Circuit Jules Tacheny Mettet
Circuit Jules Tacheny Mettet at a glance
- Location
- Mettet, Namur Province
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 2.28 km (1.417 mi)
- Turns
- 10
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Elevation change
- 43 ft
- Opened
- 2010
- Owner
- Royal Union Motor Entre Sambre et Meuse (RUMESM)
- Address
- 6 Rue Saint-Donat
- Phone
- +32 71 71 00 80
- Website
- mettet-xp.be/en
Track map and layout
The modern Circuit Jules Tacheny is a compact, technical permanent facility built in 2010 near the site of the old Mettet street circuit that hosted motorcycle Grands Prix from the 1920s onward. The main track is 2.28 km with ten corners (seven left, three right) and around 13 metres of elevation change across its 14-hectare site, and it shares the grounds with separate rallycross, supermoto and dirt-track layouts that can run simultaneously with the main circuit, making Mettet primarily a two-wheel and grassroots motorsport venue rather than a car-racing showcase.
Named corners and sections
- Grande Ligne droite. The circuit's main straight, roughly 609 metres long and the primary overtaking and top-speed section of the lap.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Main circuit (current) | 2.28 km | 2.28 km permanent layout opened 2010, used for motorcycle racing and most car events |
| Rallycross track | 1.14 km | 1,149 m mixed tarmac/gravel layout for rallycross |
| Supermoto track | 1.43 km | 1,428 m mixed tarmac/dirt layout for supermoto |
| Historic Grand Prix Entre Sambre et Meuse street circuit (1927-1961) | 8.37 km | 8.368 km public-road circuit used for early motorcycle and Formula 2 Grands Prix; superseded by the modern permanent track |
Events and race weekends
Mettet's motorsport tradition dates to the 1920s public-road Grand Prix Entre Sambre et Meuse, and the venue remains best known as a motorcycle circuit. Its marquee event is Superbiker Mettet, a long-running cross-discipline event mixing road racing, motocross and supermoto, alongside rounds of the Belgian national motorcycle championship. On four wheels the circuit has hosted FIA World and European Rallycross Championship rounds and TCR Benelux racing.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superbiker Mettet | Cross-discipline motorcycle event | November | combines road racing, motocross and supermoto on purpose-built track sections |
| Belgian motorcycle championship rounds | Belgian national motorcycle racing | varies through the season | regular home of national bike racing |
| Rallycross/car club racing | Various national car championships | varies | the circuit periodically hosts national and regional car race meetings |
Getting there and parking
Mettet sits between Charleroi and Namur in the Belgian Ardennes foothills, roughly an hour south of Brussels by car. There is no station at the circuit itself; the nearest railway stations are in Mettet town and Charleroi, from which a taxi or short drive is needed, as public transport to the circuit gates is limited. Brussels South (Charleroi) Airport is the closest airport, with Brussels' main airport also commonly used.
- Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) · about 30 min drive
- Brussels Airport (BRU) · about 60 min drive
Parking
General parking is free and informal for most club and trackday events; larger events may direct visitors to overflow fields near the circuit.
Confirm which of the circuit's several track configurations (main circuit, rallycross, supermoto) is running on the day you plan to visit, since Mettet often hosts multiple disciplines in parallel.
Hotels and camping near Circuit Jules Tacheny Mettet
Mettet itself has limited hotel stock, so most visitors base themselves in Namur, about 20-25 minutes away, which offers a wider choice of hotels around its historic citadel, or in Charleroi for those flying via Brussels South. There is no large trackside camping culture at Mettet comparable to Spa or Zolder's bigger events.
Where to look
Namur (around 20-25 minutes away, best hotel choice) and Charleroi (closer to Brussels South Airport) are the main bases for visitors.
Camping
Informal camping is sometimes available for larger events such as Superbiker Mettet, but there is no permanent or large-scale campsite operation at the circuit.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Mettet is a popular destination for motorcycle track days, supermoto sessions and rider training, run by the circuit itself and by third-party organisers, with sessions catering to riders from beginner to expert level. Car track days and rallycross experiences are also offered on the venue's dedicated layouts.
Who runs days here
Typical cost: Motorcycle and car track days typically range from about €135 to €650 depending on session type and organiser, with a median around €155
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCR car (modern circuit) | 1:05.252 | Norbert Michelisz | Honda Civic Type R TCR | 2016 |
Spectator guide
Mettet's compact layout and natural grass banking around much of the circuit give spectators close, unobstructed views of most of the lap from informal vantage points, in keeping with its roots as a grassroots motorcycle venue rather than a grandstand-heavy showcase circuit.
Seating
Natural earth banks provide panoramic viewing around large sections of the circuit; formal grandstands are limited and concentrated near the start/finish straight.
Best places to watch
The banking overlooking the main straight and the tighter infield corners gives the best combination of overtaking action and easy access.
Weather
- November (Superbiker Mettet): cold and often wet, highs around 6-10°C
History of Circuit Jules Tacheny Mettet
From public roads to a purpose-built circuit
Motorcycle racing around the streets of Mettet dates back to the 1920s, when local roads south of the town were closed for the Grand Prix Entre Sambre et Meuse, first run in 1928. For decades the event used an 8.368 km public-road configuration, and the circuit briefly hosted Formula 2 racing in the early 1950s, with Alberto Ascari among the era's fastest drivers there. Safety concerns common to street circuits of the period eventually made the public-road layout unsustainable for top-level racing.
Building the modern circuit
Racing continued on public roads around Mettet in various forms through the late 20th century, but calls for a safer, purpose-built facility led to the construction of a new permanent circuit near the old course, which opened on 12 March 2010 under the management of the Royal Union Motor Entre Sambre et Meuse. The new 2.28 km layout was designed from the outset to serve multiple disciplines, incorporating separate rallycross, supermoto and dirt-track sections alongside the main tarmac circuit.
A modern multi-discipline hub
Since opening, Circuit Jules Tacheny has built its reputation primarily as a motorcycle venue, hosting the popular Superbiker Mettet cross-discipline event each November and regular rounds of Belgian national motorcycle championships, while also welcoming FIA World and European Rallycross Championship rounds and TCR Benelux car racing during the circuit's more car-focused years. Today Mettet functions as a busy grassroots and trackday facility, popular with riders and drivers from across Belgium, France and the Netherlands thanks to its central Wallonia location and flexible, multi-layout site.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Circuit Jules Tacheny Mettet?+
The main permanent circuit is 2.28 km (1.417 miles) long with 10 corners; separate shorter rallycross and supermoto layouts also share the site.
Is Mettet a car circuit or a motorcycle circuit?+
Mettet hosts both, but it is best known as a motorcycle venue, home to the Superbiker Mettet cross-discipline event and Belgian national bike championship rounds, alongside occasional car racing including past FIA Rallycross Championship rounds.
What was the old Mettet circuit?+
Before the modern permanent circuit opened in 2010, racing at Mettet used an 8.368 km public-road configuration dating to the 1920s, home to the historic Grand Prix Entre Sambre et Meuse motorcycle race and briefly Formula 2 racing in the early 1950s.
Can the public do track days at Mettet?+
Yes. Mettet runs a regular calendar of motorcycle, supermoto and car track days through its own Mettet XP programme and third-party organisers, with sessions for all rider levels.
Where is the nearest airport to Circuit Mettet?+
Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) is closest at around 30 minutes by road; Brussels Airport (BRU) is about an hour away.
Other tracks nearby
- Circuit de Chimay · 38 km · street circuit
- Circuit Zolder · 87 km · road course
- Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps · 94 km · road course
- Stedelijk Motorcrosscentrum Lommel · 111 km · motocross
- Reims-Gueux · 128 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Circuit de Folembray · 128 km · road course
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.