Brno Circuit

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 18 miles (29 km). 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.

Automotodrom Brno
LocationBrno, Czech Republic
Time zoneGMT+1
FIA Grade2
Major events
Permanent Circuit (1987–present)
Length5.403 km (3.357 mi)
Turns14 (8 right, 6 left)
Race lap record1:36.065 (ITom Beckhauserl, TopSpeed, Toro Rosso STR1, BOSS GP, 2017)
4th Road Circuit (1975–1986)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length10.925 km (6.789 mi)
Turns29
Race lap record3:29.91 (Johnny Cecotto, Yamaha, 1977, 500cc/MotoGP)
3rd Road Circuit (1964–1974)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length13.941 km (8.663 mi)
Turns40
Race lap record4:59.1 (Jochen Mass, Ford Capri RS 2600, 1972, Touring cars)
2nd Road Circuit (1949–1963)
SurfaceAsphalt/Cobbles
Length17.800 km (11.061 mi)
Turns73
Race lap record8:03.0 (B.Bira/Toulo de Graffenried, Both Maserati, 1949, Grand Prix)
Original Road Circuit (1930–1948)
SurfaceAsphalt/Cobbles
Length29.194 [1] km (18.109 mi)
Turns128 [2]
Race lap record11:59.3 (Rudolf Caracciola, Mercedes, 1937, Grand Prix)
Websitewww.automotodrombrno.cz/go/,%20https://www.automotodrombrno.cz/

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 is more of a promoter event than a profit-raiser itself.[3] 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.[4]

Original circuits

The original layout ran anti-clockwise on approximately 29 km (18 mi) of public roads in the outskirts of Brno, where the start/finish was located in Bosonohy. The circuit west 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.[5]

On September 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).[6] The Czechoslovakian Grand Prix in 1949 was run clockwise on a shorter 17.8 km (11.1 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 13.94 km (8.66 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 10.92 km (6.79 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.

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 the 24H Epilog of Brno (previously 6 Hours of Brno).

References
  1. Ing. A. Závodník, Masarykův okruh závodní, 1930
  2. Ing. A. Závodník, Masarykův okruh závodní, 1930
  3. "Brno extends MotoGP contract until 2013". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 5 November 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  4. "Brněnská Grand Prix je v oblibě. Ať spraví asfalt, říká ale Kornfeil". Brněnský deník (in Czech). 6 August 2019.
  5. Ivan Margolius, 'Czechoslovakia's First Circuit', The Automobile, August 2019, pp. 48 - 54
  6. "Formule 1 na území Česka? Jednou se zde královský závod jel!". Garaz.cz (in Czech).

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