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Mine Circuit

Mine Circuit at a glance

Location
Mine, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Type
historic circuit (defunct)
Length
3.331 km (2.07 mi)
Turns
16
Direction
clockwise
Surface
asphalt
Opened
1972
Owner
Mazda Motor Corporation (private proving ground since 2006)

Track map and layout

Japan Mine Race Track
Mine Circuit track layout

Mine Circuit's final configuration, used from 1991 until its closure in 2006, ran 3.331 km with 16 turns, having grown from a modest 1.3 km, 7-turn layout when it opened in 1972 and a mid-size 2.830 km version used through the 1980s. The circuit is no longer accessible to the public or used for any form of motorsport; it survives only as a private Mazda vehicle-testing facility, and no visitor access or spectator information applies today.

Events and race weekends

As an active circuit, Mine hosted major rounds of Japanese national motorsport, including Formula Nippon and the Japanese GT Championship (JGTC), almost every year up to 2005. The circuit has not hosted any competitive motorsport since its 2006 closure and sale to Mazda.

Getting there and parking

Mine Circuit is a private Mazda proving ground with no public access; there is no visitor route to the site and it cannot be visited by fans or enthusiasts.

Hotels and camping near Mine Circuit

There is no visitor accommodation guidance for Mine Circuit since the site is a private testing facility with no public access.

Track days, driving experiences and lap records

Mine Circuit does not offer any public track days, driving experiences or spectator access; it operates solely as Mazda's private proving ground.

Spectator guide

There is no spectator access to Mine Circuit today; it is a closed, private Mazda facility.

History of Mine Circuit

From Atsu Circuit to a national motorsport fixture

Mine Circuit opened in November 1972 in Yamaguchi Prefecture under the name Atsu Circuit, starting life as a modest 1.3 km, 7-turn layout. It was later renamed Nishi-Nihon Circuit and then Central Park Mine Circuit as it expanded through the 1970s and 1980s, growing to a 2.830 km, 13-turn configuration and eventually to its final 3.331 km, 16-turn layout by 1991.

A top-tier Japanese racing venue

Through the 1990s and into the mid-2000s, Mine established itself as one of the important circuits on Japan's national motorsport calendar, hosting regular rounds of Formula Nippon (the country's premier open-wheel series) and the Japanese GT Championship (JGTC, forerunner to today's Super GT), alongside other domestic categories, right up until 2005.

Closure and life as a Mazda proving ground

Mine Circuit closed permanently on 28 February 2006 after being sold to Mazda Motor Corporation for use as a private vehicle-development and testing facility. The track infrastructure remains largely intact on the site, but it has not been used for any public racing, track days or spectator events since the sale, and access is restricted to Mazda's own testing programmes. It is remembered today primarily through historic racing footage and its long run as a fixture of 1990s and early-2000s Japanese motorsport.

Frequently asked questions

Does Mine Circuit still exist?+

The physical track survives but is no longer used for racing or accessible to the public; it has operated as a private Mazda vehicle proving ground since the circuit closed in February 2006.

Can you visit Mine Circuit?+

No. The site is private Mazda property used for vehicle testing, with no public or spectator access.

How long was Mine Circuit's final layout?+

The final configuration, used from 1991 to 2006, was 3.331 km (2.070 miles) with 16 turns.

What racing series used Mine Circuit?+

Mine hosted rounds of Formula Nippon and the Japanese GT Championship (JGTC), among other national series, up until 2005.

Why did Mine Circuit close?+

The circuit was sold to Mazda Motor Corporation in 2006 and converted into a private proving ground, ending its use for public motorsport.

Other tracks nearby

Facts checked against 2 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.