Tarmac Runoff

Tarmac runoff is a paved safety area made of asphalt that sits beside a racetrack, designed to help drivers who accidentally leave the track to slow down safely and regain control of their vehicles.

Think of tarmac runoff as a safety buffer zone around a racing circuit. When drivers make mistakes—braking too late into a corner, losing grip in wet conditions, or getting bumped by another car—they need somewhere safe to go. Instead of immediately hitting a wall or barrier, they can use this paved area to bring their car under control.

The surface of a tarmac runoff area is typically made from the same asphalt material as the racetrack itself. This is important because it provides excellent grip for both braking and steering. When a driver goes off track onto tarmac, their tires can still grip the surface effectively, allowing them to brake hard and steer back onto the racing line without spinning or rolling over.

Race circuits strategically place these paved runoff areas in locations where cars are most likely to leave the track. The outside of fast corners and the end of long straightaways—where cars are traveling at high speeds—typically feature the largest runoff zones. This placement helps protect drivers in the most dangerous areas of a circuit.

Compared to older safety solutions like gravel traps, tarmac runoff offers significant advantages. Gravel can cause cars to dig in and flip over, especially at high speeds. It's also particularly dangerous for motorcycle racers, who can tumble violently through gravel. Tarmac runoff allows motorcycles to slide more predictably across the surface, reducing the risk of serious injury.

However, paved runoff areas aren't perfect. One major criticism is that they can allow drivers to gain an advantage by running wide through corners without facing much consequence. In gravel traps, going off track usually means losing significant time or even getting stuck. On tarmac, a driver might only lose a fraction of a second, or sometimes even gain time by taking a wider, faster line.

This issue has led to ongoing debates about track limits in modern motorsport. Race officials now monitor track boundaries closely using cameras and sensors, issuing penalties to drivers who repeatedly exceed track limits on tarmac runoff. Some circuits have added textured strips or painted zones that help officials identify violations more easily.

Many modern racing facilities feature a combination approach. Circuits like Suzuka in Japan and Shanghai International Circuit in China use strips of artificial grass or shallow gravel between the track edge and the tarmac runoff. This discourages drivers from deliberately running wide while still providing a paved safety area further out for genuine mistakes.

Famous circuits like Circuit Paul Ricard in France showcase extensive tarmac runoff areas with distinctive blue and red painted zones. These colored areas serve both as visual references for drivers and as markers for officials monitoring track limits violations during races.