NASCAR-hotels.com | Find Hotels near NASCAR Venues NASCAR TRACK INFORMATION Atlanta Motor Speedway HAMPTON, GA: Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is a track in Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It is a 1.54-mile (2.48 km) quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to standardize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two 1.5-mile (2.4 km) ovals, the entire track was almost completely rebuilt. The frontstrech and backstrech were swapped, and the configuration of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval. The project made the track one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.

Source: Top 5 Closest Hotels next to Atlanta Motor Speedway: [1.12 miles] Western Inn 1078 Bear Creek Boulevard View all NASCAR Events held at Atlanta Motor Speedway Auto Club Speedway FONTANA, CA: The Auto Club Speedway of Southern California (formerly California Speedway) is a two-mile (3 km), low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California, similar to its "sister track" Michigan International Speedway. The Auto Club Speedway is the only track owned by International Speedway Corporation to have naming rights sold. The track is located on the site of the former Kaiser Steel mill. It is a relatively new race track, opening in early 1997, and has additional configurations and facilities to accommodate road races, motorcycle races, vehicle testing, and drag races (Auto Club Dragway). The racetrack is near the former locations of Ontario Motor Speedway and Riverside International Raceway. After Riverside's closure in 1988, Southern California did not host a NASCAR race until California Speedway was opened. In addition to NASCAR, the raceway has also hosted open-wheel events from both CART and the Indy Racing League.

Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Auto Club Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway BRISTOL, TN: Bristol Motor Speedway, originally known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track located in Bristol, Tennessee. It was constructed in 1960, and held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Despite its small size, Bristol is among the most popular tracks in NASCAR due to its distinct features that include extraordinarily steep banking, an all concrete surface, two pit roads and amphitheater-like seating. The track is so short that speeds here are far lower than is typical on most NASCAR oval tracks, but very fast compared to other short tracks due to the high banking, making for a considerable amount of "swapping paint". Also, the initial starting grid of 43 vehicles extends almost halfway around the track, meaning that the slower-qualifying cars begin the race almost half a lap down. The congestion inherent in this facility and the power of the cars has been likened to "flying fighter jets in a gymnasium" (the terms "washing machine" and "toilet" have also been used).

The track is one that tends to be either loved or hated by fans and drivers alike--purists who grew up driving or attending races at older short tracks located at fairgrounds and similar places tend to love Bristol while those raised on superspeedway racing tend to chafe at the lower speeds. Source: Top 5 Closest Hotels next to Bristol Motor Speedway: [5.12 miles] Travelodge Bristol 111 Holiday Drive View all NASCAR Events held at Bristol Motor Speedway Charlotte Motor Speedway CONCORD, NC: Charlotte Motor Speedway (formerly Lowe's Motor Speedway) is a speedway in Concord, North Carolina, north of Charlotte. It features a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) long quad-oval track that seats 167,000 people, with room for 50,000 more spectators in the infield. Constructed in 1959, it was the first speedway to host nighttime superspeedway racing (in 1992) in the "modern era," the first being the now defunct Raleigh, N.C.

Speedway in 1958, and to offer year-round residences (in 1984) with 52 condominiums available over turn one. It is owned by Speedway Motorsports, which has its corporate headquarters on the same property. The speedway is considered the home base of NASCAR, with 90% of NASCAR teams being based within 50 miles (80 km). Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Charlotte Motor Speedway Chicagoland Speedway JOLIET, IL: Chicagoland Speedway is a speedway in Joliet, Illinois, USA, southwest of Chicago. The speedway is actually located several miles south of Joliet proper, just off Illinois Route 53 between Joliet and Wilmington, Illinois. It currently has a capacity of 75,000 people. Since its inaugural season in 2001, the Chicagoland Speedway has become an unexpected and significant draw for major NASCAR and IRL events, often selling out major races months in advance.

The speedway itself is known to be one of NASCAR's infamous "cookie cutter" speedways, due to the fact that it resembles many other 1.5-mile (2.4 km) downforce racetracks that resemble a D-shape in the NASCAR racing series. Although it may have the stigma of being a "cookie cutter" D-shaped oval, Chicagoland is unique in that it is one continuous curve, as the backstretch has a noticeable bend to it. Chicagoland hosts the August IndyCar Series Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 and NASCAR Truck Series race that was added as of August 2008, as well as NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (LifeLock.com 400) and Nationwide Series (Dollar General 300) races once a year in July. Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Chicagoland Speedway Circuit Gilles Villeneuve MONTREAL, QC: The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a motor racing circuit which was the venue for the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, and is the venue of NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, and, as of 2007, NASCAR Nationwide Series and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series races.

On 7 October, 2008, the Canadian Grand Prix that took place for 31 years at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was dropped from the 2009 Formula One calendar and replaced with the inaugural race in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The FIA issued a revised calendar with Turkey moving from August to 7 June to allow a summer break for the teams. There will be no North American round after the US Grand Prix at Indianapolis was dropped last year. The NASCAR races have affected the circuit. An expansion of pit lane has taken place because a NASCAR pit lane must accommodate a minimum of 43 cars, and it is expansion took place at the pit exit. Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Darlington Raceway DARLINGTON, SC: Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition".

It is of a unique, somewhat egg-shaped design, an oval with the ends of very different configurations, a condition which supposedly arose from the proximity of one end of the track to a minnow pond the owner refused to relocate. This situation makes it very challenging for the crews to set up their cars' handling in a way that will be effective at both ends. Darlington has something of a legendary quality among drivers and older fans; this is probably due to its long track length relative to other NASCAR speedways of its era and hence the first venue where many of them became cognizant of the truly high speeds that stock cars could achieve on a long track. The title of how the track earned the moniker The Lady in Black was allegedly because the walls around the track are always painted white prior to a race, but are always largely black by the end of it due to a profusion of tire contacts. Darlington is also known as "The Track Too Tough to Tame", and rookie racers hitting the wall are considered to have received their "Darlington stripe". Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Darlington Raceway Daytona International Speedway DAYTONA BEACH, FL: Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States.

Since opening in 1959, it has been the home to the biggest race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, "The Great American Race", the Daytona 500. Today the facility has a seating capacity of almost 168,000 spectators. It hosts races of motor vehicles of various kinds, including go-karts, motorcycles (on and off road), sports cars, modified pickup trucks, and stock cars. The track features multiple layouts including a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) high speed tri-oval, a 3.56 miles (5.73 km) sports car course, and a 2.95 miles (4.75 km) motorcycle course. The track's 180-acre (73 ha) infield includes the 29-acre (12 ha) Lake Lloyd, which has hosted powerboat racing. Daytona's warm climate lends itself to hosting the unofficial start of the racing year with Speedweeks and the 24 Hours of Daytona race in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. Then the racing begins for the Sprint Cup Series with the Budweiser Shootout and the Gatorade Duel.

The ARCA RE/MAX Series Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 is held the same day as the Budweiser Shootout, a few hours prior to the Shootout. The Camping World Truck Series begins with the NextEra Energy Resources 250. The Nationwide Series begins with the Camping World 300 and then it is back to the Sprint Cup in "The Great American Race", the Daytona 500. The Sprint Cup Series also features the Coke Zero 400 in July at Daytona. It also contains an attraction called the Daytona 500 Experience. The winning car from the Daytona 500 is placed inside the attraction building each year. Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Daytona International Speedway Dover International Speedway DOVER, DE: Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned 1 mile (1.6 km) race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino.

At one time both the entertainment complex and the speedway were owned by the publicly traded Dover Downs Entertainment, but they have since been split into two separate companies. Dover is unique in many ways. It is exactly one mile long; technically this means that it is neither a superspeedway nor a short track. The speedway surface is concrete; most NASCAR track surfaces are asphalt (Dover was at one time an asphalt track, however; it wasn't until the mid-1990s that the asphalt surface was replaced with concrete). Dover is one of three concrete ovals used in NASCAR's three major series; Bristol Motor Speedway and Dover's sister track Nashville Superspeedway are the others (Dover and Bristol are the only two of the concrete tracks used by the Sprint Cup Series as Nashville has yet to receive a premier series date since its 2001 opening, despite hosting Nationwide, Truck, and IndyCar races). Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Dover International Speedway Gateway International Raceway MADISON, IL: Gateway International Raceway is a race track in Madison, Illinois, USA, just minutes from Downtown St. Louis, Missouri.

It hosts a NASCAR Nationwide Series event and a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on a 1.25 mile (2 kilometer) oval, a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) infield Road Course used by SCCA and various car clubs, and also has a quarter-mile drag strip that hosts an annual National Hot Rod Association event. The facilities are owned by Dover Motorsports, a group that also owns Memphis Motorsports Park, Dover International Speedway and the Nashville Superspeedway among others. Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Gateway International Raceway Homestead-Miami Speedway HOMSTEAD, FL: Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami. It plays host to Ford Championship Weekend, the final races of the season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series. These races are currently all sponsored by Ford Motor Company, taking the names Ford 400, Ford 300, and Ford 200, respectively. The facility is considered by some to be one of the most beautiful in the country.

Though located southwest of Miami, the track reflects the art deco district of downtown Miami with its liberal use of colors such as aqua, purple and silver, among other colors. Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Homestead-Miami Speedway Indianapolis Motor Speedway INDIANAPOLIS, IN: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana (an enclave suburb of Indianapolis) in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500 race and is known as the racing capital of the world. It has existed since 1909, and is the original "Speedway," the first racing facility historically to incorporate the word. With a permanent seating capacity for more than 257,000 people and infield seating that raises capacity to an approximate 400,000, it is the largest and highest-capacity sporting facility in the world. (By comparison, the world's largest stadium seats 220,000 spectators.) Besides the Indianapolis 500, NASCAR's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard (formerly Brickyard 400) also takes place there.

The Speedway also hosted the United States Grand Prix for Formula One from 2000 to 2007. The inaugural race drew an estimated 225,000, which set a Formula One attendance record. In 2008, the Speedway added the Red Bull Indianapolis GP, a MotoGP event. Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Infineon Raceway SONOMA, CA: Infineon Raceway, formerly Sears Point Raceway, is a 2.52 miles (4.06 km) road course and drag strip located on the landform known as Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains near Sonoma, California, USA. The course is a complex series of twists and turns that go up and down the hills. It is host to one of only four national NASCAR races each year that are run on road courses (including two races at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York and the Nationwide Series-only races at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec, Canada). It is also host to the Indy Racing League, Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and several other auto races and motorcycle races such as the American Federation of Motorcyclists series.

Infineon Raceway continues to host amateur, or club racing events which may or may not be open to the general public. The largest such car club is the Sports Car Club of America. Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Infineon Raceway Iowa Speedway NEWTON, IA: Iowa Speedway is a 7/8-mile (1.4 km) paved oval motor racing track in Newton, Iowa, United States, approximately 30 miles (48 km) east of Des Moines. The track was designed with influence from Rusty Wallace and patterned after Richmond International Raceway, a short track where Wallace was very successful. It has over 25,000 permanent seats as well as a unique multi-tiered Recreational Vehicle viewing area along the backstretch. The track has been awarded a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in 2008, and a Nationwide Series race for 2009. An agreement has been reached with the IRL that will see three more years racing at Iowa from 2009 onwards.

Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Iowa Speedway Kansas Speedway KANSAS CITY, KS: Kansas Speedway is an auto racetrack in Kansas City, Kansas, adjacent to the Village West area. The speedway, which is used by the NASCAR Sprint Cup series and the Indy Racing League, is a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) tri-oval with 15-degree banking in the turns. The track held its first race on June 2, 2001, when the Winston West series contested the Kansas 100. The top-level NASCAR Sprint Cup series holds the annual Camping World RV 400 at the track. In 2004, Joe Nemechek became the first driver to complete the double at Kansas Speedway by winning both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races in one weekend.

Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Kansas Speedway Kentucky Speedway SPARTA, KY: Kentucky Speedway is a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) motor speedway located in north-central Kentucky, near the community of Sparta, Kentucky; approximately halfway between Louisville, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio, and is additionally 70 miles (113 km) from another fairly sizable market, Lexington, Kentucky. The track was designed to host a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race and has hosted NASCAR Nationwide Series and Craftsman Truck Series races, as well as IRL IndyCar Series and IndyPro Series races. However, NASCAR officials have refused any discussion of a Sprint Cup Series race being moved there. Through the 2008 NASCAR season, the track had been one of the top tracks for testing Sprint Cup cars because of NASCAR's testing restrictions implemented in 2005. As a result of these testing restrictions, teams could only test at NASCAR-authorized testing sessions at seven specific tracks on the Sprint Cup circuit. As Kentucky is not a Sprint Cup venue, private testing of such cars was permitted with no restrictions, and spectators were allowed to view testing sessions from outside of turn three.

However, NASCAR announced in November 2008 that testing would be banned for the 2009 season at tracks that host races in any of NASCAR's national series or regional touring circuits. Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Martinsville Speedway Michigan International Speedway BROOKLYN, MI: Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile (3.22-km) moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than 1,400 acres (5.7 km2) [1] near Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" Texas World Speedway, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is currently owned by International Speedway Corporation (ISC). Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (to open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest to stock car standards).

Michigan is now one of the fastest tracks in NASCAR due to its wide, sweeping corners and long straightaways; typical qualifying speeds are in excess of 190 mph (310 km/h) and corner entry speeds easily exceed 200 mph (320 km/h). Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Michigan International Speedway Nashville Superspeedway LEBANON, TN: Nashville Superspeedway is a motor racing complex located in Gladeville, Tennessee (though the track has a Lebanon address), United States, about 30 miles (48 km) east of Nashville. It is a concrete oval track 1 1/3 miles (2.145 km) in length. Nashville Superspeedway is owned by Dover Motorsports, which owns Dover International Speedway. The track is referred by the classic term of a "superspeedway" (a track of one mile (1.6 km) or longer, compared to a short track), and is named to differentiate itself from the .596 mile Nashville Speedway USA (now Music City Motorplex) at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds near downtown Nashville.

Until 1984, the Nashville Speedway USA had conducted a pair of 420-lap races in the Winston Cup Series (now Sprint Cup Series), but NASCAR pulled its sanctioning license from the circuit after disputes over who would manage the track took place prior to the start of the 1985 season. Source: View all NASCAR Events held at New Hampshire Motor Speedway O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis INDIANAPOLIS, IN: O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis, known as Indianapolis Raceway Park until the 2006 purchase of naming rights by O'Reilly Auto Parts, is a multipurpose racing facility located in Clermont, Indiana. It is not to be confused with Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), which is often referred to as a superspeedway, although its construction vastly predates the use of that term. Surprisingly to some, the vast majority of motorsports events held in Indianapolis are held at Raceway Park, including a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, a NASCAR Nationwide Series event, a midget car racing event, drag racing and road racing.

Source: View all NASCAR Events held at O'Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis Phoenix International Raceway AVONDALE, AZ: Phoenix International Raceway, or just PIR, is a one mile tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona. It opened in 1964, as the new home of major open-wheel racing in the Phoenix area, replacing the track at the Arizona State Fairgrounds as an automobile racing venue. In a recent poll conducted by Sports Illustrated, 12 percent of NASCAR drivers voted PIR as their favorite track. That was enough for a second place tie with Atlanta Motor Speedway. David Reutimann said he "loves that place. It's just a weird-shaped racetrack, and I grew up racing on stuff that was odd-shaped. I think I like it because it's not the normal track. It's flat and fast." Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Phoenix International Raceway Pocono Raceway LONG POND, PA: Pocono Raceway (formerly Pocono International Raceway) also known as the Tricky Triangle or the Bermuda Triangle is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond.

It is the site of two annual NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races held just weeks apart in June and August. Pocono is one of a very few NASCAR tracks not owned by either Speedway Motorsports, Inc. or International Speedway Corporation, the dominant track owners in NASCAR. It is owned by the Mattioli family, which also owns South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Virginia. Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Pocono Raceway Richmond International Raceway RICHMOND, VA: Richmond International Raceway (RIR) is a 3/4-mile (1.2 km), D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series. "America's Premier Short Track" also hosts the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, and the United States Auto Club Silver Crown and National Sprint Car Series. Richmond International Raceway is one of a few race tracks to host all of its events under the lights. The track has sold out the last 32 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. Richmond has hosted the final "regular-season" race, leading up to the start of the Chase for the Sprint Cup, each year since the Chase concept was introduced in 2004.

Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Road America Rockingham Speedway ROCKINGHAM, NC: Rockingham Speedway, formerly North Carolina Motor Speedway and later North Carolina Speedway is a racetrack located near Rockingham, North Carolina. It is affectionately known as "The Rock" and hosted two NASCAR Cup Series, the Subway 400 (1966–2004) and the Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 (1965–2003), as well as two Busch Series races, the Goody's Headache Powder 200 (1982–2004) and the Target House 200 (1984–2003). Rockingham has hosted Automobile Racing Club of America and USAR Hooters Pro Cup series races since 2008. Currently, the track is home to the Fast Track High Performance Driving School, which is owned by new track owner Andy Hillenburg, and is used extensively for NASCAR testing.

It has been used often for television and movie filming, and the 2004 ESPN telefilm 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story was filmed at the track along with some scenes from Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. For the filming of the later movie, the walls were repainted to resemble famous tracks on the NASCAR circuit. It also was the site of the 2007 Bollywood film Ta Ra Rum Pum. Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Rockingham Speedway Talladega Superspeedway TALLADEGA, AL: Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located in Eastaboga, Alabama, United States. It was constructed in the 1960s in place of abandoned airport runways by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by NASCAR's founding France family along with Daytona International Speedway and several other racetracks. At 2.66 miles (4.28 km) long, Talladega is the largest (and most steeply banked) oval track in the Sprint Cup Series and has seating provisions for over 175,000 patrons.

The start/finish line is placed after the pit exit because Bill France wanted to have higher ticket sales towards that side, as well as centered with pit road. The unusual placement has affected the outcome of several races (the start/finish line is normally placed across from the center of pit road). The track is adjacent to and visible from Interstate 20. Source: View all NASCAR Events held at Talladega Superspeedway Texas Motor Speedway FORT WORTH, TX: Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas -- the portion located in Denton County, Texas. The track layout is very similar to Atlanta Motor Speedway and Lowe's Motor Speedway (formerly Charlotte Motor Speedway). The track measures 1.5 miles (2.4 km) around and is banked 24 degrees in the turns, and is of the quad-oval design, where the front straightaway juts outward slightly. The track is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., the same company that owns Atlanta and Lowe's Motor Speedways, as well as the short-track Bristol Motor Speedway.

Texas Motor Speedway is home to two NASCAR Sprint Cup races: the Samsung 500 and the Dickies 500, as well as two Nationwide Series races, the O'Reilly 300 and the O'Reilly Challenge and the Indy Racing League IndyCar series race, the Bombardier Learjet 550. The track also hosts two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races, the Sam's Town 400 (which takes place on the same weekend as the Indycar Bombardier Learjet 550) and the Chevy Silverado 250. Source: Formula One – Travel guide at Wikivoyage Understand[ edit ] The locations of Formula One racing remain fairly static throughout the year, with only the dates of the races subject to year on year changes. Over the past few years, the number of different countries hosting a Grand Prix has increased, especially in Asia. Since 2008, circuits in Singapore , Abu Dhabi , India , the United States , Russia , and Azerbaijan have been added to the calendar, though India is not on the 2016 calendar. Because of the increase in the number of races, the German Grand Prix rotates yearly between two different circuits.

Races in France , Turkey , South Korea , and India have recently been discontinued. Weekend structure[ edit ] Formula One events take place over three days, referred to as 'the weekend', starting with practice sessions on Friday, the qualifying on Saturday, and culminating with the race on Sunday. Monaco is only exception to this, where the practice sessions are by tradition held one day earlier on the Thursday, leaving the Friday free. Friday (Thursday in Monaco) kicks off the weekend begins with two practice sessions of 90 minutes length: one in the morning and one in the early afternoon. Qualifying for some supporting championships may also occur in between or after the sessions. Saturday features on practice session in the morning before the official qualifying session, which most often begins at 1pm local time. The qualifying lasts 60 minutes, after which support championships go back on track with either qualifying sessions or races depending on the category. Sunday is the busiest day of the weekend, comprising entirely of races. Support championship races will bookend the day, with the Formula One race beginning anywhere between 1 and 3pm local time, depending on location (the Australian and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix begin late afternoon, the Singapore Grand Prix at 8pm).

The Formula One race typically will last 90 minutes, barring delays or wet weather. Support races[ edit ] With only six hours of action over three days, the crowd can get restless when the Formula One cars aren't racing around the track. However, the Formula One championship is joined by many other supporting championships over the weekend to keep the track alive. The races may be shorter and the cars may be slower, but don't discount the excitement (and carnage) they may bring. GP2 is the feeder series to Formula One and is present at eleven Formula One races (2015 season). GP2 cars look like smaller versions of F1 cars and their drivers are eager to cut their teeth into world-class racing, each knowing that a winning season could propel them into the big leagues. The GP2 series features 30-minute practice and qualifying sessions on Friday and Saturday respectively, and one race each on Saturday and Sunday. The series has a reputation of delivering future racing stars, and several of the current crop of F1 drivers, such as Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenburg and Romain Grosjean, were once GP2 drivers.

GP3 is a rung down from GP2, with young drivers getting their first taste of international racing. The series is present at nine Formula One races (2015 season). Like GP2, there are 30 minute practice and qualifying sessions on the Friday and Saturday before two races on the Saturday and Sunday. Grand Prix locations[ edit ] Canadian Grand Prix - Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve , Montréal Date: 10–12 June 2016 Tickets [dead link]: General Admission: $45.45 (Fri), $70.50 (Sat), $95.75 (Sun), $126.00 (wkd); Grandstand: $267.50-$560.00; 1 child under 11 per ticket-holding adult: Free Certainly one of the best venues on the calendar, the Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve often produces some of the best racing of the season. The circuit is within the Parc Jean-Drapeau on Île Notre-Dame island right across downtown Montréal. Popular seating areas include along the start/finish straight, at the first chicance and down at the hairpin.

Although most of the recent races have been dry, wet weather is a possibility with heavy rainfall delaying the race by two hours in 2011. Expect to see close racing and plenty of overtaking. Contact: United States Grand Prix - Circuit of the Americas , Austin , Texas Date: 21–23 October 2016 Tickets : General Admission: $59 (Fri), $79 (Sat), $99 (Sun), $169 (wkd); Reserved Seating: $79 (Fri), $149 (Sat), $249 (Sun), $299–499, depending on location (wkd) One of the newer purpose-built tracks to join the Formula One circus, the Circuit of the Americas features large undulations which offer great viewing spots from many of the grandstands. 2012 saw the first running of a Grand Prix, so any major problems should now be ironed out. The circuit is conveniently located near Austin Bergstrom International Airport, making the circuit easy to reach from most parts of Austin.

Contact: Bahrain Grand Prix - Bahrain International Circuit , Sakhir Date:1-3 April 2016 Tickets : No information available The Bahrain International Circuit became the first circuit in the Middle East to host a Formula One race, doing so in 2004. The race has been held in March/April for the entirety of its run to avoid the scorching summer desert heat. However, the race is usually the hottest of the year. The grandstands provide relief from the sun but when walking around the paddock make sure to stay hydrated. Being in the middle of a desert, the landscape is barren and dull, not unlike much of the racing here. Local civil unrest can be a distraction, forcing the cancelling of the 2012 race. Contact: Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka International Racing Course (or simply Suzuka Circuit), Suzuka Date: 7–9 October 2016 Tickets : Grandstand: ¥15,568-¥98,592 (wkd) The only Grand Prix in Asia for a long time, the Suzuka Circuit is notable for being the site of numerous championship deciders in the 1990s.

The Japanese fans are an enthusiastic bunch and seldom leave the grounds before the sun has set. The best spot for viewing overtaking is along the main straight where one can see moves into the final chicane and into the first corner. There is an amusement park on site for the quieter parts of the weekend. Contact: German Grand Prix - Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (or simply Hockenheimring), Hockenheim , Baden-Württemberg Date: 29–31 July 2016 Tickets : Grandstand: Adult: €229-€279 (Sun), €99-€499 (wkd), Under 16: €114-139 (Sun), €49-€174 (wkd) The Hockenheimring was once home to long straights punctuated by chicanes. The old track is now being reclaimed by the forests around the track, and the current iteration of the track is more compact, offering a higher viewing capacity. The track is very flat, so only buildings and other structures will obscure further away sections of the track.

Most of the seating is around the start/finish straight; nevertheless this is the best viewing area. Contact: Hungarian Grand Prix - Hungaroring , Mogyoród, Pest , Budapest Date: 22–24 July 2016 Tickets : General Admission: Adult: €68 (Sun), €77 (wkd), Junior: €34 (Sun), €38 (wkd); Grandstand: Adult: €191-€381 (Sun), €99-€423 (wkd), Junior: €50-€169 (wkd) The Hungaroring is notoriously twisty and makes overtaking very difficult. The first corner and the chicane are best bets to see some racing action. Being in Central Europe during the height of summer, temperatures can get very hot, and there is little shading. Grandstands along the start/finish offer some shade. Wet weather has only affected one Hungarian Grand Prix in more than 25 years, so an umbrella would only be needed for protection against the sun.

Contact: Italian Grand Prix - Autodromo Nazionale Monza , Monza Date: 2–4 September 2016 Tickets : General Admission: Adult: €45 (Fri), €60 (Sat) €80 (Sun), €90-€95 (wkd); Grandstand: Adult: €100-€150 (Sat) €155-€590 (Sun), €110-€600 (wkd) The Italian Grand Prix is one of the classic events on the Formula One calendar and is home to the Ferrari team, where their fans are at their most passionate. The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is located inside a huge enclosed park, the Parco di Monza, which is also a natural reserve. The best viewing spots are at the chicanes and at the Curva Parabolica. Be aware of pickpocketing and the sale of illegal tickets in crowded areas near the circuit's gates.

Contact: Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco [dead link], Monte Carlo Date: 26–29 May 2016 Tickets : No information available Located on the streets of Monte Carlo , the Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world. Overtaking does not feature heavily at the Circuit de Monaco. Viewing is largely restricted in the grandstands; being in a city means buildings block out a majority of the rest of the circuit, although it does provide a great opportunity for fans to get closer to the action than at any other venue. Unlike every other Grand Prix, Friday is a day off, with the cars taking to the track on the Thursday instead.

Contact: British Grand Prix - Silverstone Circuit , Silverstone Date: 8–10 July 2016 Tickets : General Admission: Adult: £58 (Fri), £76 (Sat), £150 (Sun), Child: £29 (Fri), £38 (Sat), £75 (Sun); Grandstand: Adult: £171-£295+ (Sun), Child: £85-£295+ (Sun) A historic track which hosted the first ever F1 race in 1950, Silverstone is one of the fastest on the calendar and provides plenty of great viewing opportunities. Camping is allowed on site with a permit. Traffic into the venure can be notoriously heavy, not only for cars but also for helicopters, with the circuit becoming the busiest heliport in Europe on race day. Take precautions to deal with the unpredictable British summer weather. Despite having a modern layout and expensive ticket prices, the circuit still retains an old-fashioned vibe, and is still very much an event for the fans.

Contact: Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit [dead link], Albert Park, Melbourne Date: 18–20 March 2016 Tickets [dead link]: Grandstand: Adult: $320-$565 (4 days) The Australian Grand Prix takes place at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Albert Park, which is normally a public park the rest of the year. Plenty of good viewing spots and compared to many tracks is quite close to the circuit's edge. General entry is good value with the most popular spot being Brocky's Hill, located at the back part of the circuit. It is advisable to take a picnic rug or foldable chair if choosing to sit there. Contact: Tickets[ edit ] Entry to a circuit requires a ticket. Tickets can be bought for the whole weekend (all three days) or for one specific day (they get more expensive as the weekend goes along). There are generally two types on sale: General admission tickets are the cheapest and most easily available, and they do not restrict the ticket-holder to a particular section of the track. Many circuits have viewing banks that general admission ticket-holders can use, although these fill up very quickly so get there early for a good spot.

If the viewing areas are full then there are many parts where standing is available. These tickets do not give the comfort of grandstand tickets, so make sure adequate protection from the elements is brought along. The ground may be uneven or wet underfoot so bring suitable footwear and something to sit on. Grandstand tickets give the best view of a particular section of the track and often have a large screen in view so none of the action is missed. Ticket prices are scaled, with the most expensive stands giving the most protection from the elements along with the best view. Tickets for grandstands are most commonly booked in advance so the buyer can choose a specific seat, although a few may be available on entry. There may be a few grandstands at some circuits that have no seat allocation, although these don't always give the best view. By car[ edit ] Formula One Grands Prix are popular events, so preparations should be made for heavy traffic. If arriving by car, Fridays are often the quitest day, but don't expect to just sail through. Traffic queues on the weekend can be ridiculously long, and unless you are a dedicated soul arriving before sunrise expect to be waiting upwards of half an hour. The same can be said for leaving.

A vast majority of the crowd tends to try and leave at the same time, so unless you wish to leave early (and miss some racing) or wait until late in the evening (when there is no racing going on) be prepared for more waiting. The parking areas tend to be extremely large so make a note of anything that can make identifying where you've parked easier. No one wants to be searching for their car at the end of a tiring day. By shuttlebus[ edit ] Some circuits may offer a shuttlebus service, designed to alleviate traffic problems. Cars are parked some way from the track and shuttlebuses run at frequent times to the track in their own designated lane, so this can make entry a much quicker process. By helicopter[ edit ] Arriving by helicopter is the most stylish way for the fan to enter, if you are lucky enough to be a VIP. Most tracks have some kind of heliport, if not a purpose-built one then a field within the circuit perimeter is used. All the worries associated with queueing and waiting are largely foregone, and helicopter is surely the most stress-free way of getting in.

Get around[ edit ] Walking is generally the best option (and sometimes the only option) for getting from one area to another. Circuit maps are printed within official programmes and on boards dotted around the track. If you do not have a print version of the circuit map consider taking a picture of one of the boards with your phone or camera. Bridges and service tunnels connect the interior of the circuit with the exterior. Buy[ edit ] There will be many stalls situated just outside the viewing areas selling all kinds of F1 and motorsport memorabilia. Stock typically includes official team/driver merchandise and clothing; pictures and paintings; branded gear such as umbrellas, binoculars and flags; DVDs and other media; and collectible racing car models. Official programmes will also be on sale. Be prepared to pay high prices (remember you're mainly paying for the brand), but they can make excellent souvenirs from the event and the gear can be used again for future events. Sleep[ edit ] Hotels near many of the circuits can sell out up to a year in advance, so if you are intending on staying nearby book early. Some venues, such as Silverstone, allow camping on fields adjacent to the circuit.

You will probably need to book a camping ticket to take advantage of this, and these too usually sell out fast so book early if you want to take this option. Stay safe[ edit ] Despite the high visibility of the 'motorsport is dangerous' notices Formula One has quite a good spectator safety record. However, no matter how safe a restricted part of the track may seem you should not venture onto these areas as they can be quite dangerous. Previous spectator fatalities at Formula One races have been caused by the spectators in question being on a restricted part of the track. Sticking to the proper areas drastically reduces the chances of being hurt in an accident. Be aware that moving vehicles operate in the paddock areas and along service roads, so keep your eyes and ears open. If someone is hurt medical tents with trained staff are located at various points around the track; these are marked clearly on circuit diagram boards. The following general precautions should also be taken: Earplugs are highly recommended especially for young children and those going for the first time. Formula One cars are ear-damagingly loud and having 22 cars over a sustained period of 90 minutes can cause harm.

Earplugs will probably be available at the track and some circuits offer basic versions for free. If you are intending on taking a radio to listen to the on-track commentary use a pair on in-ear monitors that can double as earplugs. Sun protection is advised as many races take place in the summer with only grandstand seats getting any meaningful shade. Wide-brimmed caps are handy, and sunglasses are optional. Waterproof clothing is a necessity especially for those not in sheltered areas. Even if the forecast is dry, some areas (for example Spa-Francorchamps) may experience large changes in conditions over a small area. Take a strong umbrella to cope with windy weather, otherwise bring a waterproof coat. This travel topic about Formula One is a usable article. It touches on all the major areas of the topic. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page .

Question: Which Grand Prix, that had taken place for 31 years at the same circuit, was dropped from the 2009 Formula One Championship?
Answer: Canadian Grand Prix