There are 24 gravel traps at the 24 Hours circuit - no joke! Gravel traps are placed strategically to brake vehicles when they go off the track. The biggest of these pits, at the Dunlop curve, covers a surface area of two hectares.

The gravel traps are filled with special river gravel with round stones measuring 8-10mm in diameter. The gravel actually looks like marble, says Thierry Moreau, who is in charge of the maintenance at the circuit. The idea is to slow down vehicles when they come off the track.

The gravel traps are designed to act a little like quicksand, but we have never actually buried a vehicle yet! All the same, they do their job so well that it is often difficult for a driver to get the vehicle out without help. Over time, the gravel forms clumps and becomes too compact, says Moreau. The rotary harrow breaks down the clumps and ensures the gravel remains efficient. We refer to this as “harvesting”.

On the Bugatti circuit the gravel traps are raked at least once a month and after each race. It takes a whole day each time. Bruno Vivet of the ACO is in charge of the operation.
So if you’re passing the Bugatti and you see a tractor “harvesting” by the track, don’t worry, your eyes are not deceiving you!