Mondello Park
Mondello Park at a glance
- Location
- Naas, County Kildare
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 3.621 km (2.25 mi)
- Turns
- 13
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1968
- Owner
- Birrane family
- Phone
- +353 45 860200
- Website
- mondellopark.ie
Track map and layout
Mondello Park sits on farmland off the R409 near Naas and is Ireland's only permanent international motor-racing venue. The full International Circuit is a 3.621km (2.25-mile), 13-turn layout built around the original 1968 track, gaining FIA International status in 2001 after late-1990s investment; a shorter 1.86km National Circuit, using the tighter original loop, is the workhorse layout for club racing, karting and driving experiences. The track is flat and technical rather than fast, with a mix of medium-speed sweeps and tighter chicane-style sections that reward car control over outright horsepower, which is part of why it suits everything from single-seaters and touring cars to drift and rallycross competition on the same tarmac.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| International Circuit | 3.62 km | Full 13-turn lap, used for national and international racing since 1998/2001 |
| National Circuit | 1.86 km | Shorter loop dating to the 1969 extension; used for club racing, karting and driving experiences |
Events and race weekends
Mondello Park runs a full domestic motorsport calendar most weekends from spring to autumn, organised largely under Motorsport Ireland sanction. Irish Championship Circuit Racing meetings bring saloon, touring car and single-seater grids to the International Circuit, the Principal Insurance Masters Superbike Championship is a regular fixture for motorcycle racing, and the Irish Rallycross Championship (IRX) and Drift Masters International both use dedicated rallycross and drift configurations. Karting, classic-car track days and manufacturer-run driving experiences fill much of the rest of the calendar.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish Championship Circuit Racing | Saloons, touring cars, single-seaters | April-October | Multiple rounds across the season on the International Circuit |
| Masters Superbike Championship | Motorcycle road racing | Various, April-September | Principal Insurance-sponsored national bike championship |
| Irish Rallycross Championship (IRX) | Rallycross | March, October, November | Uses a dedicated rallycross configuration |
| Drift Masters International | Drifting | Varies | International drift competition round |
Getting there and parking
Mondello Park is about 48km south-west of Dublin city centre, just off the R409 near Naas, and roughly a 40-45 minute drive from Dublin Airport with normal traffic. There is no direct rail or bus link to the gate, so most visitors drive or arrange a taxi/transfer from Naas or Sallins, both a short drive away and served by Dublin-Cork rail and Dublin Coach bus routes.
- Dublin Airport (DUB) · about 45 min drive
Parking
Free on-site visitor parking is provided for race meetings and events; arriving in good time before big meetings (Masters Superbike, Drift Masters, IRX rounds) is advisable as car parks fill for headline events.
Naas and Sallins are the nearest towns with a train station if you don't want to drive the whole way; a short taxi covers the last few kilometres to the circuit gate.
Hotels and camping near Mondello Park
Most visitors base themselves in Naas, about 10 minutes' drive from the circuit, which has the widest choice of hotels and B&Bs in the area, or in Newbridge and Kilcullen a little further south. Dublin city and its airport hotels are also a realistic option given the roughly 45-minute drive, and are often used by visitors combining a race meeting with a wider Ireland trip. Rooms in Naas can tighten up around the biggest meetings of the year, such as Masters Superbike or Drift Masters rounds, so booking a few weeks ahead for those weekends is sensible.
Where to look
Naas (closest, widest choice), Newbridge and Kilcullen, or Dublin city/airport for visitors combining the circuit with a wider trip.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Unlike most circuits on this list, Mondello Park itself runs the track-day programme: its own branded Driving Experiences (Porsche, Ferrari, R8 Supercar, Formula race cars, drifting and rally) are bookable directly through the circuit for members of the public with no racing licence needed, alongside separately organised open-pitlane car and motorcycle track days and club track-time hire.
Who runs days here
Typical cost: Driving experiences from around €279-€299 per person, rising to €849 for the Ultimate Track Experience; simulator sessions for under-18s from €85
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula (International Circuit) | 1:28.708 | Johnny Laursen | Benetton B197 | 2006 |
| Superbike (International Circuit) | 1:38.604 | Jonathan Rea | Honda CBR1000RR | 2007 |
Spectator guide
Spectator access at Mondello Park is on foot around fenced viewing banks and a grandstand overlooking the start/finish straight and first-corner braking area, giving close views of overtaking without the long walks needed at bigger circuits. Tickets are sold on the gate or online for most race meetings, with prices varying by event; the biggest fixtures such as Masters Superbike and Drift Masters draw the largest crowds.
Seating
A grandstand overlooks the start/finish line and first corner; banking around other parts of the International Circuit gives free-standing viewing.
Best places to watch
The first-corner complex after the start/finish straight is the most reliable overtaking and braking zone to watch from.
Weather
- Apr-Oct (main season): Typical Irish weather: mild, changeable, with a real chance of rain at any meeting; layers and waterproofs are standard advice
History of Mondello Park
From farmland to Ireland's home of motorsport
Mondello Park was laid out on farmland near Naas, County Kildare, by Stuart Cosgrave and opened in 1968 as a short club circuit. A 1969 extension, the Duckhams Loop, lengthened the lap and created the National Circuit still used today for club racing and driving experiences. Businessman and racer Martin Birrane bought into the circuit in 1986 and took full ownership in 1987, beginning decades of steady reinvestment.
Growth into an international venue
Under Birrane's ownership the track was substantially rebuilt and extended in 1998 into the current International Circuit, a 3.621km, 13-turn lap that earned FIA International grading in 2001. That upgrade let Mondello host British-based championships alongside domestic racing, including rounds of the British Touring Car Championship (2001-2006), British Superbike Championship (2003-2007) and British GT Championship (2004-2006), briefly making it a stop on UK national tours as well as Ireland's own calendar.
Ireland's motorsport hub
Through it all, Mondello Park has remained the fixture point of Irish domestic racing: Irish Championship Circuit Racing, the Masters Superbike Championship and karting have run there for decades, while dedicated rallycross and drift layouts added rounds of the Irish Rallycross Championship and Drift Masters International to the calendar in more recent years. Martin Birrane died in 2018, and the circuit passed to his family, who continue to run it as Ireland's only permanent international-standard motor-racing circuit.
Present day
Mondello Park today combines its long-running role as the base for Irish national racing with a large public-facing driving-experience business, offering supercar, single-seater, drift and rally passenger and driving days to visitors with no competition licence. That mix of national and international racing, club and driving-experience track time keeps the circuit busy across most weekends of the year.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Mondello Park circuit?+
The full International Circuit is 3.621km (2.25 miles) with 13 turns; the shorter National Circuit used for club racing and driving experiences is 1.86km (1.156 miles).
Is Mondello Park the only permanent racing circuit in Ireland?+
Yes. It is Ireland's only permanent international-standard motor-racing circuit, holding FIA International grading since 2001.
Can the public drive at Mondello Park without a racing licence?+
Yes. Mondello Park runs its own Driving Experiences (Porsche, Ferrari, supercar, formula car, drift and rally) that anyone can book, alongside licensed club track days.
What racing happens at Mondello Park?+
Irish Championship Circuit Racing, the Masters Superbike Championship, the Irish Rallycross Championship and Drift Masters International all run there, alongside karting and club events.
How far is Mondello Park from Dublin?+
About 48km (30 miles) south-west of Dublin city centre, roughly a 40-45 minute drive from Dublin Airport.
Did Mondello Park ever host British championships?+
Yes. Its FIA-graded International Circuit hosted rounds of the British Touring Car Championship, British Superbike Championship and British GT Championship in the 2000s.
Other tracks nearby
- Phoenix Park motor racing circuit · 30 km · public road circuit
- Bishopscourt Racing Circuit · 140 km · road course
- Anglesey Circuit / Trac Môn · 150 km · road course
- Dundrod Circuit (Ulster Grand Prix) · 153 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Kirkistown Race Circuit · 157 km · road course
- Billown Circuit · 165 km · public road circuit
Facts checked against 5 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.