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| Red Bull Ring | |
|---|---|
| Name | Red Bull Ring |
| Location | Spielberg, Styria, Austria |
| Coordinates | 47°13′58″N 14°44′46″E |
| Opened | 1969 (as Österreichring) |
| Owner | Red Bull GmbH |
| Architect | Hermann Tilke (modifications), Hans Lechner (original layout) |
| Capacity | 110,000 |
| Length km | 4.318 |
| Turns | 10 |
| Record time | 1:05.619 |
| Record driver | Juan Pablo Montoya |
| Record year | 2003 |
| Record class | Formula One |
Red Bull Ring is a motorsport circuit in Spielberg, Styria, Austria, known for hosting premier international events and for its dramatic elevation changes set within the Styrian countryside. The venue has hosted rounds of Formula One World Championship, MotoGP, Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, and historic 24 Hours of Le Mans support series, attracting teams, drivers, manufacturers, and promoters from across Europe and beyond. The circuit combines a compact layout with modern facilities following major redevelopment and acquisition by an Austrian corporation.
The facility opened in 1969 as the Österreichring, built by entrepreneur Hans Lechner on land near the village of Spielberg and inaugurated with support from the Austrian Grand Prix organisers and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile circuit inspectors. Through the 1970s and 1980s the venue hosted rounds of the Formula One World Championship, with winners including Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, and Ayrton Senna, while manufacturers such as Ferrari, McLaren, and Williams Grand Prix Engineering competed. Safety concerns and narrow roads prompted a transformation in the 1990s into the shorter, faster A1-Ring configuration under redevelopment led by investors connected to Bernie Ecclestone and teams including Jordan Grand Prix. The circuit fell into disuse in the early 2000s before being bought, refurbished, and rebranded following investment by Dietrich Mateschitz and Red Bull GmbH, re-opening to a global calendar that includes events organised by Dorna Sports, Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, and IMSA-aligned series.
The current layout is a 4.318 km clockwise track featuring ten turns and prominent elevation changes between the long uphill climb into Turn 3 and the downhill run into Turn 4. Primary paddock and pit facilities accommodate entries from Scuderia Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG Petronas, Oracle Red Bull Racing, and independent teams, with hospitality suites used by corporations such as Castrol, Pirelli, and Audi Sport. Spectator infrastructure includes grandstands named after Austrian heroes like Niki Lauda and corporate suites for partners such as Oracle and TAG Heuer. Technical provisions for television broadcasters include mixed zones compatible with Sky Sports F1, Eurosport, and the BBC. Adjacent to the circuit are logistics links to the Graz motorway network and regional airports including Graz Airport and Vienna International Airport for team freight and VIP travel.
The venue stages the Austrian round of the Formula One World Championship on the FIA calendar, alongside an annual MotoGP event promoted by Dorna Sports. Touring car series such as DTM and GT championships like the FIA GT1 World Championship and Blancpain GT Series have appeared, as have single-seater categories including Formula 2 and Formula 3. Historic racing festivals attract entries from FIA Masters Historic Racing and collections owned by museums such as the Red Bull Hangar-7 and the Technisches Museum Wien. Motorcycle endurance series, national championships organised by the Österreichischer Automobil-, Motorrad- und Touring Club, and manufacturer test days for companies like Porsche AG, Lamborghini, and BMW M also use the circuit.
Official lap records were set in various classes by drivers representing teams such as Williams Racing, McLaren F1 Team, and Red Bull Racing. The fastest recorded Formula One lap during the early 2000s era was set by Juan Pablo Montoya driving for Williams-BMW, while modern sprint and race lap marks have been set by drivers including Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton under the Formula One Sprint format. Memorable races include wheel-to-wheel duels involving Michael Schumacher, strategic battles influenced by tire suppliers like Pirelli Motorsport, and dramatic weather-affected finishes resembling contests seen at Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone Circuit. The venue has also witnessed significant motorcycle showdowns involving riders such as Valentino Rossi and Marc Márquez.
Ownership passed from private Austrian stakeholders to a consortium tied to Bernie Ecclestone in the 1990s and later to beverage magnate Dietrich Mateschitz and Red Bull GmbH in the 2000s. Corporate investment financed renovations overseen by circuit consultants and track designers including Hermann Tilke for safety and paddock upgrades. Commercial rights and event promotion involve partnerships with global promoters Liberty Media for Formula One Group coordination and Dorna Sports for motorcycle franchises, while local economic development initiatives tie in with regional authorities in Styria and national tourism boards such as the Austrian National Tourist Office.
Safety evolution at the circuit reflects advances advocated by Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme standards, with run-off areas, TecPro barriers, and gravel traps installed following incidents in the 1980s and 1990s. Medical and rescue services coordinate with regional hospitals including LKH Graz and emergency response teams from Österreichisches Rotes Kreuz and local fire brigades. Recent upgrades included resurfacing projects specifying asphalt suppliers, enhanced drainage systems meeting FIA Grade 1 requirements, and paddock reconfiguration to comply with homologation inspections by FIA Circuit Homologation Department and broadcast infrastructure improvements for partners such as FOM and International Motorcycling Federation delegates.
Category:Motorsport venues in Austria