All layouts of the circuit between 1930 and today combined
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| Location | Brno, Czech Republic |
|---|---|
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) CEST (DST) |
| Coordinates | 49°12′17″N 16°27′02″E / 49.20472°N 16.45056°E / 49.20472; 16.45056 |
| FIA Grade | 2 |
| Owner | Shakai (August 2023–present) Karel Abraham, Sr. (2005–August 2023) |
| Broke ground | 1985 (for modern circuit) |
| Opened | 1930 (for road circuit) 18 July 1987; 36 years ago (1987-07-18) (for modern circuit) |
| Major events |
Current:
Former:
(1993–1996, 2005–2012, 2018) Race of the Czech Republic (2006–2011) (1969–1982, 1987–1991, 1993–1997) Brno 2 Hours 30 Minutes (1997–2002) |
| Website | https://www.automotodrombrno.cz/ |
| Permanent Grand Prix Circuit (1987–present) | |
| Length | 5.403 km (3.357 miles) |
| Turns | 14 (8 right, 6 left) |
| Race lap record | 1:36.065 (Ingo Gerstl, Toro Rosso STR1, 2017, BOSS GP/F1) |
| 4th Road Circuit (1975–1986) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 10.925 km (6.789 miles) |
| Turns | 29 |
| Race lap record | 3:29.910 (Johnny Cecotto, Yamaha YZR500 (0W35), 1977, 500cc) |
| 3rd Road Circuit (1964–1974) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 13.941 km (8.663 miles) |
| Turns | 40 |
| Race lap record | 4:57.000 (Gianfranco Bonera, MV Agusta 500 Four, 1974, 500cc) |
| 2nd Road Circuit (1949–1963) | |
| Surface | Asphalt/Cobbles |
| Length | 17.800 km (11.061 miles) |
| Turns | 73 |
| Race lap record | 8:03.000 (Prince Bira/Toulo de Graffenried, Maserati 4CLT/48, 1949, GP) |
| Original Road Circuit (1930–1948) | |
| Surface | Asphalt/Cobbles |
| Length | 29.194[1] km (18.109 miles) |
| Turns | 128[1] |
| Race lap record | 11:59.300 (Rudolf Caracciola, Mercedes-Benz W125, 1937, GP) |
The Masaryk circuit (Czech: Masarykův okruh) or Masarykring, also referred to as the Brno Circuit, refers to two motorsport race tracks located in Brno, Czech Republic. The original street circuit was made up of public roads, and at its longest measured 29.194 km (18.140 mi). In 1949, events such as the Czechoslovakian Grand Prix attracted top teams and drivers. The track is named after the first president of Czechoslovakia, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. Racing on the old roads ended after 1986, when the new (current) circuit was opened. Since August 2023, the circuit is owned by Shakai.[2]
The original layout ran anti-clockwise on approximately 29.194 km (18.140 mi) of public roads in the outskirts of Brno, where the start/finish was located in Bosonohy. The circuit went east past Kamenny and then went north past the Bohunice University Campus in Kejbaly, and went through the villages of Libusino, Kohouvotice and Žebětín, out to Ostrovacice, through Veselka and back through a series of fast straights and kinks. From 1930 to 1937, the Masaryk circuit races attracted some of the top drivers and teams.[3]
OnSeptember 25, 1949, the race was held for the first and the last time in Czechoslovakia as part of the Grand Prix motor racing (later evolved into Formula One).[4] The Czechoslovakian Grand Prix in 1949 was run clockwise on a shorter 17.800 km (11.060 mi) layout, which turned right at Veselka, bypassed Ostrovacice and entered Žebětín from the south rather than the west. 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. The circuit had been again reduced in length to 13.941 km (8.663 mi) in 1964, completely bypassing Žebětín and using a new through-road that went to Kohoutovice quicker. The European Touring Car series visited in the 1980s, by which time the circuit had been finally reduced to 10.921 km (6.786 mi) in 1975, which exited Kohoutovice from the south and bypassed Libusino and Kejbaly and went right through Kamenny and rejoined the main road back to Bosonohy.
The current 5.403 km (3.357 mi) permanent road racing circuit was opened on 18 July 1987.[5] 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 was also the location of the 24H Epilog of Brno (previously 6 Hours of Brno).
The annual Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Czech Republic was the circuit's most important event. It had been held here since 1950 and was the most famous motor race in the Czech Republic. The race was part of the World Grand Prix in the years of 1965–1982, 1987–1991, 1993–2020.
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 was more of a promoter event than a profit-raiser itself.[6] Since tobacco advertising has been banned in 2007, it is common among the other MotoGP events. The Brno Circuit is historically one of the oldest circuits, on the place were also held the most motorcycle championships in history after the TT Circuit Assen.[7]
Brno Circuit Layout History
The unofficial lap record is 1:34.700 set by Jérôme d'AmbrosioinRenault R29 Formula One car in 2010. As of September 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the modern layout of Brno Circuit are listed as:[8]
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