Race track

A motorsports racetrack is a bounded and closed to public traffic racetrack, will be held on the motorsport competitions.

Different forms racetrack

A distinction is open or closed racetracks. Open racetracks are characterized by the fact that start ( point A) and destination ( point B) are apart and the trunk is used as a rule only once. They are used in rallying for individual stages as well as in rally sprints, hill climbs or drag racing race. In most cases, closed loop trails, which are traveled through several rounds are race tracks but ( circuit racing ). Start and finish are then commonly found in the same place.

Racetracks can be permanent or temporary furnished. Permanent racetracks are used almost exclusively for motor sports and are not open to traffic. Temporary racetracks other hand, are often applied only for a few days on public roads. To this end, the route is briefly closed to traffic and is provided with the infrastructure necessary for the race. A distinction city courses, which are used in inner cities, airfield courses that arise only for that race on civil or military airfields and race tracks that are created on country roads. Unlike permanent race tracks race tracks are temporary closed off (eg for rally special stages, street circuit or airfield - car racing, autocross and ice racing ) immediately before and temporarily created for the competition concerned or.

The track Circuit des 24 Heures is one of the few semi-permanent race tracks. As part of the 24 - hour race at Le Mans the permanent Circuit Bugatti is extended for a week to 9.207 km closed off public roads.

The most common temporary race track is the Circuit de Monaco, will be closed for annual large parts of road transport in the Principality of Monaco to where the grand prize of Monaco during the Formula 1 World Championship unsubscribe. Is also the racing calendar of Formula 1 with the Silverstone Circuit, a former airfield of RAF. This, however, was transformed into a permanent race track in 1948. While initially drove on the original start and runways, the racing operation is nowadays mainly on the connection paths of the site, which have undergone over time, especially safety-related changes.

The permanent, closed-course, a distinction road courses where lined up curves in different directions and oval courses that exist according to specifications of the world car racing FIA sovereignty of up to four left turns.

The flooring of racetracks is different. Mostly it is asphalt. There is often the flooring but also of concrete, grass, dirt, sand, gravel or snow ice respectively.

Racetracks are used not only for racing, but also for testing and training. In some circuits, it is also possible to travel by private car or motorcycle for a fee without the current restrictions on public roads.

Various types of racetracks

Racetracks for formula, touring and sports car racing

Formula, touring and sports car racing can be performed on permanent or temporary round courses. According to the FIA regulations, this must be made of asphalt and should not be longer than 7 km. The minimum length of a racetrack for Formula 1 race is 3.5 km, one of the most well-known exceptions, the Monaco Grand Prix with 3.340 km. For touring car race, the course must be depending on race duration 3.0, its 3.2 or 4.0 km long, for sports car racing, race tracks must have a minimum length of 3.5 to 4.7 km.

The minimum width is 12 m, on the start line to the end of the first curve even 15 m. The longitudinal gradient is regulated in relation to the speed, the start line should have no more than 2 % slope. The gradient across the vehicle should be 1.5 to 3% for the drainage. The superelevation of curves shall not exceed 10 %. Every start must have a length of 6 m ( in Formula 1 even 8 m).

Autocross racing circuits

According to FIA regulations can autocross Rundstrecken be either temporary or permanent, a total length of 600-2000 meters must have and use exclusively loose track surface ( soil, sand, gravel, etc.). The starting point must, however, be asphalted or concreted.

Rallycross race tracks

The Rally Cross gets loud FIA rules exclusively on permanent race tracks with changing pad ( min. 35 and max. 60 % asphalt or concrete, otherwise loose ground, mostly gravel ) performed. The round length is 950-1400 meters. In Germany, according to the DMSB Regulations Rallycross race on autocross tracks are possible in exceptional cases, when there was asphalted or concreted at least the starting point ( " mountain mud offroad Arena " Weigsdorf - Koblitz ). In addition, however the DMSB also approved Rallycross race on tracks with almost exclusively Blacktop ( Gründautalring, Gruendau - Loveless ).

Racetracks for ice racing

The race tracks for the increasingly popular Ice racing is only temporary slopes. In France and some other countries of the Alps they are prepared with natural snow or mild winters with snow cannons, additionally needed water serves to solidify the course. In Scandinavia, however, a circular course is only staked on the then over half a meter thick ice of a lake in very severe winters. Almost always used for such races with very many short spikes or about 25 mm long nails coated special tires used, rare but relatively normal M & S tires are also prescribed.

FIA classification

6A

6R

6G

Autocross

Rallycross

Ice racing

Mountain mud offroad Arena

Estering

Not currently assigned

(November 2011)