What do you think is the greatest Circuit in the world?

Everso Biggyballies · #46

Bottom post of the previous page:

PTRACER wrote:
Swede wrote:I once saw an onboard lap of the old Brno Circuit and it blew me away.
Where can this be found?

PT, Check your email!

Brno.
For those that like to plot circuit locations on Google Earth here is the exact location:
Lat: 49:12:21N (49.2059) Lon: 16:27:01E (16.4504)

Like many of the great European Circuits it started life as a huge 29+k/m (18.1 miles) anticlockwise circuit but has now been reduced to a track which actually uses no part of the original or previous circuits. First change was in 1948 when the track was bisected, and trimmed to just under 18k/ms (11 miles) round and interestingly at that time the circuit direction was reversed and made clockwise. It ran like that through to 1964 when it had another lengh reduction, trimming off the n/w loop, reducing the lengh to 14 k/ms. (8.6miles). In 1974the track was again bisected and reduced in lengh down to just under 11k/ms (6.8miles). In 1986 the current 'Grand Prix' circuit was built from scratch within one corner of the original. The new (current) track is just 5.4 k/ms long (3.3 miles) but is no comparison to any of the old original circuit.

International class events have been held at the circuit since its inception with a few breaks and you will see many of the pre 1950 'names' on the winners list.
It became a regular spot for the ETCC championship, and now the new circuit boasts a round of the FIA sports Car championship and also Moto GP. In my view they are not driving the real Brno nowadays though.

Year Circuit Category Winner
2004 Brno GT U.Alzen / M.Bartels (Saleen S7-R)
2003 Brno GT M.Bobbi / T.Biagi (Ferrari 550 Maranello)
2002 Brno GT J.Campbell-Walter / N.Springer (Lister Storm-Jaguar)
2001 Brno GT C.Bouchet / JP.Beloc (Chrysler Viper GTS-R)
2000 Brno GT J.Bailey / J.Campbell-Walter (Lister Storm-Jaguar)
1999 Brno Sports Car JM.Gounon / E.Bernard (Lola B98/10 Judd)
1998 Brno Sports Car E.Collard / V.Sospiri (Ferrari 333SP)
1997 Brno Sports Car A.Merzario (Centenari M1-Alfa Romeo)
1989-1996 - No Race -
1988 Brno World Sports Car JL.Schlesser / J.Mass (Sauber-Mercedes C9/88)
1987 Brno World Touring Car E.Calderari / F.Mancini (BMW M3)
1986 Brno European Touring Car U.Granberg / T.Lindström (Volvo 240 Turbo)
1985 Brno European Touring Car U.Granberg / A.Olofsson (Volvo 240 Turbo)
1984 Brno European Touring Car T.Walkinshaw / H.Heyer (Jaguar XJ-S)
1983 Brno European Touring Car T.Walkinshaw / C.Nicholson (Jaguar XJ-S)
1982 Brno European Touring Car T.Walkinshaw / C.Nicholson (Jaguar XJ-S)
1981 Brno European Touring Car U.Grano / H.Kelleners (BMW 635 CSi)
1980 Brno European Touring Car H.Kelleners / S.Müller (BMW 320)
1979 Brno European Touring Car J.Xhenceval / P.Dieudonné / R.van Hove (BMW 3.0 CSL)
1978 Brno European Touring Car C.Facetti / M.Finotto (BMW 3.0 CSL)
1977 Brno European Touring Car C.Facetti / M.Finotto (BMW 3.0 CSL)
1976 Brno European Touring Car J.Xhenceval / P.Dieudonné / U.Grano (BMW 3.0 CSL)
1975 Brno European Touring Car A.Peltier / S.Müller (BMW 3.0 CSL)
1973-1974 - No Race -
1972 Brno European Touring Car D.Glemser (Ford Capri RS 2600)
1971 Brno European Touring Car D.Glemser (Ford Capri RS 2600)
1970 Brno European Touring Car T.Hezemans (Alfa Romeo 2000 GTAm)
1969 Brno European Touring Car D.Quester (BMW 2002 TIK)
1968 Brno European Touring Car H.Kelleners / E.Kremer (Porsche 911)
1951-1967 - No Race -
1950 Brno Formule Libre V.Hovorka (Maserati)
1949 Brno Formule Libre P.Whitehead (Ferrari)
1938-1948 - No Race -
1937 Brno Formule Libre R.Caracciola (Mercedes-Benz W125)
1936 - No Race -

1935 Brno Formule Libre B.Rosemeyer (Auto Union 5.6L Typ.1935 Rennwagen)
1934 Brno Formule Libre H.Stuck (Auto Union 4.4L Typ.1934 Rennwagen)
1933 Brno Formule Libre L.Chiron (Alfa Romeo)
1932 Brno Formule Libre L.Chiron (Bugatti)
1931 Brno Formule Libre L.Chiron (Bugatti)
1930 Brno Formule Libre H.zu Leiningen / HJ.von Morgen (Bugatti T35B)

I have done a bit of an illustration showing how the original track was chopped threough the years which should be easy enough to follow.

Roy · #47

In these days or this time...Spa and Monza. I like the surrounding woods and stuff...Brings some memories with the circuits... The trees have seen alot of thx you know...

rudolf · #48

for me nothing is more beautifull than Spa old and new, not only the track but the whole forest around it.

Simon Adebisi · #49

The old Le Mans 24H circuit was the best. The 22km Nurburgring tracks looks awesome from the few videos i've seen. Although I have no idea what the old Spa was like I'd still rate it amongst the best and by far the best in F1.

nihil · #50

Targa Florio?
Isle of Man?

SBan83 · #51

I would probably vote for the Nurburgring as being the greatest because it has every type of camber, curve, incline and twist you can possibly imagine in the wildest of dreams.

Sandeep

Metzo · #52

for me it's the AVUS because i live 10 minutes away from the track

but it's closed down since 1999

Lasek99 · #53

Talladega Superspeedway, before they repaved it.

After that, probably Nurburgring Nordschleife, Spa, and Monza.

Racingfever · #54

Lasek99 wrote:Talladega Superspeedway, before they repaved it.

After that, probably Nurburgring Nordschleife, Spa, and Monza.

actually I like it with the new pavement

and you're list is exactly the same as mine would be!

#55

I would almost say Bathurst, one of very few real race tracks still in use for a major event.

I guess you have to be an American to vote for an oval, but Talladega could be the worlds greatest oval likely.

SBan83 · #56

Well, a race track's a race track, doesn't matter if its an oval or road course.

And the new Dega provides some of the best racing you can get, so I dunno why you prefer the pre-resurface version, Zack. Maybe the nostalgia of that light-gray pavement with the cracks all over? It did have a certain charm for sure.

Sandeep

Lasek99 · #57

Hotdogger wrote:Well, a race track's a race track, doesn't matter if its an oval or road course. And the new Dega provides some of the best racing you can get, so I dunno why you prefer the pre-resurface version, Zack. Maybe the nostalgia of that light-gray pavement with the cracks all over? It did have a certain charm for sure.

Sandeep

The light shade and cracked pavement gave the track a certain character. The new pavement just looks kinda boring to me I guess.

M Needforspeed · #58

I feel sad it has not been mentionned, but CLERMONT FERRAND Charade track has not only all the difficulties and variety of others tracks, but the surroundings were even more natural .it is not because he hasn t so much history, that it could not be included in a top five all time greatests tracks

and for the driving pleasure, Clermont Ferrand had a rythm , like a melody that Nordschleife didn t , imo .

SBan83 · #59

M Needforspeed wrote:I feel sad it has not been mentionned, but CLERMONT FERRAND Charade track has not only all the difficulties and variety of others tracks, but the surroundings were even more natural .it is not because he hasn t so much history, that it could not be included in a top five all time greatests tracks

and for the driving pleasure, Clermont Ferrand had a rythm , like a melody that Nordschleife didn t , imo .

That's quite true.

Debo318 · #60

3 years late, but i like Road Atlanta. There's been some spectacular crashes there and the track is a hoot to race on with NR2003.

#61

Debo318 wrote:3 years late, but i like Road Atlanta. There's been some spectacular crashes there and the track is a hoot to race on with NR2003.

You like Road Atlanta because of the crashes that have occured there?