Approval of a circuit is granted for a period of four years by the Prefect, after an inspection and an opinion by the Commission nationale d’examen des circuits de vitesse (National Speed Circuit Examination Commission) when the speed of vehicles may exceed 200 km/h at any point on the circuit or, in other cases, after an inspection and an opinion by the Commission départementale de sécurité routière (Departmental Road Safety Commission).
In Paris, approval is granted, under the conditions set out in the previous paragraph, by the Prefect of Police.
The Prefect or, where applicable, the Police Prefect, attaches to his approval order the layout plan of the circuit, which includes in particular the detailed plans of the areas reserved for spectators as provided for inarticle R. 331-21. All non-reserved areas are strictly forbidden to spectators.
A modification of the homologation is necessary when the characteristics of the circuit change, in particular those shown on the layout plan. The modification of the homologation is granted after an opinion, preceded if necessary by an on-site visit, from the competent committee, under the conditions set out in the first two paragraphs.
The authorisation of the Prefect provided for inarticle R. 331-26 is equivalent to the approval of a non-permanent circuit on which an event takes place, for the duration of the event only. This authorisation does not allow a permanent circuit to be approved on a temporary basis.