Circuit of the Americas: The Ultimate American Racing Destination Circuit of the Americas (COTA), located in Austin, Texas, is a premier Grade 1 FIA-certified motor racing facility spanning 3.426 miles (5.514 kilometers). Purpose-built to host elite motorsport events, COTA stands as the first circuit in the United States specifically designed for Formula One competition.
The venue serves as the home of several prestigious events, including the Formula One United States Grand Prix, the NASCAR EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, and the Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas, a key stop in the MotoGP calendar. It also hosts rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship, notably the Lone Star Le Mans. Over the years, COTA has welcomed a diverse array of racing series such as the Australian V8 Supercars, the Americas Rallycross Championship, the American Le Mans Series, the Rolex Sports Car Series, the IMSA SportsCar Championship, and the IndyCar Classic.
Proposed in mid-2010, the project was spearheaded by promoter Tavo Hellmund and 1993 Motorcycle World Champion Kevin Schwantz, with the circuit design developed in collaboration with renowned German architect Hermann Tilke. Tilke’s expertise is reflected in several of the world’s most celebrated tracks, including Sepang, Shanghai, Yas Marina, Istanbul Park, Bahrain International Circuit, Korea’s Yeongam Circuit, and India’s Buddh International Circuit, alongside major redesigns of the Hockenheimring and Fuji Speedway.
Circuit of the Americas
COTA’s layout skillfully blends high-speed straights with a variety of technical corners, creating a true test for drivers and engineers alike, while offering a thrilling experience for motorsport fans worldwide.
Circuit of the Americas (COTA) – Motorsport Hub of Texas
Location: Austin, Texas, United States
Coordinates: 30°7′58″N 97°38′28″W
Time Zone: UTC−6 (Standard), UTC−5 (Daylight Saving)
Capacity: 120,000 spectators
FIA Grade: 1
Website: circuitoftheamericas.com
Ownership and History
Circuit of the Americas is owned and operated by Circuit of the Americas LLC, established in 2012. Construction broke ground on December 31, 2010, and the facility officially opened on October 21, 2012. The design team included promoter Tavo Hellmund, 1993 Motorcycle World Champion Kevin Schwantz, and world-renowned circuit architect Hermann Tilke.
COTA was purpose-built for top-tier international motorsports and remains the only FIA Grade 1 track in the United States specifically designed for Formula One.
Track Configurations
- Grand Prix Circuit (2012–Present)
- Length: 3.426 miles (5.513 km)
- Turns: 20
- Race Lap Record: 1:36.169 — Charles Leclerc (Ferrari SF90, 2019, Formula One)
- NASCAR Circuit (New for 2025)
- Length: 2.400 miles (3.862 km)
- Turns: 17
- Race Lap Record: 1:30.042 — Valentino Catalano (Duqueine D08, 2025, LMP3)
- National Circuit (2012–Present)
- Length: 2.300 miles (3.702 km)
- Turns: 19
- Race Lap Record: 1:33.284 — Johnny O’Connell (Cadillac CTS-V, 2013, Pirelli World Challenge GT)
Major Events Hosted
Current Events
- Formula One
- United States Grand Prix (2012–2019, 2021–Present)
- Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing (MotoGP)
- Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas (2013–2019, 2021–Present)
- FIA World Endurance Championship
- Lone Star Le Mans (2013–2017, 2020, 2024–Present)
- NASCAR Cup Series
- EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix (2021–Present)
- NASCAR Xfinity Series
- Focused Health 250 (2021–Present)
- GT World Challenge America
- GT World Challenge America at COTA (2013, 2015–2021, 2023–Present)
- Trans-Am Series
- Austin SpeedTour (2015–Present)
- MotoAmerica
- Superbikes at Texas (2015–2019, 2022–Present)
Overview
Circuit of the Americas stands as a centerpiece of American motorsport, blending challenging layouts, world-class facilities, and a rich event calendar across disciplines including Formula One, MotoGP, NASCAR, and endurance racing. The 2025 introduction of the dedicated NASCAR Circuit configuration underscores COTA’s ongoing evolution to meet the diverse demands of modern motorsport.
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