Masaryk Circuit

Brno Circuit

Location	Brno, Czech Republic
Time zone	GMT+1
Major events	MotoGP A1 Grand Prix Formula 3 Euro Series Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters FIA GT1 World Championship Superbike World Championship FIA World Touring Car Championship
Permanent Circuit (1987–present)
Length	5.403 km (3.357 mi)
Turns	15 (9 right, 6 left)
Lap record	1:39.089 (Ingo Gerstl, TopSpeed, BOSS GP, 2015)
4th Road Circuit (1975–1986)
Surface	Asphalt
Length	10.925 km (6.789 mi)
Turns	30
Lap record	3:29.91 (Johnny Cecotto, Yamaha, 1977, 500cc/MotoGP)
3rd Road Circuit (1964–1974)
Surface	Asphalt
Length	13.941 km (8.663 mi)
Turns	40
Lap record	4:59.1 (Jochen Mass, Ford Capri RS 2600, 1972, Touring cars)
2nd Road Circuit (1949–1963)
Surface	Asphalt/Cobbles
Length	17.800 km (11.061 mi)
Turns	53
Lap record	8:03.0 (B.Bira/Toulo de Graffenried, Both Maserati, 1949, Grand Prix)
Original Road Circuit (1930–1948)
Surface	Asphalt/Cobbles
Length	29.142 km (18.109 mi)
Turns	81
Lap record	11:59.3 (Rudolf Caracciola, Mercedes, 1937, Grand Prix)

The Masaryk circuit (Czech: Masarykův okruh) or Masarykring, now referred to as the Brno Circuit, refers to two motorsport race tracks located close to the city of Brno, Czech Republic The original street circuit was made up of public roads, and at its longest measured nearly 19 miles (31 km). In the 1930s, events such as the Masaryk Grand Prix attracted top teams and drivers. The track is named after the first president of Czechoslovakia, Tomáš Masaryk. Racing on the old roads ended after 1986, when the new (current) circuit was opened.

The annual Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Czech Republic is the circuit's most important event. It is held here since 1950 and is the most famous motor race in the Czech Republic. Championship is part of the World Grand Prix since 1965.

The FIA World Touring Car Championship, FIA GT1 World Championship, Formula Two and the Superbike World Championship also raced at the circuit.

The Czech Republic Motorcycle Grand Prix has always been more of a promoter event than a profit-raiser in itself, tobacco advertising has been banned since 2007.

Original circuits

Casey Stoner at MotoGP Brno

The original layout ran anti-clockwise on approximately 31 km (19 mi) of public roads west of Brno, including the villages of Bosonohy and Žebětín. From 1930 to 1937, the Masaryk Grand Prix attracted some of the top drivers and teams.

The renamed Czechoslovakian Grand Prix in 1949 was run clockwise on a shorter 17.8 km (11.1 mi) layout around Kohoutovice. In spite of a crowd in excess of 400,000 people, this would be the last Grand Prix for cars on the old circuit.

Beginning in 1950, the circuit played host to the Czechoslovakian motorcycle Grand Prix, which became a world championship event from 1965 to 1982. The circuit had been again reduced in length to 13.94 km (8.66 mi) in 1964. The European Touring Car series visited in the 1980s, by which time the circuit had been finally reduced to 10.92 km (6.79 mi) in 1975.

All layouts of the Masaryk Circuit (Brno Circuit) between 1930 and today combined

Modern circuit

The current permanent road racing circuit was opened in 1987. It lies north of Kyvalka, within the bounds of the circuit used in the 1930s, but not incorporating any of the public roads. The motorcycle race moved to the new circuit and regained its status as a round of the world championship. A World Sports Car Championship race was held in 1988, and a round of the A1 Grand Prix series in 2006. It is also the location of 6 Hours of Brno.

External links

• Official Webpage
• Map and circuit history at RacingCircuits.info
• Maps of the old track
• Trackpedia's guide to driving the Brno circuit
• The best place to stand at Automotodrom Brno
• Satellite picture from Google Maps
• Other track in the Czech republic