Site MapThe Five Best Speedways in Europe Bar None
There's just something about those European curves.
Even though the automobile was born and bred in the good ol’ U.S. of A., Europe perfected it by giving it elegance and class. The same goes for Europe’s speedways. There’s more of a mystique to racing in Monaco than, say, Indianapolis. We're not saying anything is wrong with Indy, but there’s no royal family of Indianapolis. Europe’s speedways are so top of the line, how do you narrow them to five? How do you definitively say, these are the absolute best? You can’t. And with that said, here are the five absolute best:
Nürburgring
Located in the Rhineland, this speedway seats 150,000 people. The complex was established in 1925 with the construction of the Nordschleife or "North loop" track, but the Grand Prix race track was built in 1984. The North loop track is 12.9 miles of tracking looping around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. Not for the faint of heart, the 1,000 feet of elevation change has earned this track the nickname “The Green Hell.”
Fiorano Circuit
This circuit, built in the year 1972, is privately owned by Ferrari. The track is largely used by the company to test out their cars which means it is tricked out with telemetry sensors and a skid pad for tire testing. You can view the track from the roadside unless you happen to own a Ferrari. In that case, you can take your car out for a spin on the track.
Circuit de Monaco
The Circuit de Monaco gives a whole new meaning to the word “street racing,” because you’re literally racing on the streets. Used for the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and the Formula E Monaco ePrix, the circuit stretches across La Condamine and Monte Carlo. While it has the reputation for being the slowest Grand Prix track, it’s also the most difficult.
Spa Francorchamps
Located in Stavelot, Belgium, this racetrack hosted its first Grand Prix in 1925 and has hosted a Grand Prix every year since 1985 (except in 2003 and 2006, but we won’t hold it against them). The circuit has gone through numerous redesigns over the years, most notably its redesign in 1979, when it was shortened from a circuit using public roads to a permanent circuit due to safety concerns. Because racing stops being fun when it takes an eye out.
Zandvoort
Do you love corners? Then this Dutch speedway is for you. Nestled by the North Sea, Zandvoort gained in popularity thanks to its sharp corners, such as "Tarzanbocht" (Tarzan corner) hairpin at the end of the racetrack’s start/finish. The race track was constructed after WWII, even though the first race in the location was held in 1939. Because being invaded by Nazis isn’t really conducive to major construction projects. The circuit currently serves as one of the speedways of the Dutch Grand Prix.
