Folembray Circuit Guide
Images by Kar Lee (Kardesign).
OWNER: The Local French Municipality
CIRCUIT LENGTH: 1.27M / 2.05KM (full circuit)
MOTORCYCLE CIRCUIT RECORD: As a non-competitive circuit there is limited official data, however the unofficial car record 0:47.28 seconds was set in 1979 by René Arnoux during Renault F1 testing.
TDA DIFFICULTY RATING: TWO (2/5)
One of those circuits that’s quick to learn, but tricky to master!
Click here to jump to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Folembray, e.g. are there garages/electrics, can you camp and is there any hook-up, can you buy fuel at the circuit or nearby?
Folembray Directions
CIRCUIT ADDRESS: Circuit de Folembray (Folembray Arena), Rue des Hautes, Avesnes, 02670, Folembray, France.
CIRCUIT LOCATION: Link to Google Maps
TDA Track Day Calendars
Check out the TDA Track Day Calendars for events to book at this circuit or any other UK or European circuit from the various track day organisers, all in one place for your convenience:
Circuit History
Only 135 miles from Calais, the Circuit de Folembray in Northern France (also known as the Folembray Arena) was once the home of French royalty. However, the Château de Folembray is long-since-gone. These days it’s used for testing and track days (cars and bikes) with an off-road course on site.
Folembray has hosted a mixture of touring car championships and motorcycle racing, including the Honda Challenge and Kawasaki Cup. Wikipedia has a very limited page about the track and the Official Folembray Arena Website has a bit more info, but there’s not a lot of detail about.
The circuit was opened in 1975, however there was a 4-year period of inactivity when it fell into decline before the circuit was purchased by the local municipality in 1988. Folembray is now operated by a management company as Folembray Arena.
Whilst the circuit does not host professional racing, it does host ‘open days’ for personal cars and motorcycles, alternating between 20-minute car and motorcycle sessions. Track Day Organisers can also hire out the circuit for dedicated bike track days (see our Track Day Calendar).
Circuit length and layout
It’s a funny little place, situated in a sleepy little French town where you simply wouldn’t expect to see a race track. But hidden inside a high tree-lined little secret pocket of heaven is the circuit. The full circuit is just over 2km (shorter configurations are typically not used for bike track days) and was resurfaced in 2000.
Picturesque and surrounded by trees, with a house in the middle of the track, it has some technical sections and limited run-off - Afterall it’s not a professional race circuit like many on our list. It’s a fantastic track for beginners… One of those circuits that’s quick to learn, but tricky to master!
Whilst the circuit map looks at first glance quite simple, the circuit can be challenging with a mix of fast corners, tight hairpins and almost 50 metres of elevation changes, including an uphill start/finish followed by a fun downhill section after the hairpin.
The club house is set high up near the entrance and they typically sell sandwiches and drinks. Locals sometimes sit on the grassy banking to watch the riders as they go past the start-finish straight. If they’re watching, they appreciate a good wheelie. Or even a bad one.
What’s the best bike to ride at Folembray?
In the distant past Folembray has hosted open races for 125, 250, 500 and 750cc motorcycles, as well as side cars. However, we’d say it’s a circuit that’s better suited to 600cc and above. Even though it’s a relatively small track, you can have a blast (and set a respectable time) on a larger capacity bike.
If you scroll down you can see a respectable lap time set on a GSX-R1000 K6, although the fastest motorbike lap time we’ve found with a web search was set on a Ninja ZX-6R.
Advice for riding fast round Folembray
The last corner (a left hander) can be tricky as getting it wrong can lead to a slow entry to the start/finish straight, which is essential for a fast lap when you just nail it all the way down to the right-left flick, where you don’t want to scrub off too much speed as you approach the tight right-hand hairpin.
Many people drift out wide to navigate this, making it a perfect place to nip inside if you’re confident trail braking into slow hairpins. There follows a medium right hander, then a fairly quick left hander that leads to the chicane, before you’re onto the back straight and you’re hard on the brakes to make the last couple of right handers.
A good lap is anything under a minute. A fast lap is anything near the 55 second mark. However, the top motorcycle lap time on Lap Trophy (public lap timing) is apparently 0:50.67 seconds (Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R) at the time of writing.
Onboard Lap Around Circuit de Folembray
Kar Lee of Kardesign is a good friend and contributor to Trackday Addicts. This onboard video of a lap round Circuit de Folembray in Northern France on his modified Suzuki GSX-R1000 (2006).
The bike is a modified road going Gixxer (still has the mirrors & lights on) with tweaks for better handling for road and track use. The mods include: BST carbon wheels, plated swingarm, Bazzaz traction control and quickshifter, Ohlins forks + shock, Brembo calipers + 320mm discs, Brembo RCS master cylinder, Auctmarts roadbike plastics and a GPR exhaust.
You can watch that here:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is there camping at Folembray Circuit?
Yes, camping is allowed in the paddock area. Don't expect any hookup for power though.
Can I get petrol at Folembray Circuit?
No, there is no fuel on site. The nearest petrol station is about 5 miles away.
Turn left at the end of the one-way system after you exit the circuit and continue through Coucy-le-Chateau. If you turn left onto the D1, the petrol station is just over the river.
Are there garages at Folembray Circuit?
No, there aren’t any pit garages – so you’ll need a generator. There *may* be an opportunity to run a lead from the control tower building, but we wouldn’t count on it.
