Lausitzring – EuroSpeedway Oval & DTM Circuit Guide
Originally published May 2016. Last updated September 2026: expanded Tier B circuit guide, facts table, table of contents, labelled layout map, internal links, FAQ schema, and editorial refresh while preserving legacy images and story.
Lausitzring — officially EuroSpeedway Lausitz — is a multi-layout motorsport complex near Klettwitz in Brandenburg, eastern Germany, famous for Europe’s tri-oval superspeedway and a demanding infield road course. Opened in 2000 on reclaimed open-cast mining land, it cost roughly €160 million and offered grandstand capacity near 120,000 at peak ambition.
The venue matters because it brought American-style oval racing to continental Europe while also hosting DTM, Superbike World Championship, and junior single-seater series. The 2001 tragedies involving Michele Alboreto, Alex Zanardi, and a track marshal remain part of its safety legacy alongside Tony Kanaan’s Champ Car oval lap record.
Compare the tri-oval with Daytona International Speedway or Charlotte Motor Speedway; for German road-course contrast see Nürburgring or Donington Park in the UK.
Contents
Lausitzring facts
| Official name | EuroSpeedway Lausitz (Lausitzring) |
|---|---|
| Location | Klettwitz, Brandenburg, Germany (near Polish and Czech borders) |
| Circuit type | Tri-oval superspeedway plus infield road and motorcycle courses |
| Opened | 2000 |
| Oval length | 3.256 km (three turns, Pocono-style layout) |
| Grand Prix circuit | 4.345 km, 14 turns |
| Motorcycle circuit | 4.297 km, 13 turns |
| Combined maximum | About 11 km when layouts link for endurance tests |
| Capacity | About 120,000 (venue); main grandstand ~25,000 |
| Main events | DTM; ADAC GT Masters; Porsche Carrera Cup Germany; track days and concerts |
Lap record note: Tony Kanaan’s 0:34.62 Champ Car oval lap from 2001 and Heikki Kovalainen’s 1:32.21 on the Grand Prix layout (2004 Nissan World Series) apply to different configurations — do not compare across layouts.
EuroSpeedway Lausitz — oval and road layouts — Map: OpenStreetMap contributors / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Built on a former coal mine
East German planners proposed a replacement for Berlin’s legendary AVUS as early as 1986. After reunification and local protests, construction on the drained brown-coal site began in the late 1990s. The tri-oval opened at the end of 1999 with state funding covering most of the €160 million bill.
Map of EuroSpeedway Lausitz
The main stand at EuroSpeedway Lausitz has a capacity of 25.000
Oval, Grand Prix, and motorcycle layouts
The superspeedway’s three-turn, 3.256 km shape deliberately echoes American ovals such as Pocono Raceway. The 4.345 km road course threads through the infield for DTM and GT racing, while a slightly shorter motorcycle loop omits some car sections. Engineers can connect segments into an 11 km endurance configuration for manufacturer testing.
The tragedies of 2001
April 2001 brought the death of former Formula One driver Michele Alboreto while testing an Audi R8 LMP on the road course. Later that year a marshal was killed during a race, and CART champion Alex Zanardi lost both legs in a horrific oval crash — yet survived thanks to rapid medical response.
Alex Zanardi was lucky to survive the horrible crash at Lausitzring
Bankruptcy fears followed, but cost cuts and a focus on German national championships kept the gates open. Oval racing gradually lost prominence as DTM and GT events anchored the calendar.
DTM and domestic racing
Today the annual DTM round is the headline ticket, supported by ADAC GT Masters, Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, and Formula 4 support races. The venue remains a proving ground for young German drivers and manufacturer-backed teams.
DTM at Lausitzring
Races at EuroSpeedway lausitz are always well attended
International series history
A1 Grand Prix, Superbike World Championship, F3 Euroseries, and Champ Car visited in the early 2000s. Champ Car’s oval race produced Kanaan’s still-quoted lap record. As global series schedules shifted, Lausitzring leaned into DTM and ADAC championships rather than chasing every fading international contract.
Concerts and non-racing use
Massive infield lawns hosted rock concerts for more than 100,000 fans when racing economics were toughest. Parking for 41,000 cars and highway access from the Berlin–Dresden autobahn make the site attractive for festivals as well as track days.
Getting to Lausitzring
Dresden Airport lies about 60 km away; Berlin airports are roughly 90 minutes by car. Exit 15 from the A13 motorway leads to on-site parking. Regional trains and buses serve Klettwitz on major event weekends, and budget hotels dot the surrounding Lausitz towns.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about Lausitzring
Where is Lausitzring?
Lausitzring (EuroSpeedway Lausitz) sits near Klettwitz in Brandenburg, eastern Germany, close to the Polish and Czech borders. Dresden is about 60 km away; Berlin airports are roughly 90 minutes by car.
When did Lausitzring open?
The complex opened in 2000 after construction on reclaimed open-cast mining land. Total project costs were reported near €160 million, largely funded by the state of Brandenburg.
How long is the Lausitzring oval?
The tri-oval superspeedway measures 3.256 km with three turns, deliberately echoing American layouts such as Pocono Raceway rather than typical European road circuits.
What other layouts does Lausitzring have?
Besides the oval, the Grand Prix circuit is 4.345 km with 14 turns and the motorcycle circuit is 4.297 km. Segments can link into an endurance configuration of about 11 km.
What happened to Alex Zanardi at Lausitzring?
During a 2001 CART/Champ Car oval race, Alex Zanardi suffered a catastrophic crash that cost him both legs. He survived and later returned to competition, including hand-cycling Paralympic success.
What is the main race at Lausitzring today?
The annual DTM round is the flagship event, supported by ADAC GT Masters, Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, and Formula 4 races on the road course.
Who holds the Lausitzring oval lap record?
Tony Kanaan set a widely quoted oval lap of 0:34.62 during the 2001 Champ Car race. Road-course records differ by series and year.
Did Formula One race at Lausitzring?
No. Formula One never held a world championship Grand Prix at Lausitzring. Former F1 driver Michele Alboreto died testing an Audi sportscar on the road course in 2001.
How many spectators can Lausitzring hold?
Marketing figures cited about 120,000 venue capacity at opening, with the main grandstand seating roughly 25,000. Concert and festival crowds have approached six figures on the infield.
How do you get to Lausitzring?
Take autobahn exit 15 on the A13 Berlin–Dresden route for direct parking access. Trains and buses serve Klettwitz on race weekends; tickets and schedules are at lausitzring.de.
Related reading
- Nürburgring — Germany’s benchmark road course
- Norisring — street circuit in Nuremberg
- Donington Park — British road course with European GP history
- Hockenheimring — former German Grand Prix home
- Hungaroring — permanent track in Central Europe
Address: Lausitzallee 1, 01998 Klettwitz, Germany
Phone: +49 35754 33733
Official website: lausitzring.de
