Autodromo del Levante
Autodromo del Levante at a glance
- Location
- Binetto, Apulia
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 1.577 km (0.98 mi)
- Turns
- 9
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1989
- Owner
- Safe&Emotion Srl (circuit management; Automobile Club d'Italia affiliated)
- Capacity
- 7,000
- Website
- levantecircuit.com
Track map and layout
Autodromo del Levante is a short, tight circuit in the Puglia countryside a few kilometres from Binetto, running 1.577 km clockwise with nine corners (six right-handers and three left-handers) over a 10-metre-wide ribbon of asphalt. Its compact scale made it a classic feeder-series track through the 1990s, where a lap took under a minute even for Italian Formula Three cars, and it rewards precision and momentum over outright horsepower. Today it functions mainly as a driving-experience and track-day venue for cars and motorcycles rather than a national championship host.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Full circuit | 1.58 km | 1.577 km, 9 turns, the only configuration in current use |
Events and race weekends
Through the 1990s and early 2000s Autodromo del Levante hosted rounds of major Italian national championships, including the Italian Formula Three Championship (1990-2000, 2002-2003), Italian Superturismo Championship (1991-1999, 2001-2003), Italian Formula Renault Championship, and the Italian GT Championship in the mid-1990s. Since being taken over by Safe&Emotion Srl in the late 2010s, the circuit has shifted its focus away from top-tier single-seater and touring car racing towards regional club racing, driving schools and public track days for both cars and motorcycles.
Getting there and parking
The circuit sits about 25 km south-west of Bari, making Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport the natural gateway for visitors flying in, with a drive of roughly 30-35 minutes along the SP17. Bari Centrale railway station has regional and high-speed connections across Puglia and to the rest of Italy; from the station a taxi or hire car covers the final leg to Binetto, as there is no direct rail or bus service to the circuit itself.
- Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI) · about 33 min drive
Parking
Free on-site parking is available for visitors and track-day participants; spaces are limited during larger club events, so early arrival is recommended.
Hire a car in Bari, as there is no train station or regular public transport serving Binetto or the circuit directly.
Hotels and camping near Autodromo del Levante
Most visitors base themselves in Bari, roughly 30 minutes away by car, which offers the widest choice of hotels alongside easy airport and rail access. Binetto and the surrounding small towns of the Murgia countryside have limited accommodation, so travellers wanting a wider range of options, dining and evening activity generally head into Bari itself.
Where to look
Bari city centre and its outskirts, about 30 minutes' drive, offer the largest range of hotels; a handful of agriturismi and small B&Bs are scattered through the nearby Murgia countryside for those wanting to stay closer.
Camping
No trackside or infield camping facilities at the circuit.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Autodromo del Levante runs regular open track days for both cars ("Quattro Ruote") and motorcycles ("Due Ruote") through its operator, Safe&Emotion Srl, alongside driving-experience packages and corporate or private track hire. The circuit's short lap and 14-box pit lane make it a popular, low-cost option for drivers and riders across Puglia looking for regular seat time without travelling north to Italy's larger circuits.
Who runs days here
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italian Formula Three | 0:43.260 | Ananda Mikola | Dallara F397 | 1998 |
| Italian GT (GT1) | 0:49.336 | Arturo Merzario | Ferrari F40 | 1994 |
Spectator guide
Autodromo del Levante is a small, low-key venue with modest general-admission viewing rather than large permanent grandstands, reflecting its current role as a club-racing and track-day circuit rather than a national championship host. Its compact 1.577 km layout means most of the track can be seen from just a couple of vantage points along the paddock and pit straight.
Seating
Limited general-admission viewing areas around the paddock and pit straight; no large permanent grandstands.
Best places to watch
The pit straight and paddock area give the best view of most of the short lap, since the circuit's small footprint keeps corners close together.
Weather
- spring/autumn: mild, highs typically 18-24°C
- summer: hot, highs often 30°C or higher
History of Autodromo del Levante
A Puglia circuit for the feeder formulas
Autodromo del Levante opened on 10 June 1989 in the countryside near Binetto, a small town in the Bari hinterland, giving Puglia its own purpose-built motor racing circuit. Its short, technical 1.577 km layout was well suited to the light, high-revving cars of Italy's junior single-seater and touring car categories, and through the 1990s the track became a fixture on the Italian Formula Three and Superturismo calendars.
National championship years
Between 1990 and 2003 the circuit hosted rounds of the Italian Formula Three Championship in most seasons, along with the Italian Superturismo Championship, Italian Formula Renault and, briefly in the mid-1990s, the Italian GT Championship. Drivers who would go on to Formula One and international sports car careers, among them Jacques Villeneuve, Emanuele Pirro and Giancarlo Fisichella, raced on its grids during this period, and the venue built a reputation as a proving ground for young Italian and international talent despite its modest size.
From national racing to track-day venue
As Italian national series consolidated at larger, better-connected circuits further north through the 2000s, Autodromo del Levante's role as a top-tier championship venue faded, and it settled into a quieter existence hosting regional club racing, driving schools and karting. Since 2018 the circuit has been run by Safe&Emotion Srl under the Levante Circuit brand, which has focused the venue on public and private track days for cars and motorcycles, driving experiences and corporate hospitality rather than pursuing a return to national championship racing. It remains one of the few dedicated circuits in southern Italy, giving drivers and riders across Puglia regular access to a real racetrack without travelling to Campania or further north.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Autodromo del Levante circuit?+
The circuit is 1.577 km (0.98 miles) long with 9 turns, run clockwise.
Where is Autodromo del Levante located?+
It sits near Binetto, a small town in the Bari hinterland of Puglia, about 25 km south-west of Bari.
Has Formula 1 or MotoGP raced at Autodromo del Levante?+
No. The circuit's scale suited feeder categories: it hosted Italian Formula Three, Superturismo, Formula Renault and Italian GT championship rounds from 1990 to 2003, but never a top-tier world championship event.
Can the public drive Autodromo del Levante?+
Yes. The circuit's operator, Safe&Emotion Srl, runs regular open track days for both cars and motorcycles, as well as driving experiences and private track hire.
What is the nearest airport to Autodromo del Levante?+
Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI), about 30-35 minutes' drive from the circuit.
Which famous drivers raced at Autodromo del Levante?+
Future international stars including Jacques Villeneuve, Emanuele Pirro and Giancarlo Fisichella competed there during its Italian Formula Three and Superturismo years in the 1990s.
Other tracks nearby
- Circuito di Pescara · 271 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Circuito Cittadino dell'EUR · 368 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi · 386 km · road course
- Autodromo di Pergusa · 440 km · dormant
- Autodromo dell'Umbria Mario Umberto Borzacchini · 441 km · road course
- Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli · 468 km · road course
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.