The Highway of Records
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The Highway of Records

The Hunaudières straight is a public road, formerly the N138, it is now classed as a secondary road (D338), but it is known worldwide to English speakers as the 'Mulsanne Straight'.

The Hunaudières straight is a public road, formerly the N138, it is now classed as a secondary road (D338), but it is known worldwide to English speakers as the 'Mulsanne Straight'. It's resurfacing this year brings to mind some of the greatest events of automotive history.

This long straight, nicknamed "route des records" (the highway of records)  in the nineteenth century by the Bollée (father and son), was decreed a "national laboratory" by the Highways Department in 1933. But this ribbon of asphalt 5800m long is best known for the high speeds set by prototypes. Until the creation of two chicanes in 1990, top speed took precedence over all other characteristics of a car worthy of winning the race. Thus, manufacturers created "mulsanne specials", entirely dedicated to the practice of setting the top speed on the 'Mulsanne Straight'. On the 11th of June 1988, Roger Dorchy behind the wheel, the 3.0 V6 twin-turbo WM P88 passed the 400km/h barrier with a speed of 405 km/h (251.7 mph), prompting the FIA to split the straight with two chicanes.

Today, even truncated, the Hunaudières remains an important high speed section of the circuit where the fastest flirt with 350 km/h. .. Under these conditions, the surface has to be perfect.

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