Road Atlanta

Road Atlanta
Name	Road Atlanta
Location	Braselton, Georgia, United States
Coordinates	34°07′N 83°56′W
Capacity	40,000
Broke ground	1970
Opened	1970
Owner	Penske Entertainment
Operator	International Motor Sports Association
Length mi	2.54
Turns	12

Road Atlanta Road Atlanta is a permanent road course located near Braselton, Georgia, hosting sports car racing, motorcycle events, and endurance competitions. The circuit has been a venue for series such as IMSA, SCCA Runoffs, and Grand-Am while attracting manufacturers like Porsche, Ferrari, and Ford. Its profile has intersected with figures including Roger Penske, Don Panoz, and teams such as Chip Ganassi Racing, Roush Fenway Racing, and Team Penske.

History

Opened in 1970 during an era shaped by Jackie Stewart, Ayrton Senna, and Mario Andretti, the venue quickly drew entrants from SCCA Trans-Am, Can-Am, and IMSA GT Championship. Early promoters worked with organizers from United States Auto Club and Sports Car Club of America to build a calendar alongside tracks like Watkins Glen International and Sebring International Raceway. Ownership changed hands from local investors to entities associated with Don Panoz and later Penske Corporation, reflecting patterns similar to acquisitions by IMS and Liberty Media. The circuit weathered safety reforms prompted by incidents at Le Mans and regulatory changes introduced after meetings of officials from FIA and AASA.

Circuit Layout and Facilities

The 2.54-mile layout features signature sections such as a high-speed straight into a complex resembling approaches at Brands Hatch and a sequence evocative of Silverstone fast sweepers. Facilities include a multi-tiered paddock used by teams from IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, hospitality suites frequented by executives from General Motors, Toyota, and Mercedes-Benz, and garages comparable to infrastructures at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The circuit's elevation changes and runoff areas were reprofiled to meet standards promoted by FIA Circuit Homologation, while grandstands sit adjacent to pits configured according to guidelines by NASCAR and MotoAmerica.

Major Events and Series

Road Atlanta hosts headline events including the Petit Le Mans endurance race, which ran alongside entrants from FIA World Endurance Championship inspirations and attracted manufacturers like Audi Sport and Porsche motorsport. The track has been part of calendars for IMSA, Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, and historic festivals tied to Hagerty and Goodwood Festival of Speed-style gatherings. Motorcycle series such as AMA Superbike Championship and club events under AHRMA have used the venue, while amateur championships organized by SCCA provide grassroots competition alongside pro series managed by Trackhouse Racing affiliates.

Track Records and Notable Performances

Lap records include times set in prototypes with drivers from Joest Racing, Corvette Racing, and Acura Team Penske achieving benchmark laps during Petit Le Mans weekends. Notable performances were recorded by drivers such as Scott Pruett, Dario Franchitti, Juan Pablo Montoya, Felipe Nasr, and Tom Kristensen when representing manufacturers including Porschewerk, Ferrari Competizioni, and Lamborghini Squadra Corse. Endurance feats by team principals connected to Chip Ganassi and engineers from Roush Yates influenced setup philosophies that paralleled developments at Spa-Francorchamps and Monza.

Safety, Upgrades, and Environmental Initiatives

Safety upgrades followed recommendations from panels including representatives of FIA and IMSA, adding SAFER barriers inspired by implementations at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and expanded runoff similar to renovations at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Drainage, waste management, and conservation projects involved partnerships with organizations like Georgia Department of Natural Resources and environmental groups modeled on collaborations by Sustainability in Motorsport initiatives favored by FIA Environmental Accreditation. Recent resurfacing and pit complex modernization were funded in part by investors associated with Penske Entertainment and contractors linked to projects at Circuit of The Americas.

Ownership and Management

Ownership history includes local development groups, investment by Don Panoz-affiliated companies, and acquisition by entities related to Roger Penske and Penske Entertainment. Management has engaged operators experienced with IMSA sanctioning, technical staff drawn from teams such as Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing, and commercial partnerships resembling deals negotiated by SRO Motorsports Group and Dorna Sports for venue activation and event promotion.

Cultural Impact and Media Appearances

The circuit has appeared in media productions alongside titles and brands such as Gran Turismo, Forza Motorsport, and televised packages on networks like NBC Sports, Fox Sports and ESPN. It has hosted celebrity charity events involving personalities from NASCAR and IndyCar and served as backdrop for automotive journalism by publications including Road & Track, Motor Trend, and Autocar. Roadside commerce and regional tourism tied to nearby attractions such as Chateau Elan and Braselton Town Center reflect the venue's integration into cultural circuits that include festivals and conventions similar to SEMA.

Category:Motorsport venues in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Sports venues completed in 1970