Ascari Race Resort
Ascari Race Resort at a glance
- Location
- Ronda, Andalusia
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 5.425 km (3.371 mi)
- Turns
- 26
- Direction
- clockwise
- Banking
- up to 18° in places
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 2003
- Owner
- Private consortium (Swiss and Argentine investors, since March 2022; founded by Klaas Zwart)
- Website
- ascari.net
Track map and layout
Ascari is a private members' circuit carved into hilly former sheepfarm land outside Ronda, designed by Dutch racer and developer Klaas Zwart so that its 26 corners deliberately echo famous bends from other circuits around the world, from Eau Rouge-style compressions to Karussell-like loops. The full 5.425 km lap climbs and descends across grades of up to 12%, with banking reaching 18° in places, and can be split into three shorter combinations (Center, North and South) for smaller groups, testing or driving schools. Unlike a public circuit, Ascari is only accessible to members, their guests and manufacturers running private test or launch days, so the layout is built for repeated high-speed use rather than large-scale spectating.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Full/Grand Prix circuit | 5.42 km | all 26 turns, 5.425 km |
| Circuit 1 / Center | 2.59 km | 2.592 km, used for shorter sessions |
| Circuit 2 / North | 1.34 km | 1.341 km |
| Circuit 3 / South | 1.53 km | 1.527 km |
Events and race weekends
Ascari does not host public spectator racing or a national/international championship calendar. Its activity is private: manufacturer test and launch days (European car makers regularly use the track's varied corners and elevation change for vehicle development and press launches), club members' track days, driving schools, and corporate hospitality days that can accommodate large groups.
Getting there and parking
Ascari sits in the hills roughly 10 km from Ronda and about an hour's drive inland from Marbella and the Costa del Sol via the A-397 mountain road. Most visitors fly into Málaga, the nearest international airport, and either self-drive or arrange a transfer; helicopter transfers direct to the resort are also used by some members and guests given the venue's private, high-end clientele.
- Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) · about 70 min drive
Parking
On-site parking is provided for members, guests and event attendees; access is controlled and not open to casual visitors or drop-ins.
Access is by invitation, membership or booked event only — there is no public admission, so confirm arrangements with the resort or your host before travelling.
Hotels and camping near Ascari Race Resort
Most visitors base themselves in Ronda, a short drive from the circuit, or in Marbella and the wider Costa del Sol for a wider choice of luxury hotels, roughly an hour away by road. Ascari itself offers on-site accommodation for members and groups rather than public hotel rooms.
Where to look
Ronda (closest, historic hilltop town) and Marbella/Costa del Sol (about an hour away, larger choice of luxury hotels and resorts) are the main bases; Ascari also lets its own on-site country house and villa accommodation to members and groups.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Ascari is a private members' club rather than a pay-and-drive public circuit. Full membership (multi-year terms) grants a set number of track days per year plus guest passes; non-members can access the circuit through organised corporate or one-off experience days, driving schools, or guest invitations from members, typically at higher per-day rates than public UK/European trackday circuits.
Who runs days here
Typical cost: Guest/corporate track days from roughly €1,000-€2,500 per person; multi-year membership packages run from tens of thousands of euros up to six figures
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ex-F1 car (unrestricted) | 1:38.46 | Klaas Zwart | Jaguar R5 (ex-F1) | 2019 |
| Road-legal car | 2:14.078 | Pål Pettersen Berg | Porsche 911 GT2 RS | 2020 |
Spectator guide
Ascari is not set up for public spectating; there are no permanent grandstands or ticketed race weekends, since the venue does not host public racing. Viewing is limited to members, guests and attendees of private corporate or manufacturer events.
Weather
- June-August: hot and dry inland, highs often 30-35°C
- December-February: mild days, cool mornings, occasional rain
History of Ascari Race Resort
A private circuit built from the world's best corners
Ascari Race Resort was the vision of Dutch businessman and racing driver Klaas Zwart, who bought a stretch of hilly former sheep-farming land near Ronda in Andalusia and set about building a circuit unlike any public track in Europe. Construction began around 2000 and the venue opened in 2003 at a reported cost of roughly €40 million. Rather than following a conventional grand prix design brief, Zwart shaped the 5.425 km, 26-corner layout so that many bends deliberately recall famous corners from circuits around the world, combined with genuine elevation change of up to 12% gradient and banking reaching 18° in places, giving the track a distinctive, flowing character across three interchangeable sub-circuits.
A members' club, not a public track
From the outset Ascari operated as a private members' club rather than a pay-and-drive facility, offering wealthy owners of high-performance and classic cars a secure, exclusive place to drive hard without public roads or spectators. Membership has historically carried a substantial joining fee plus annual dues in exchange for a set number of track days, guest passes and access to the resort's clubhouse and private fleet. The circuit's variety and challenging elevation changes have also made it a favoured venue for European car manufacturers running vehicle testing and press launch events away from public eyes.
Ownership change and present day
Klaas Zwart owned and ran Ascari for almost two decades before selling the resort in March 2022 to a consortium of Swiss and Argentine investors, who have continued to operate it under the same private-club model. Today Ascari remains one of the most exclusive circuits in Europe, combining club track days, driving schools, manufacturer testing and large-scale corporate hospitality events, with its remote, upmarket Ronda-Marbella setting reinforcing its reputation as a discreet playground for serious driving enthusiasts.
Frequently asked questions
Can the public drive at Ascari Race Resort?+
Not casually. Ascari is a private members' club; public access is through club membership, guest invitations from members, or organised corporate and experience days rather than open pay-and-drive sessions.
How long is the Ascari circuit?+
The full Grand Prix layout is 5.425 km (3.371 miles) with 26 corners. It can also be split into three shorter sub-circuits for smaller sessions.
How far is Ascari from Marbella?+
Roughly an hour's drive inland from Marbella and the Costa del Sol, and about 10 km from the historic town of Ronda.
Who designed Ascari Race Resort?+
Dutch racer and entrepreneur Klaas Zwart conceived and built the circuit, opening it in 2003; he owned it until selling to a Swiss/Argentine investor group in March 2022.
Does Ascari host public races or a race calendar?+
No. As a private facility, Ascari does not host public spectator racing or feature on any national or international race calendar; its use is limited to members, manufacturer testing and private events.
What is the nearest airport to Ascari Race Resort?+
Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP), roughly a 70-minute drive; some visitors use helicopter transfers directly to the resort.
Other tracks nearby
- Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto · 86 km · road course
- Circuito Mike G Guadix · 189 km · road course
- Circuito de Almería · 242 km · road course
- Autódromo Internacional do Algarve · 318 km · road course
- Circuito de Albacete · 377 km · road course
- Circuito Internacional Comunidad de Madrid · 399 km · motocross
Facts checked against 4 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.