# Brno Circuit

The Masaryk circuit (Czech: Masarykův okruh) or Masarykring, also referred to as the Brno Circuit, refers to two motorsport race tracks located in Brno, Czech Republic. The original street circuit was made up of public roads, and at its longest measured 29.194 km (18.140 mi). The track is named after the first president of Czechoslovakia, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. In 1949, events such as the Czechoslovakian Grand Prix attracted top teams and drivers. In 1987, the new (current) circuit was opened. The Brno Circuit is historically one of the oldest circuits, on the place were also held the most motorcycle championships in history after the TT Circuit Assen.

## Original circuits

The original layout ran anti-clockwise on approximately 29.194 km (18.140 mi) of public roads in the outskirts of Brno, where the start/finish was located in Bosonohy. The circuit went east past Kamenny and then went north past the Bohunice University Campus in Kejbaly, and went through the villages of Libusino, Kohouvotice and Žebětín, out to Ostrovacice, through Veselka and back through a series of fast straights and kinks. From 1930 to 1937, the Masaryk circuit races attracted some of the top drivers and teams.
On September 25, 1949, the race was held for the first and the last time in Czechoslovakia as part of the Grand Prix motor racing (later evolved into Formula One). The Czechoslovakian Grand Prix in 1949 was run clockwise on a shorter 17.800 km (11.060 mi) layout, which turned right at Veselka, bypassed Ostrovacice and entered Žebětín from the south rather than the west. In spite of a crowd in excess of 400,000 people, this would be the last Grand Prix for cars on the old circuit.
Beginning in 1950, the circuit played host to the Czechoslovakian motorcycle Grand Prix, which became a world championship event from 1965. The circuit had been again reduced in length to 13.941 km (8.663 mi) in 1964, completely bypassing Žebětín and using a new through-road that went to Kohoutovice quicker. The European Touring Car series visited in the 1980s, by which time the circuit had been finally reduced to 10.921 km (6.786 mi) in 1975, which exited Kohoutovice from the south and bypassed Libusino and Kejbaly and went right through Kamenny and rejoined the main road back to Bosonohy.

## Modern circuit

The current 5.403 km (3.357 mi) permanent road racing circuit was opened on 18 July 1987. It lies north of Kyvalka, within the bounds of the circuit used in the 1930s, but not incorporating any of the public roads. The motorcycle race moved to the new circuit and regained its status as a round of the world championship. A World Sports Car Championship race was held in 1988, and a round of the A1 Grand Prix series in 2006. It was also the location of the 24H Epilog of Brno (previously 6 Hours of Brno).
The annual Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Czech Republic was the circuit's most important event. It had been held here since 1950 and was the most famous motor race in the Czech Republic. The race was part of the World Grand Prix in the years of 1965–1982, 1987–1991, 1993–2020.
The FIA World Touring Car Championship, FIA GT1 World Championship, Formula Two and the Superbike World Championship also raced at the circuit.
The Czech Republic Motorcycle Grand Prix was more of a promoter event than a profit-raiser itself. Since tobacco advertising has been banned in 2007, it is common among the other MotoGP events. Since August 2023, the circuit is owned by the Czech company Shakai.

## Layout history

* All layouts of the circuit between 1930 and today combined
* Brno Circuit (1930–1937)
* Brno Circuit (1949–1963)
* Brno Circuit (1964–1974)
* Brno Circuit (1975–1986)
* Brno Circuit (1987–present)

## Events
### Current

* May: Histo-Cup Austria Brno Historic
* June: Ferrari Challenge Europe
* July: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix, Northern Talent Cup, Alpe Adria International Motorcycle Championship
* September: TCR Eastern Europe Trophy, Formula 4 CEZ Championship, F2000 Italian Formula Trophy, ESET Cup Series, Velká Cena Bohumila Staši

### Former

* 24H Series
** 12 Hours of Brno (2015–2016, 2019)
* A1 Grand Prix (2006–2007)
* Austria Formula 3 Cup (1992, 1995–1999, 2014–2024)
* Auto GP (2002–2005, 2010–2011, 2013, 2016)
* BOSS GP (2014–2023)
* British Talent Cup (2019)
* Czechoslovakian Grand Prix (1930–1935, 1937, 1949, 1976–1988)
* Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (2004–2005)
* Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (1988, 1991–1992)
* Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 (2001, 2003–2004, 2010)
* Eurocup Mégane Trophy (2010)
* European Touring Car Championship (1968–1972, 1975–1986, 2000–2004)
* European Touring Car Cup (2013, 2015)
* EuroV8 Series (2014)
* Ferrari Challenge Italy (2009)
* FIA Formula Two Championship (2009–2010)
* FIA GT Championship (2000–2008)
* FIA GT1 World Championship (2010)
* FIA GT3 European Championship (2007–2008, 2010)
* FIA Sportscar Championship
** Brno 2 Hours 30 Minutes (1997–2002)
* FIM Endurance World Championship (2001–2003)
* Formul'Academy Euro Series (2008)
* Formula 3 Euro Series (2004)
* Formula BMW ADAC (2004–2005)
* Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup (2010)
* Formula Renault 3.5 Series (2010)
* Formula Renault V6 Eurocup (2004)
* German Formula Three Championship (1988–1989, 1992)
* GT4 European Cup (2008)
* IDM Superbike Championship [de] (1992–1994)
* International Formula Master (2006–2009)
* International GTSprint Series (2013)
* Italian Formula Renault Championship (2008)
* Northern Talent Cup (2020)
* Porsche Carrera Cup Germany (1987, 1992, 2004)
* Porsche Carrera Cup Italia [it] (2010)
* Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup (2007–2017)
* SEAT León Eurocup (2009–2010)
* Sidecar World Championship (1969–1982, 1987–1991, 1993–1997)
* Superbike World Championship (1993–1996, 2005–2012, 2018)
* Supersport 300 World Championship (2018)
* Supersport World Championship (2005–2012, 2018)
* Superstars Series (2013)
* TCR Europe Touring Car Series (2024)
* Trofeo Maserati (2006)
* World Sportscar Championship
** 360 km of Brno (1988)
* World Touring Car Championship
** FIA WTCC Race of the Czech Republic (2006–2011)

## Lap records

The unofficial lap record is 1:34.700 set by Jérôme d'Ambrosio in Renault R29 Formula One car in 2010. As of September 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the modern layout of Brno Circuit are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
| Grand Prix Circuit: 5.403 km (1987–present) |||||
| BOSS GP/F1 | 1:36.065 | Ingo Gerstl | Toro Rosso STR1 | 2017 Brno BOSS GP Series round |
| Auto GP/A1GP | 1:43.260 | Luca Filippi | Lola B05/52 | 2010 Brno Auto GP round |
| Formula Renault 3.5 | 1:44.591 | Daniel Ricciardo | Dallara T08 | 2010 Brno Formula Renault 3.5 round |
| BOSS GP/GP2 | 1:44.940 | Johann Ledermair | Dallara GP2/11 | 2017 Brno BOSS GP Series round |
| F2 (2009–2012) | 1:48.246 | Nicola de Marco | Williams JPH1 | 2010 Brno Formula Two round |
| International Formula Master | 1:49.733 | Josef Král | Tatuus N.T07 | 2009 Brno Formula Master round |
| Group C1 | 1:49.770 | Mauro Baldi | Sauber C9 | 1988 360 km of Brno |
| F3000 | 1:49.798 | Maro Engel | Lola B02/50 | 2005 Brno Italian F3000 round |
| LMP900 | 1:51.858 | Jan Lammers | Dome S101 | 2002 Brno FIA Sportscar Championship round |
| Formula Three | 1:52.595 | Jamie Green | Dallara F303 | 2004 Brno F3 Euro Series Round |
| GT1 (GTS) | 1:53.106 | Marcel Fässler | Chevrolet Corvette C6.R | 2008 FIA GT Brno 2 Hours |
| DTM | 1:54.786 | Martin Tomczyk | Audi A4 DTM 2005 | 2005 Brno DTM round |
| Group C2 | 1:54.960 | Costas Los | Spice SE87C | 1988 360 km of Brno |
| CN | 1:55.471 | Siegmar Pfeifer | Norma M20-FC | 2017 Brno FIA CEZ Circuit Championship round |
| MotoGP | 1:56.027 | Dani Pedrosa | Honda RC213V | 2014 Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Formula Renault 2.0 | 1:56.226 | Arthur Pic | Barazi-Epsilon FR2.0-10 | 2010 Brno Formula Renault Eurocup 2.0 round |
| LMP675 | 1:57.389 | Roberto Tonetti | Lucchini SR2001 | 2001 FIA Sportscar Championship Brno |
| LMP2 | 1:57.988 | Miro Konôpka | Ligier JS P217 | 2021 Brno ESET Cup round |
| GT2 | 1:58.193 | Richard Westbrook | Porsche 911 (997) GT3-RSR | 2008 FIA GT Brno 2 Hours |
| World SBK | 1:59.291 | Cal Crutchlow | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 2010 Brno World SBK round |
| LMP3 | 1:59.728 | Miro Konôpka | Ligier JS P320 | 2022 Brno ESET Cup Endurance round |
| GT3 | 2:01.012 | Rolf Ineichen | Lamborghini Huracán GT3 | 2016 24H Epilog Brno |
| FIA GT Group 2 | 2:01.107 | Bas Leinders | Gillet Vertigo | 2008 FIA GT Brno 2 Hours |
| 500cc | 2:01.461 | Valentino Rossi | Honda NSR500 | 2001 Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Moto2 | 2:01.463 | Álex Márquez | Kalex Moto2 | 2019 Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 250cc | 2:02.299 | Jorge Lorenzo | Aprilia RSW 250 | 2007 Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix |
| World SSP | 2:02.708 | Cal Crutchlow | Yamaha YZF-R6 | 2009 Brno World SSP round |
| Formula 4 | 2:03.037 | Michael Sauter | Tatuus F4-T421 | 2023 Brno Formula 4 CEZ round |
| N-GT | 2:04.127 | Stéphane Ortelli | Porsche 911 (996) GT3-RSR | 2004 FIA GT Brno 500km |
| Porsche Carrera Cup | 2:04.595 | Eduardas Klepikas | Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup | 2024 Porsche Sprint Challenge Central Europe round |
| Formula BMW | 2:04.624 | Sebastian Vettel | Mygale FB02 | 2004 Brno Formula BMW ADAC round |
| Ferrari Challenge | 2:04.952 | Michelle Gatting | Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo | 2021 Brno Ferrari Challenge round |
| Eurocup Mégane Trophy | 2:05.930 | Nicky Catsburg | Renault Mégane Renault Sport II | 2010 Brno Eurocup Mégane Trophy round |
| Group A | 2:07.160 | Keke Rosberg | Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2 | 1992 Brno DTM round |
| Super Touring | 2:07.522 | Nicola Larini | Alfa Romeo 156 D2 | 2001 Brno ESTC round |
| 125cc | 2:07.836 | Lucio Cecchinello | Aprilia RS125R | 2003 Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Moto3 | 2:08.064 | Romano Fenati | KTM RC250GP | 2014 Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix |
| GT4 | 2:08.724 | Sascha Halek | KTM X-Bow GT4 | 2016 Brno FIA CEZ Circuit Championship round |
| Super 2000 | 2:10.108 | Félix Porteiro | BMW 320si WTCC | 2008 FIA WTCC Race of the Czech Republic |
| SEAT León Supercopa | 2:11.840 | Maťo Homola | SEAT León Cup Racer | 2015 Brno ETC round |
| TCR Touring Car | 2:13.320 | Bartosz Groszek | Audi RS 3 LMS TCR | 2021 Brno TCR Eastern Europe Trophy round |
| Supersport 300 | 2.17.827 | Imanuel Putra Pratna | Yamaha YZF-R3 | 2018 Brno Supersport 300 round |
| Renault Clio Cup | 2:22.574 | Cristian Riccarini | Renault Clio III RS | 2010 Brno Adria Clio Cup round |
| Super 1600 | 2:26.195 | Gilles Bruckner | Ford Fiesta ST | 2013 Brno ETC round |
| 4th Road Circuit: 10.925 km (1975–1986) |||||
| 500cc | 3:29.690 | Johnny Cecotto | Yamaha YZR500 (0W35) | 1977 Czechoslovak motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Group 2 | 3:31.190 | Dieter Quester | BMW 3.0 CSL | 1975 Brno ETCC round |
| Group A | 3:32.080 | Anders Olofsson | Volvo 240 Turbo | 1986 Brno ETCC round |
| 350cc | 3:39.900 | Johnny Cecotto | Yamaha TZ 350 | 1977 Czechoslovak motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 250cc | 3:46.890 | Walter Villa | Harley-Davidson RR250 | 1977 Czechoslovak motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Sidecar (B2A) | 3:50.960 | Werner Schwärzel | Aro sidecar | 1977 Czechoslovak motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 125cc | 4:00.010 | Guy Bertin | Motobécane 125 | 1979 Czechoslovak motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 50cc | 4:48.650 | Ricardo Tormo | Bultaco TSS 50 | 1978 Czechoslovak motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 3rd Road Circuit: 13.941 km (1964–1974) |||||
| 500cc | 4:57.000 | Gianfranco Bonera | MV Agusta 500 Four | 1974 Czechoslovak motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Group 2 | 4:59.100 | Jochen Mass | Ford Capri RS 2600 | 1972 Brno ETCC round |
| 350cc | 5:07.100 | Teuvo Länsivuori | Yamaha TZ 350 | 1973 Czechoslovak motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 250cc | 5:13.700 | Bill Ivy | Yamaha 250 V4 | 1967 Czechoslovak motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Group 5 | 5:18.300 | Helmut Marko | Chevrolet Camaro | 1969 Brno ETCC round |
| 125cc | 5:30.500 | Yoshimi Katayama | Yamaha AS1 | 1967 Czechoslovak motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 50cc | 6:22.100 | Henk van Kessel | Kreidler 50 GP | 1974 Czechoslovak motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 2nd Road Circuit: 17.800 km (1949–1963) |||||
| Grand Prix | 8:03.000 | Prince Bira Toulo de Graffenried | Maserati 4CLT/48 | 1949 Czechoslovakian Grand Prix |
| Original Road Circuit: 29.194 km (1930–1948) |||||
| Grand Prix | 11:59.300 | Rudolf Caracciola | Mercedes-Benz W125 | 1937 Masaryk Grand Prix |
| Voiturette | 14:55.000 | Giuseppe Farina | Maserati 4CM | 1934 Masaryk Grand Prix |

## Gallery

* Winning Louis Chiron in Bugatti, Brno 1932
* Ángel Nieto during Grand Prix motorcycle racing in Brno, 1971
* Starting grid on the Brno Circuit
* Omega bend of the Brno Circuit
* Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo in Brno, 2009
* Marc Márquez and Valentino Rossi in Brno, 2014
* Brno Circuit from air