat part of exit zone. Marshal station at apex.
• 15: "Paddock Bend." A little kink to the left before the front straight. Let car drift out to about middle of track before turning in to point nice and straight. Gear up to 4th at exit. Unnumbered on map. Chief marshal station just beyond bend.
• General passing zone between 15 and 1--not right at exit of "Namerow."

Colour aerial view of Le Circuit, looking east. The Bridge Turn (corner 12) is visible near the top-right. Namerow (corner 14) is in the bottom-right. Corner 2 and 3 and The Esses (4 and 5) are obscured by the trees along the top centre of this photo.

Directions

Here are directions to Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant track. If you prefer, you may print a map. It is situated in the quaint Mont-Tremblant-Village (not in Saint-Jovite nor Mont-Tremblant proper).

New Water Route!

"The new route was great." Recommended by Rolf Lange (rolf.lange@sympatico.ca) and tested by Rick Doktor (doktor@nonline.net) early July '99. Note! The instruction are written from the track returning to Ottawa, Toronto, Kitchener...

1. Easy to follow down #323 to Montebello. Traffic was light.
2. We saw the ferry sign at Masson-Angers on #148, turned left and drove onto one of the four ferries.
3. The ferries operated right away. It was $5.00 for the car and the trip across the river took about 5 minutes.
4. #174 turned into 417 near Ottawa. Traffic was still light, about noon on Monday.
5. The trip down 416 was quick down to Kemptville, four lanes moving 120-130 kph.
6. After Kemptville the highway turned to two lanes and it slowed to about 70-80 kph. It was a short stretch down to the 401.

"It was under 700 km to Kitchener from Tremblant. About 6.5 hours travelling time including the ferry and some slowdowns around Toronto. It was a nice easy to follow good drive. I would take it again."

A quick, scenic route from Toronto

1. Take 401 east. Go past Brockville and Cornwall.
2. Take highway 34 north. This is the Lancaster exit #814.
3. Travel north on 34 toward Hawkesbury. You'll cross the Ottawa River into Québec.
4. Get to the 327 north.
   1. fun way
      1. Go west (briefly) on highway 148 to Calumet.
      2. North to Rivington. Eyes up!
      3. After Kilmar, turn right or east. You'll connect up to the 327.
   2. roundabout way
      1. Go east a ways on 148 to Lachute.
      2. Turn north onto 327 (towards Brownsburg).
5. Continue north on the 327 through Lost River, Lakeview, Weir, etc.
6. Turn onto Route 322 (?) at Saint-Jovite. Go north to Mont-Tremblant-Village.
7. Go through village. The track is marked on the right.

Fastest but longest route from Toronto (via Montréal)

Caution. This is a confusing route. I've done it wrong 2 times out of 3.

1. Take 401 east. In Québec, this becomes Route 20.
2. Highway forks to Ottawa and Montréal at exit 29: keep left, that is, continue to Ottawa!
3. Take route 40 into Montréal (exit 32).
4. Optional route:
   1. Take highway 13 north (exit 6).
   2. Take highway 640 east (exit 22).
5. Take route 15 (Laurentian Autoroute) north.
6. Continue north until it ends and becomes Route 117 near Ste-Agathe-des-Monts.
7. After approx. 30km, turn onto Route 322 (?) at St-Jovite. Go north to Mont-Tremblant-Village.
8. Go through village. The track is marked on the right.

Long, scenic route from Toronto (via Ottawa)

1. Take 401 east.
2. Take preferred route to Ottawa.
3. Cross river to Hull.
4. Take route 50 east from Hull and continue on route 148 east to Montebello.
5. Turn left on route 323 north towards St-Jovite.
6. Turn left onto route 117 north.
7. After approx. 30km, turn onto Route 322 (?) at St-Jovite. Go north to Mont-Tremblant-Village.
8. Go through village. The track is marked on the right.

From Boston

1. Take interstate 93 north to 89 north to the U.S./Canada border.
2. Follow route 133 north to route 10.
3. Take route 10 west towards Montréal.
4. Follow signs to route 15 north (a little jog east).
5. Continue north until 15 ends and becomes Route 117 near Ste-Agathe-des-Monts.
6. After approx. 30km, turn onto Route 322 (?) at St-Jovite. Go north to Mont-Tremblant-Village.
7. Go through village. The track is marked on the right.

Watch out for the "early" gate. There's a gate noted on route 327. This is where people taking the Jim Russell school often enter.

Nearest Services

BMW Parts

• Boulevard St-Martin Auto Inc., a BMW and Volvo dealer, 1430 Boul. St-Martin Ouest, Laval, Québec, tél 450 667-4343, http://www.bsmauto.com. Blake bought his M3 cap here!

Fuel

• Sonic gas station on main street (2076, rue Principale) in Mont-Tremblant-Village 819 425-3791 or 819 425-9501; also offer general mechanical repair
• Petro Canada on 1950, chemin Principal (octane 94 or higher!), tél 819 425-7969; operated by Carol Matte; also offer general mechanical repair; CAA!

Air

• Sonic gas station (see above)
• occasionally, air is provided at the track by Talon

Washrooms

• between skip pad/exercises area and parking lot, just behind winner circle podium (open at Jul 98 school)
• near Paddock Bend or Namerow, beyond the parking lot and upper paddock
• in the base of the tower

Showers

• none...
• but there is a stunning "whirlpool" where two rivers meet, beyond the skid pad... (please use enviro soap if you turn it into your bathtub)

Accommodation

• Auberge du Coq de Montagne, Mont-Tremblant-Village 819 425-3380
• Village Tremblant complex at base of the mountain, reservations 800 567-6760
• various B&Bs
• various chalets and cottages

Registering

See the event calendar for when BMWCC is running a school at Le Circuit. See our schools page for general info.

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Last updated on 06 August 2001.