Automotodrom Brno (Masarykův okruh)
Automotodrom Brno (Masarykův okruh) at a glance
- Location
- Brno, South Moravian Region
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 5.403 km (3.357 mi)
- Turns
- 14
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1987
- Owner
- Shakai (majority owner since 2023)
- Capacity
- 100,000
- Address
- Na Šípu, 664 81 Ostrovačice
- Website
- automotodrombrno.cz
Track map and layout
The modern Automotodrom Brno winds through wooded hills west of the city on a permanent circuit built between 1985 and 1987, replacing the original public-road street circuit used from the 1930s. Its 5.403 km, 14-turn lap is known for constant elevation change, blind crests and a mix of fast, flowing sweepers and tighter technical sections carved into forest terrain, which racers and fans alike regard as one of the more physically demanding and scenic lap layouts in Europe. The circuit runs clockwise, with a long start-finish straight leading into a heavy braking zone for the first corner complex, and a stadium-style final sector giving spectators views across several corners at once.
Named corners and sections
- Schwantz's Corner. A fast, demanding right-hander named after American motorcycle racer Kevin Schwantz, who crashed and his bike caught fire there during a MotoGP-era event; now a well-known viewing and braking point.
- Masarykova zatáčka (Masaryk Corner). A high-speed left-hander named for Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the Czechoslovak president honoured in the circuit's official name, Masarykův okruh.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix circuit | 5.40 km | current permanent layout, opened 1987, used for MotoGP and all modern events |
Events and race weekends
Brno's headline event is the Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix, which returned to the MotoGP calendar in 2025 after a five-year absence and is contracted to run through 2029. The circuit also hosts national and regional car championships, historic racing (Grand Prix Revival), the European Ferrari Challenge and F4 CEZ Championship rounds, and regularly stages track days and driving events for the public across the racing season.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Czech Republic Motorcycle Grand Prix | MotoGP | July | returned to the calendar in 2025 after a five-year gap; contracted through 2029 |
| Grand Prix Revival | Historic racing | varies | celebrates the circuit's pre-war and classic racing history |
| European Ferrari Challenge round | Ferrari Challenge Europe | varies | one-make Ferrari racing |
| F4 CEZ Championship round | Formula 4 | varies | Central European junior single-seater series |
Getting there and parking
The circuit sits about 15 km west of central Brno, near the village of Ostrovačice, and is most easily reached by car via the D1 motorway and connecting regional roads. Brno's main railway station and bus terminals run shuttle buses to the circuit on MotoGP race weekend; outside major events there is no direct public transport link, so a rental car or taxi from Brno is the practical option.
- Brno–Tuřany Airport (BRQ) · about 30 min drive
- Vienna International Airport (VIE) · about 120 min drive
- Prague Václav Havel Airport (PRG) · about 130 min drive
Parking
Car and motorcycle parking at the main entrance costs around CZK 300 (roughly €13) per day during major events; outside race weekends, parking is generally free.
Book MotoGP weekend accommodation and parking well ahead, as Brno's hotel stock is limited relative to demand and shuttle buses from the city get crowded early on race day.
Hotels and camping near Automotodrom Brno (Masarykův okruh)
Most international visitors base themselves in the city of Brno itself, about 20-30 minutes from the circuit by car or shuttle bus, where hotel choice is far greater than in the villages immediately around the track. A handful of guesthouses and the on-site GRID Hotel serve fans who want to stay right by the circuit gates for race weekend.
Where to look
Brno city centre offers the widest choice of hotels and is well connected to the circuit by shuttle bus on event weekends; the on-site GRID Hotel and guesthouses in Ostrovačice and nearby villages suit visitors who want to walk to the gates.
Camping
Official trackside campgrounds (Camp Start, Camp Circuit, Camp A and others run by the promoter and third-party operators such as GPcamping and GPtents) open for MotoGP weekend, offering tent pitches close to the grandstands with showers and basic facilities; spaces are limited and should be booked well in advance.
RV
Dedicated caravan and motorhome pitches are available within the official campgrounds for MotoGP weekend, bookable through the circuit's ticket and camping partners.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Automotodrom Brno runs a regular calendar of public track days, club racing and manufacturer events throughout the season, open to car and motorcycle drivers with a valid licence via the circuit's own booking system and third-party organisers. Sessions are typically run in graded groups by experience level rather than completely open pit-lane access.
Who runs days here
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MotoGP | 1:53.122 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | Ducati | 2026 |
| Formula Renault 3.5 | 1:44.591 | Daniel Ricciardo | Formula Renault 3.5 | 2010 |
| BOSS GP/F1 | 1:36.065 | Ingo Gerstl | Formula 1 car | 2017 |
Spectator guide
Grandstands cluster around the start-finish straight and the stadium-style final sector, giving ticket holders sightlines across multiple corners, while general-admission banking areas around much of the lap offer cheaper, more informal viewing with a festival atmosphere on MotoGP weekend.
Seating
Numbered grandstands (including T2 and Grandstand C, popular reference points for camping distances) line the main straight and final corners; general-admission hillside banking covers much of the rest of the lap.
Best places to watch
The final stadium sector and the area around Schwantz's Corner are favoured for watching braking and overtaking; general-admission hillsides give a cheaper, more relaxed vantage with views over several corners.
Weather
- July (MotoGP): warm Central European summer, typically 22-28°C with occasional thunderstorms
History of Automotodrom Brno (Masarykův okruh)
From forest street circuit to permanent Automotodrom
Racing at Brno dates back to 1930, when the original Masarykův okruh was laid out on public roads through the forests and villages west of the city, named in honour of Czechoslovakia's first president, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. At nearly 30 km and well over 100 corners in its earliest form, the pre-war street circuit hosted major international Grands Prix through the 1930s and, after a wartime pause, resumed as one of Central Europe's premier road-racing venues, with the layout progressively shortened over successive decades as motorsport safety standards evolved.
Building the modern circuit
By the 1980s the shrinking street-circuit configuration could no longer meet the demands of top-level international racing, so a purpose-built permanent facility was constructed between 1985 and 1987 within the bounds of the historic circuit, opening on 18 July 1987. The new Automotodrom Brno retained the wooded, hilly character of the original road course while removing the safety compromises of racing on open public roads, and it quickly became a fixture of the motorcycle world championship calendar.
MotoGP era and modern ownership
Brno hosted the motorcycle Grand Prix almost every year from 1965 (with a break in 1992 and on the old street circuit before 1987) through 2020, alongside touring car, GT and Formula-class racing over the decades. Financial and contractual difficulties saw MotoGP leave the calendar after 2020, but new ownership from 2023 invested in fresh asphalt, upgraded run-off areas and modern trackside technology, paving the way for MotoGP's headline return in 2025 under a deal running through 2029. Today the circuit combines this Grand Prix heritage with a full domestic racing calendar, historic events celebrating its pre-war origins, and public track days.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Automotodrom Brno circuit?+
The current permanent circuit is 5.403 km (3.357 miles) long with 14 turns, run in a clockwise direction.
Did MotoGP return to Brno?+
Yes. After leaving the calendar following 2020, MotoGP returned to Brno for the Czech Republic Grand Prix in 2025, with a contract running through 2029.
Is the original Masaryk street circuit still used?+
No. The original 1930s street circuit through the forests west of Brno was progressively shortened and eventually replaced by the current permanent Automotodrom, built in 1985-1987 within the bounds of the old layout.
Can the public drive the Automotodrom Brno circuit?+
Yes. The circuit runs a regular calendar of public track days and club events through its own booking system, open to cars and motorcycles with a valid road licence.
Where do fans stay for the Czech Republic MotoGP round?+
Most fans base themselves in Brno city, about 20-30 minutes from the circuit, or camp at official trackside campgrounds that open for race weekend; accommodation and camping should be booked well in advance.
How do you get to Automotodrom Brno without a car?+
There is no year-round direct public transport link, but shuttle buses run from Brno's main train and bus stations to the circuit on MotoGP weekend; outside events, a taxi or rental car from Brno is the practical option.
Other tracks nearby
- Slovakia Ring · 152 km · road course
- Kramolín (Automoto klub Nepomuk) · 210 km · motocross
- Pannónia-Ring · 216 km · road course
- Autodrom Most · 251 km · road course
- Red Bull Ring · 254 km · road course
- Hungaroring · 274 km · road course
Facts checked against 5 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.