Eurospeedway Lausitzring

The Eurospeedway Lausitz stands as one of Europe's most distinctive motorsport facilities. Located near Klettwitz in Brandenburg, Germany, this racing complex opened on August 20, 2000, before a crowd of 80,000 spectators. The circuit occupies land that once served as a lignite open-pit mine. Construction began in 1998 after the project was first conceived in the mid-1980s. Today, the facility operates under the official name DEKRA Lausitzring and holds FIA Grade 2 licensing for select layouts.

Track Configurations and Technical Features

The Lausitzring offers six distinct track configurations. The Tri-Oval Superspeedway measures 3.256 km (2.023 miles) and features three turns with banking angles reaching 5.7 degrees. This layout mirrors the design of Pocono Raceway in the United States and remains the only high-speed oval of its type in continental Europe. The Grand Prix Circuit extends 4.345 km (2.700 miles) across 14 turns, while a variant incorporating Banked Turn 1 stretches to 4.601 km (2.859 miles) with 10 turns.

The Motorcycle Circuit spans 4.297 km (2.670 miles) and includes 14 turns. The Sprint Circuit, added in 2004, provides a shorter option at 3.478 km (2.161 miles) with 12 turns. All track sections can connect to form the Endurance Course (Langstrecke), which totals 12.030 km (7.475 miles). This extended layout serves primarily for testing purposes rather than competitive racing. A separate Test Oval sits adjacent to the main course, featuring two long straights and measuring 5.800 km (3.604 miles). The circuit encompasses an elevation change of 17 meters across its various configurations.

Major Racing Events and Championships

The Lausitzring has hosted numerous prestigious motorsport series since its opening. The DTM (German Touring Car Championship) has competed at the venue annually since 2000 and remains a fixture on the calendar. The oval configuration attracted the American CART Championship series, which held the German 500 races in 2001 and 2003. The Superbike World Championship visited the circuit during 2001-2002, 2005-2007, and 2016-2017.

Additional championships have included FIA GT in 2000, A1 Grand Prix in 2005, F3 Euroseries, World Series by Nissan, ADAC GT Masters, and the European Truck Racing Championship. The venue has proven its flexibility by accommodating both road racing and oval track competitions.

Safety Incidents

The circuit experienced several tragic accidents during its early years. Former Formula One driver Michele Alboreto died in April 2001 during a test session on the test oval while preparing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Days later, a marshal lost his life after being struck by a touring car during testing. The CART German 500 in September 2001 saw Alex Zanardi suffer a severe crash on the tri-oval that resulted in the traumatic amputation of both legs.

Facilities and Current Operations

The circuit features extensive spectator infrastructure. Grandstands surrounding the tri-oval can accommodate 120,000 spectators, while the main grandstand seats 25,000 and provides views of the entire circuit. The facility includes parking for 41,000 vehicles and sits directly alongside the A13 Berlin-Dresden autobahn with dedicated exit access.

DEKRA acquired the Eurospeedway in 2017. The facility now operates primarily as Europe's largest automotive testing center, focusing on vehicle development, validation, dynamics programs, and autonomous driving research. Major motorsport events like DTM continue at the venue. The circuit has also hosted large entertainment events, including an AC/DC concert in 2001 and the final concert by German hard rock band Böhse Onkelz.