# Salzburgring

The Salzburgring is a 4.241 km (2.635 mi) motorsport race track located in Plainfeld, east of Salzburg.

## Key facts

Track Length 4.241 km (2.635 mi)
Bends 15
Straights 4 (the longest being at start/finish which is 750m)
Incline maximum 3,8%
Decline maximum 1,8%
Altitude difference ca 25 m (82 ft)
Altitude 648.3 m (2,127 ft) to 670.6 m (2,200 ft)
Boxes 31

## History

1968 Groundbreaking ceremony
1969 Opening with a combined car and motorbike race
1970 First Grand Prix of Austria for Motorbikes
1971 First FIM Motorbike World Championship race
2012–2014 Touring Car World Championships
2013 First Electric Love Festival which, in 2018, brought 180,000 attendees to the track
2019 50thanniversary
The race track was first opened in 1969. Lying in a narrow, alpine valley, it has a rather simple layout, with two long straights plus the sweeping and fast "Fahrerlagerkurve" ("paddock turn") at the bottom, and the narrow "Nockstein-Kehre" on the top. In spite of its simple layout, it garnered a fearsome reputation for the high speeds reached on the straights and the "Fahrerlagerkurve". Michael Doohan describes the section between 7 and 10 as his all time favorite piece of racetrack, likening it to "threading a motorcycle through the eye of a needle at 290 km/h (180 mph) whilst banging fairings with your competitors with armco barriers on each side". He continues "Sure it was fast and dangerous, but also enormous fun. To me it's what motorcycle racing is all about".
The Salzburgring track hosts touring car races like the German ADAC Procar Series, Deutsche Produktionswagen Meisterschaft, Deutsche Tourenwagen Challenge, Super Tourenwagen Cup and the European Touring Car Championship. It was also the home of the Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix from 1971 to 1994, except for the 1980 and 1992 seasons. Giacomo Agostini and Angel Nieto are the all-time leaders in motorcycle Grand Prix victories at the circuit, with six wins apiece. Sidecar motorcycle races were also held at the venue. The track has also hosted the Oldtimer Grand Prix as well as during the last years a "Rupert Hollaus Memorial" organized by Ex-Grand Prix motorcycle and sidecar racer, Wolfgang Stropek [de]. In 2008, the circuit played host to the then one-off European Touring Car Cup, with the event being won by Michel Nykjaer.

### Layout history

* Original Grand Prix Circuit (1969–1975)
* Grand Prix Circuit (1976–1997)
* Motorcycling Circuit (1986–1997)
* Grand Prix Circuit (1998–present)

## Events
### Current

* June: TCR Eastern Europe Trophy Motortag, Formula 4 CEZ Championship
* August: Histo-Cup Austria Salzburgring Race Week
* September: ADAC GT Masters ADAC Racing Weekend Salzburgring

### Former

* ADAC TCR Germany Touring Car Championship (2022)
* Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft (1979–1982)
* Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (1987)
* European Formula 5000 Championship (1970)
* European Formula Two Championship (1972–1976)
* European Superbike Championship (1990–1991, 1995)
* European Touring Car Championship (1970–1981, 1983–1985)
* European Touring Car Cup (2008, 2010–2014)
* Formula 750 (1977)
* Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup (2006)
* Formula Renault 2000 Germany (1997, 1999, 2001–2004)
* Formula Volkswagen Germany (2001–2003)
* German Formula Three Championship (1972, 1974, 1981–1982, 1984–1986, 1988, 1997–1999, 2006)
* Grand Prix motorcycle racing
** Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix (1971–1979, 1981–1991, 1993–1994)
* Porsche Carrera Cup Germany (1987–1989, 1993, 1999)
* SEAT León Eurocup (2014)
* Sidecar World Championship (1971–1979, 1981–1991, 2005–2007)
* Super Tourenwagen Cup (1994–1999)
* Superbike World Championship (1995)
* TCR Europe Touring Car Series (2024)
* TCR International Series (2015–2017)
* V8Star Series (2001–2002)
* World Sportscar Championship (1976–1977)
* World Touring Car Championship
** FIA WTCC Race of Austria (2012–2014)

## Lap Records

As of September 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Salzburgring are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
| Grand Prix Circuit: 4.241 km (1998–present) |||||
| Formula Three | 1:16.843 | Akash Nandy | Dallara F308 | 2015 Salzburgring Austria F3 Cup round |
| Porsche Carrera Cup | 1:20.422 | Colin Bönighausen | Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup | 2023 Salzburgring Porsche Sprint Challenge Central Europe round |
| Formula Renault 2.0 | 1:21.301 | Colin Fleming | Tatuus FR2000 | 2004 Salzburgring Formula Renault 2000 Germany round |
| Formula 4 | 1:22.129 | Oscar Wurz | Tatuus F4-T421 | 2024 Salzburgring Formula 4 CEZ round |
| TC1 | 1:22.571 | José María López | Citroën C-Elysée WTCC | 2014 FIA WTCC Race of Austria |
| Formula Volkswagen | 1:22.777 | Walter Lechner Jr. [de] | Reynard Formula Volkswagen | 2002 Salzburgring Formula Volkswagen Germany round |
| V8Star Series | 1:24.774 | Robert Lechner | V8Star car | 2002 Salzburgring V8Star round |
| Super Touring | 1:24.922 | Christian Abt | Audi A4 STW | 1998 Salzburgring STW Cup round |
| TCR Touring Car | 1:25.435 | Levente Losonczy [hu] | Honda Civic Type R TCR (FL5) | 2024 Salzburgring TCR Europe round |
| GT4 | 1:26.833 | Edwin Waldhier | Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport | 2020 Salzburgring Porsche Sprint Challenge Central Europe round |
| Super 2000 | 1:26.875 | Yvan Muller | Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T | 2013 FIA WTCC Race of Austria |
| SEAT León Supercopa | 1:27.701 | Pol Rosell | SEAT León Cup Racer | 2014 Salzburgring SEAT León Eurocup round |
| Super 1600 | 1:39.637 | Jens Löhnig [sv] | Ford Fiesta 1.6 16V | 2010 Salzburgring ETC round |
| Motorcycle Circuit: 4.255 km (1986–1997) |||||
| 500cc | 1:17.896 | Mick Doohan | Honda NSR500 | 1994 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| World SBK | 1:20.147 | Carl Fogarty | Ducati 916 R | 1995 Salzburgring World SBK round |
| 250cc | 1:20.916 | Loris Capirossi | Honda NSR250 | 1994 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Sidecar (B2A) | 1:25.149 | Ralph Bohnhorst | Bohnhorst | 1991 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 125cc | 1:28.950 | Dirk Raudies | Honda RS125R | 1994 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 80cc | 1:38.280 | Ian McConnachie [it] | Krauser 80 | 1986 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Grand Prix Circuit: 4.246 km (1976–1997) |||||
| Group 6 | 1:12.450 | Vittorio Brambilla | Alfa Romeo 33SC12 | 1977 Salzburgring Elan Trophae |
| Group 5 | 1:13.620 | Manfred Winkelhock | Porsche 935J | 1980 Salzburgring DRM round |
| Formula Three | 1:13.684 | Timo Scheider | Dallara F397 | 1997 Salzburgring German F3 round |
| Formula Two | 1:14.950 | René Arnoux | Martini MK19 | 1976 Salzburgring F2 round |
| 500cc | 1:17.420 | Christian Sarron | Yamaha YZR500 | 1985 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Super Touring | 1:19.243 | Laurent Aïello | Peugeot 406 | 1997 Salzburgring STW Cup round |
| Group N | 1:22.610 | Kris Nissen | BMW M3 GTR | 1993 Salzburgring ADAC GT Cup round |
| 250cc | 1:23.270 | Freddie Spencer | Honda NSR250 | 1985 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 350cc | 1:24.230 | Anton Mang | Kawasaki KR350 | 1982 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Group 2 | 1:25.760 | Tim Schenken | Jaguar XJ12C | 1977 Salzburgring ETCC round |
| Group A | 1:26.930 | Win Percy | Jaguar XJS | 1984 Salzburgring ETCC round |
| 125cc | 1:28.130 | Fausto Gresini | Garelli 125cc GP | 1985 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Grand Prix Circuit: 4.238 km (1969–1975) |||||
| Formula 5000 | 1:10.500 | Peter Gethin | McLaren M10B | 1970 Olympia Trophy |
| Formula Two | 1:10.840 | Patrick Depailler | Alpine A367 | 1973 Salzburgring F2 round |
| Group 5 | 1:11.800 | John Burton | Chevron B21 | 1972 Salzburgring European 2-Litre Championship round |
| Group 6 | 1:14.000 | Vic Elford | Lola T212 | 1971 Taurenpokal Salzburgring |
| Group 2 | 1:16.810 | Hans-Joachim Stuck | BMW 3.0 CSL | 1974 Salzburgring ETCC round |
| Formula Three | 1:20.700 | Alceste Bodini | Tecno 70/T00 | 1974 Salzburgring German F3 round |
| 500cc | 1:21.780 | Giacomo Agostini | Yamaha YZR500 | 1975 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 350cc | 1:23.850 | Hideo Kanaya | Yamaha TZ 350 | 1975 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 250cc | 1:27.700 | Börje Jansson | Derbi 250 GP | 1972 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 125cc | 1:31.690 | Pier Paolo Bianchi | Morbidelli 125 | 1975 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 50cc | 1:47.000 | Jan de Vries | Kreidler 50 GP | 1971 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix |

## Results
### Motorcycle Grand Prix

* 1971 500cc: Giacomo Agostini - MV Agusta
* 1975 500cc: Hideo Kanaya - Yamaha
* 1978 500cc: Kenny Roberts - Yamaha
* 1983 500cc: Kenny Roberts - Yamaha
* 1987 500cc: Wayne Gardner - Honda
* 1990 500cc: Kevin Schwantz - Suzuki
* 1994 500cc: Michael Doohan - Honda

### European Touring Car Championship

| Year | Winner(s) | Car |
| 1970 | Helmut Marko | BMW 1600 |
| 1971 | Gian Luigi Picchi [it] | Alfa Romeo 1300 GTA Junior |
| 1972 | Carlo Facetti | Alfa Romeo 1300 GTA Junior |
| 1973 | Dieter Glemser John Fitzpatrick | Ford Capri RS 2600 LW |
| 1974 | Hans-Joachim Stuck Jacky Ickx | BMW 3.0 CSL |
| 1975 | Dieter Quester Urs Zondler | BMW 3.0 CSL |
| 1976 | Hughes de Fierlant [de] Patrick Nève | BMW 3.0 CSL |
| 1977 | Gunnar Nilsson Dieter Quester | BMW 3.0 CSL |
| 1978 | Martino Finotto Carlo Facetti | BMW 3.0 CSL |
| 1979 | Martino Finotto Carlo Facetti | BMW 3.0 CSL |
| 1980 | Dieter Quester Dieter Kindlmann | BMW 320 |
| 1981 | Umberto Grano [it] Helmut Kelleners | BMW 635 CSi |
| 1982 | Zdeněk Vojtěch [cs] Jo Gartner | BMW 528i |
| 1983 | Tom Walkinshaw Chuck Nicholson [fr] | Jaguar XJS |
| 1984 | Tom Walkinshaw Chuck Nicholson [fr] | Jaguar XJS |
| 1985 | Gianfranco Brancatelli Thomas Lindström [sv] | Volvo 240T |
| Source: |||