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| High Plains Racing | |
|---|---|
| Name | High Plains Racing |
| Location | High Plains, Colorado |
| Opened | 20XX |
| Track | Road course |
| Surface | Asphalt |
High Plains Racing is a motorsport complex located on the High Plains of Colorado that hosts road racing, club events, and driver development programs. The venue attracts competitors, teams, and spectators from across the United States and Canada and connects to regional automotive, aerospace, and outdoor recreation communities. High Plains Racing functions as a hub for amateur and professional competition, testing, and motorsport-related education.
High Plains Racing sits near Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Colorado, and Boulder, Colorado, making it accessible to participants from Fort Collins, Greeley, Colorado, Pueblo, Colorado, and Longmont, Colorado. The facility supports ties with organizations such as Sports Car Club of America, National Auto Sport Association, United States Auto Club, IndyCar, and NASCAR. Its proximity to institutions like University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State University, United States Air Force Academy, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Arapahoe Community College encourages collaboration on engineering, safety, and motorsport management. Regional attractions such as Rocky Mountain National Park, Garden of the Gods, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Estes Park, and Pikes Peak contribute to spectator tourism. Sponsors and partners have included Mobil 1, Castrol, Michelin, Pirelli, and Continental AG.
The project to establish High Plains Racing was proposed by local entrepreneurs and motorsport advocates in consultation with planners from City and County of Denver and economic development agencies such as Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Early proponents included alumni from Colorado School of Mines and engineers from Lockheed Martin and Ball Aerospace. Construction followed environmental assessments referencing United States Environmental Protection Agency guidelines and coordination with Colorado Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration. The facility opened with events sanctioned by SCCA Runoffs, NASA Championships, and touring series featuring teams with links to Andretti Autosport, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Team Penske. Over time, High Plains Racing hosted invitationals commemorating milestones tied to figures associated with Carroll Shelby, Dan Gurney, Ayrton Senna, and Graham Hill exhibitions.
High Plains Racing features a multi-configuration asphalt road course inspired by designs from architects who worked on Circuit of the Americas, Willow Springs International Raceway, Laguna Seca Raceway, and Road America. The paddock area is equipped for teams affiliated with FIA, IMSA, FIA World Endurance Championship, Indy Lights, and ARCA Menards Series. The complex includes garages used by entities like Haas F1 Team development programs, classrooms for instruction modeled after Driver Development Academy curricula, and hospitality suites hosting representatives from Red Bull Racing, Scuderia Ferrari, McLaren Racing, and Mercedes-AMG Petronas. Safety runoff areas were designed referencing FIA Grade 2 specifications and systems used at Silverstone Circuit and Spa-Francorchamps. Spectator facilities are comparable to venues that host X Games and FIA World Rallycross Championship support events.
High Plains Racing’s calendar blends club weekends with professional series such as IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Trans-Am Series, GT World Challenge America, SRO America, and occasional testing sessions for IndyCar Series teams. The venue has hosted endurance events inspired by 24 Hours of Le Mans, sprint rounds akin to British Touring Car Championship weekends, and historic car gatherings featuring cars once campaigned in Can-Am and Trans-Am Series heritage races. The track has also been selected for manufacturer test days by Ford, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, and BMW. Charity events at the facility have benefited organizations like Make-A-Wish Foundation, Special Olympics, and Habitat for Humanity chapters in nearby municipalities.
Competitors arriving at High Plains Racing include drivers who have appeared in series such as Formula 1, IndyCar Series, NASCAR Cup Series, WEC, and MotoGP support categories. Notable names associated through guest appearances, testing, or coaching include alumni from Andretti Autosport, Chip Ganassi Racing, Gulf Racing, Penske Racing, and factory programs from Porsche Motorsport and Ferrari Competizioni GT. Rising talents from feeder ladders connected to Red Bull Junior Team, Ferrari Driver Academy, McLaren Young Driver Programme, and USAC have used the facility for development. Club champions from SCCA Pro Racing, NASA, and Trans-Am have recorded lap times used in driver scouting by teams such as Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Arrow McLaren SP.
Safety at High Plains Racing adheres to standards set by FIA, IMSA, SCCA, and USAC with medical services coordinated with American Red Cross protocols and local providers like UCHealth and Denver Health. Track marshals are trained using curricula from FIA Institute programs and local emergency services such as El Paso County Emergency Services and Denver Fire Department. Noise and environmental permits were negotiated with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and regional planning boards influenced by precedents from National Park Service buffer policies. Insurance underwriters include firms that insure venues for FIA World Endurance Championship events and large-scale motorsport gatherings.
High Plains Racing stimulates local economies by attracting visitors to nearby cities including Denver International Airport, Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs Airport, and hospitality sectors in Broomfield, Colorado. The complex partners with workforce programs at Front Range Community College and Aims Community College to create jobs in operations, mechanics, and hospitality. Economic development entities such as Colorado Office of Tourism and Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce cite motorsport venues in regional planning. The facility hosts educational outreach aligned with STEM initiatives at Denver Public Schools and internships for students from United States Air Force Academy and Colorado School of Mines. Motorsport tourism parallels events that boost revenue similar to Rocky Mountain Folks Festival and other regional festivals.
Category:Motorsport venues in Colorado