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Track guide · road course
Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta
Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta at a glanceChecked 2026-09-09
- Length
- 2.54 mi4.09 km
- Turns
- 12
- Opened
- 1970
- Location
- Braselton, Georgia
- Type
- road course
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Owner
- IMSA Holdings, LLC (Road Atlanta, LLC)
- Address
- 5300 Winder Highway
Track map and layout
Road Atlanta is one of the great classic American road courses, a rolling 2.54-mile, 12-turn lap through the Georgia countryside north of Atlanta that has changed little in character since it opened in 1970. The lap's signature is the Esses, a fast, downhill-to-uphill left-right-left combination that demands full commitment and separates confident drivers from cautious ones, followed by a long back straight, the blind kink under the bridge, and the plunging, high-speed Turn 12 that dives back down to the start-finish straight with limited visibility. Big compressions at Turns 1 and 12 load the car hard into the pavement and reward drivers who trust the grip rather than lift. The combination of flow, elevation change and genuine risk has made Road Atlanta a favorite proving ground for both professional sports car racing and serious track-day drivers.
Named corners and sections
The Esses.
A fast left-right-left combination with significant downhill-to-uphill elevation change; committed drivers take the first Esses flat out.
The Bridge.
A blind right-hand kink under a pedestrian bridge (around Turn 11) leading into the plunge down to Turn 12.
Turn 10a.
A 90-degree left-hander at the end of the back straight that sets up the run downhill toward the bridge.
Turn 12.
A fast, downhill right-hander with a big compression at the apex and limited visibility into the start-finish straight, one of the track's most demanding corners.
Configurations
Grand Prix Circuit
2.54 miThe full 12-turn layout used for all major events, including IMSA and MotoAmerica
Events and race weekends
Road Atlanta's marquee event is Petit Le Mans, IMSA's ten-hour endurance classic run each October and one of the most prestigious sports car races in North America since 1998. MotoAmerica brings its national superbike series to the track in the spring, and GT World Challenge America runs a round in early summer. The circuit also hosts frequent driving schools, car-club events and testing throughout the year given its role as a base for several professional teams.
Petit Le Mans
IMSA SportsCar Championship10-hour endurance race, held annually since 1998
Annual eventWhenOCTOctoberMotoAmerica round
MotoAmerica SuperbikeAnnual eventWhenAPRAprilGT World Challenge America round
GT World Challenge AmericaAnnual eventWhenJUNJune
Getting there and parking
Road Atlanta sits just outside Braselton, Georgia, about 55 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta and close to the Chateau Elan resort. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International is the main gateway airport for visitors flying in, roughly an hour's drive from the track depending on traffic.
- ATLHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)about 60 mindrive
Hotels and camping near Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta
Road Atlanta offers on-site RV camping and paddock overnight stays for race weekends and many track-day events, while the nearby Chateau Elan resort provides higher-end lodging within a few minutes of the track. Gainesville and the northern Atlanta suburbs offer additional hotel options for larger events like Petit Le Mans.
Where to look
Chateau Elan Winery and Resort adjacent to the track, plus Braselton, Gainesville and the northern Atlanta metro suburbs.
Camping
RV and general camping is available on-site for major events; overnight paddock stays in RVs and trailers are permitted for many track-day and club events, typically for an additional fee.
RV
On-site RV camping is offered, with facilities concentrated around the paddock area.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Road Atlanta is one of the busiest HPDE and club-racing venues in the Southeast, with Chin Track Days running the largest number of dates at the circuit alongside NASA, SCCA and other regional organizers, plus driving-school programs. Its role as a base for multiple professional race teams means test days and corporate programs are also common on the calendar.
Who runs days here
- Chin Track Dayscar
- NASAcar
- SCCAcar
New to track days? Our beginner guides, costs and gear →
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMP1 | 1:07.056 | Christian Klien | Peugeot 908 HDi FAP | 2008 |
| Superbike | 1:23.828 | Jake Gagne | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 2023 |
| Unofficial outright (test) | 1:01.200 | Marc Gene | Ferrari F2003-GA | 2018 |
Drive Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in a sim
These racing games and simulators include Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta as official content. Mods and community tracks are not listed.
iRacing
paid trackLayouts—
Le Mans Ultimate
DLC: US Track Pack 2Layouts—
Assetto Corsa EVO
base gameLayouts—
Automobilista 2
base game; some layouts in DLC: IMSA Track PackLayoutsRoad Atlanta [DLC]; Road Atlanta Historic 2005; Road Atlanta Historic 2005 Short; Road Atlanta Moto [DLC]
Gran Turismo 7
base game or free updateLayoutsFull
Forza Motorsport
free updateLayoutsFull; Club; Short; Grand Prix (names as used across notes) (layout names as printed in release notes; list may be incomplete)
Building a sim rig? Four example setups from $279 → · Every real track in sim racing games
Checked against each publisher’s track list in October 2026 (read 19 Oct 2026).
Spectator guide
The rolling terrain and the five-story Michelin Tower with its rooftop terrace overlooking the finish line give spectators strong sightlines across the front straight and Turn 12, while general-admission hillside areas around the Esses offer views of several corners at once. Road Atlanta's biggest weekend, Petit Le Mans, draws a round-the-clock crowd given the race runs into the evening.
Best places to watch
The 10,000-seat terrace area near Turn 10 and hillside general admission around the Esses are popular vantage points covering multiple corners.
Weather
- Oct: mild fall weather for Petit Le Mans, highs typically in the 70s°F with cool evenings
- Apr: mild spring weather, highs typically in the mid-70s°F
History of Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta
Founding
Road Atlanta opened on September 13, 1970, after developers David Sloyer, Earl Walker and Arthur Montgomery purchased roughly 750 acres of farmland north of Atlanta in 1969 and carved a rolling, flowing road course out of the terrain. The circuit's natural elevation change and fast, sweeping corners quickly earned it a reputation among drivers as one of the most demanding and rewarding tracks in the country, though like many independent circuits of the era it cycled through financial difficulty and changes in ownership over its first two decades.
The Panoz era
The track's fortunes turned in 1996 when Don Panoz, the pharmaceutical entrepreneur behind the nicotine patch and founder of the neighboring Chateau Elan Winery and Resort, purchased the facility. Panoz invested heavily in bringing the circuit up to FIA standards and building out spectator and paddock facilities, including the terrace area near Turn 10. In 1998 Road Atlanta launched Petit Le Mans, a ten-hour endurance classic that quickly became one of the most prestigious sports car races in North America and remains the track's signature event to this day.
Present day
Road Atlanta passed to IMSA Holdings in 2012 and took on the Michelin Raceway name in 2018 after Michelin acquired the track's naming rights. The circuit continues to host Petit Le Mans each October alongside MotoAmerica and GT World Challenge America rounds, and remains a working base for professional race teams and driving schools between events. Its status as a near-continuous HPDE and club-racing venue, led by organizers such as Chin Track Days, keeps the track's demanding corners, especially the Esses and the blind plunge into Turn 12, in regular use by amateur drivers as well as professionals.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Road Atlanta?
The Grand Prix Circuit is 2.54 miles (4.09 km) with 12 turns.
Why is it called Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta?
Michelin acquired the track's naming rights in 2018, adding its name to the traditional Road Atlanta title the circuit has carried since 1970.
What is Petit Le Mans?
Petit Le Mans is Road Atlanta's marquee event, a ten-hour IMSA SportsCar Championship endurance race held every October since 1998.
What are the Esses at Road Atlanta?
The Esses are a fast left-right-left combination with major downhill-to-uphill elevation change, widely regarded as the track's signature and most demanding section.
Can the public drive Road Atlanta?
Yes. Road Atlanta hosts frequent HPDE and club-racing days, with Chin Track Days running the largest number of dates alongside NASA, SCCA and other regional organizers.
Where is Road Atlanta located?
Just outside Braselton, Georgia, about 55 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta and roughly an hour from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Which racing games and sims have Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta?
Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta is officially available in iRacing, Le Mans Ultimate, Assetto Corsa EVO, Automobilista 2, Gran Turismo 7 and Forza Motorsport. Some of these include it in the base game and others sell it as paid content; the table above shows which.
Other tracks nearby
Facts checked against 10 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-09.