The Masaryk circuit () or Masarykring, also referred to as the Brno Circuit, refers to two

motorsport Motorsport or motor sport are sporting events, competitions and related activities that primarily involve the use of Car, automobiles, motorcycles, motorboats and Aircraft, powered aircraft. For each of these vehicle types, the more specific term ...

race track A race track (racetrack, racing track or racing circuit) is a facility built for racing of vehicles, athletes, or animals (e.g. horse racing or greyhound racing). A race track also may feature grandstands or concourses. Race tracks are also us ...

s located in

Brno Brno ( , ; ) is a Statutory city (Czech Republic), city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava (river), Svitava and Svratka (river), Svratka rivers, Brno has about 403,000 inhabitants, making ...

Czech Republic The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...

. The original

street circuit A street circuit is a motorsport race track, racing circuit composed of temporarily closed-off public roads of a city, town or village, used in motor racing, motor races. Airport Runway, runways and Taxiway, taxiways are also sometimes part of ...

was made up of public roads, and at its longest measured . The track is named after the first president of

Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia ( ; Czech language, Czech and , ''Česko-Slovensko'') was a landlocked country in Central Europe, created in 1918, when it declared its independence from Austria-Hungary. In 1938, after the Munich Agreement, the Sudetenland beca ...

Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk Tomáš () is a Czech name, Czech and Slovak name, Slovak given name, equivalent to the name Thomas (name), Thomas. Tomáš is also a surname (feminine: Tomášová). Notable people with the name include: Given name Sport *Tomáš Berdych (born 198 ...

. In 1949, events such as the Czechoslovakian Grand Prix attracted top teams and drivers. In 1987, the new (current) circuit was opened. 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 The TT Circuit Assen is a motorsport race track built in 1955 and located in Assen, Netherlands. Host of the Dutch TT, it is popularly referred to as "The Cathedral of Speed" by motorcycle racing fans. The venue has the distinction of holding th ...

Original circuits

The original layout ran anti-clockwise on approximately 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. 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 Grand Prix motor racing, a form of motorsport competition, has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as early as 1894. It quickly evolved from simple road races from one town to the next, to endurance tests for car and ...

(later evolved into

Formula One Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...

). The Czechoslovakian Grand Prix in 1949 was run clockwise on a shorter 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 Events January–February * January 14 – The First Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years. * January 20 ** Lyndon B. Johnson is Second inauguration of Lynd ...

. The circuit had been again reduced in length to 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 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 on 18 July 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 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 The FIA GT1 World Championship was a world championship sports car racing series, developed by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation, SRO Group and regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), that was held from 2010 to 2012. I ...

Formula Two Formula Two (F2) is a type of Open-wheel car, open-wheel formula racing category first codified in 1948. It was replaced in 1985 by Formula 3000, but revived by the FIA from 2009 FIA Formula Two Championship season, 2009 to 2012 FIA Formula Two C ...

and the

Superbike World Championship Superbike World Championship (also known as WorldSBK, SBK, World Superbike, WSB, or WSBK) is a silhouette road racing series based on heavily modified production sports motorcycles. The championship was founded in . The Superbike World Champion ...

also raced at the circuit. The Czech Republic Motorcycle Grand Prix was more of a promoter event than a profit-raiser itself. Since tobacco advertising has been banned in 2007, it is common among the other MotoGP events. Since August 2023, the circuit is owned by the Czech company Shakai.

Layout history

Events

; Current * May: Histo-Cup Austria ''Brno Historic'' * June: Ferrari Challenge Europe * July:

Grand Prix motorcycle racing Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the highest class of motorcycle road racing events held on Road racing, road circuits sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Independent motorcycle racing events have been held sin ...

Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix The Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. Before 1993, the race was known as the Czechoslovak motorcycle Grand Prix. Since 1965, the race was a part of world Grand P ...

'', Northern Talent Cup, Alpe Adria International Motorcycle Championship * September: TCR Eastern Europe Trophy,

Formula 4 CEZ Championship The Formula 4 CEZ Championship is a formula racing series regulated according to FIA Formula 4 regulations. The championship is organized and promoted by the Automobile Club of the Czech Republic (ACCR; ) and Krenek Motorsport. The championsh ...

, F2000 Italian Formula Trophy, ESET Cup Series, Velká Cena Bohumila Staši ; Former *

24H Series The 24H Series is a sports car racing and touring car racing series developed by Creventic and with approval from the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). It features Group GT3, GT3-spec cars, Group GT4, GT4-spec cars, Sports car r ...

** '' 12 Hours of Brno'' (2015–2016, 2019) * A1 Grand Prix (2006–2007) *

Austria Formula 3 Cup The Austria Formula 3 Cup is an open wheel racing series based in Austria. The series has run since 1982 and regular visits such circuits as the Salzburgring and the Red Bull Ring in Austria, the Autodrom Most and the Masaryk Circuit, Brno Circui ...

(1992, 1995–1999, 2014–2024) * Auto GP (2002–2005, 2010–2011, 2013, 2016) * BOSS GP (2014–2023) * British Talent Cup (2019) * Czechoslovakian Grand Prix (1930–1935, 1937, 1949, 1976–1988) *

Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, commonly abbreviated as the DTM, is a sports car racing series sanctioned by ADAC. The series is based in Germany, with rounds elsewhere in Europe. The series currently races a modified version of Group GT3 gra ...

(2004–2005) *

Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft The Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) was a touring car racing series held from 1984 to 1996. Originally based in Germany, it held additional rounds elsewhere in Europe and later worldwide. The original DTM had resumed racing with produc ...

(1988, 1991–1992) * Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2001, 2003–2004, 2010) * Eurocup Mégane Trophy (2010) *

European Touring Car Championship The European Touring Car Championship was an international touring car racing series organised by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second between 2000 and 2004. In 2005 it was superseded by the World ...

(1968–1972, 1975–1986, 2000–2004) * European Touring Car Cup (2013, 2015) * EuroV8 Series (2014) * Ferrari Challenge Italy (2009) * FIA Formula Two Championship (2009–2010) * FIA GT Championship (2000–2008) *

(2010) * FIA GT3 European Championship (2007–2008, 2010) * FIA Sportscar Championship ** '' Brno 2 Hours 30 Minutes'' (1997–2002) *

FIM Endurance World Championship The Endurance World Championship ( FIM EWC) is the premier worldwide endurance championship in motorcycle road racing. The championship season consists of a series of endurance races (with a duration of six, eight, twelve or twenty-four hours) ...

(2001–2003) * Formul'Academy Euro Series (2008) * Formula 3 Euro Series (2004) * Formula BMW ADAC (2004–2005) * Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup (2010) * Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2010) * Formula Renault V6 Eurocup (2004) *

German Formula Three Championship The German Formula Three Championship was the national Formula Three championship of Germany, and the former West Germany, from 1950 to 2002, then as Formel 3 until 2014. In 2003, the series had merged with the French Formula Three Championship ...

(1988–1989, 1992) * GT4 European Cup (2008) * (1992–1994) * International Formula Master (2006–2009) * International GTSprint Series (2013) * Italian Formula Renault Championship (2008) * Northern Talent Cup (2020) * Porsche Carrera Cup Germany (1987, 1992, 2004) * (2010) * Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup (2007–2017) * SEAT León Eurocup (2009–2010) *

Sidecar World Championship FIM Sidecar World Championship is the international sidecar racing championship. It is the only remaining original Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, FIM road racing championship class that started in 1949. It was formerly named Supersi ...

(1969–1982, 1987–1991, 1993–1997) *

(1993–1996, 2005–2012, 2018) * Supersport 300 World Championship (2018) * Supersport World Championship (2005–2012, 2018) *

Superstars Series The Superstars International Series was a production-based touring car racing championship held between 2004 and 2013. It was managed by the "Superstars World of Racing SpA", SWR, a company of FG Group with headquarters in Rome and sanctioned by ...

(2013) * TCR Europe Touring Car Series (2024) *

Trofeo Maserati The Trofeo Maserati is a single-marque motorsport championship that was started by Maserati Corse in 2003, with the introduction of the Maserati Coupé. Its title is commonly confused as ''Maserati Trofeo'', which in fact refers to the name d ...

(2006) *

World Sportscar Championship The World Sportscar Championship was the world Endurance racing (motorsport), endurance racing series run for sports car racing, sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), from 1953 World Sportscar Championship, 1953 t ...

** '' 360 km of Brno'' (1988) *

World Touring Car Championship The FIA World Touring Car Championship was an international touring car championship promoted by Eurosport Events and sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). It has had several different incarnations, including a sing ...

** '' FIA WTCC Race of the Czech Republic'' (2006–2011)

Lap records

The unofficial lap record is 1:34.700 set by Jérôme d'Ambrosio in Renault R29

Formula One car A Formula One car or F1 car is a single-seat, open-cockpit, open-wheel racing car, open-wheel formula racing car used to compete in Formula One racing events. It has substantial front and rear wings, large wheels, and a turbocharged engine mid ...

in 2010. As of June 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the modern layout of Brno Circuit are listed as:

Gallery

File:Masarykův okruh, vítěz Louis Chiron na Bugatti. Projíždí zatáčku v Pisárkách (1932).jpg, Winning Louis Chiron in Bugatti, Brno 1932 File:Juan Parés and Ángel Nieto 1971 Brno.jpeg, Ángel Nieto during Grand Prix motorcycle racing in Brno, 1971 File:Start Superbike Weltmeisterschaft 2008 Brno.JPG, Starting grid on the Brno Circuit File:Automotodrom Brno Omega.JPG, Omega bend of the Brno Circuit File:Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo 2009 Brno.jpg, Dani Pedrosa and

Jorge Lorenzo Jorge Lorenzo Guerrero (; born 4 May 1987) is a Spanish former professional Grand Prix motorcycle racing, motorcycle racer. He is a five-time World Champion, with three List of 500cc/MotoGP Motorcycle World Champions, MotoGP World Championships ...

in Brno, 2009 File:Marc Márquez and Valentino Rossi 2014 Brno 2.jpeg,

Marc Márquez Marc Márquez Alentà (born 17 February 1993) is a Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle road racer who races for the Ducati Lenovo Team. He previously raced for the Ducati satellite team Gresini in 2024 and Honda's factory team from his MotoGP deb ...

and Valentino Rossi in Brno, 2014 File:Okruh 20180422 072410.jpg, Brno Circuit from air

Notes

References

External links

Official WebpageTrackpedia's guide to driving the Brno circuitThe best place to stand at Automotodrom BrnoSatellite picture from Google Maps
{{Authority control Motorsport venues in the Czech Republic Superbike World Championship circuits Grand Prix motorcycle circuits A1 Grand Prix circuits Sports venues in Brno World Touring Car Championship circuits 1930 establishments in Czechoslovakia 1987 establishments in Czechoslovakia Sports venues completed in 1930 Sports venues completed in 1987 20th-century architecture in the Czech Republic