TT Circuit Assen

The TT Circuit Assen is a motorsport race track built in 1955 and located in Assen, Netherlands. Host of the Dutch TT, it is popularly referred to as "The Cathedral of Speed" by motorcycle racing fans. The venue has the distinction of holding the most Grand Prix motorcycle races every year (except ) since the series was created in . It has a capacity of 110,000 spectators, including 60,000 seats. Since 1992, the circuit has also been part of the World SBK calendar except for the 2020 season.

History

The original Assen track was first used for the 1926 Dutch TT (Tourist Trophy) race, after the first 1925 event was held on country roads through the villages of Rolde, Borger, Schoonloo and Grolloo, and organized by the Motorclub Assen en Omstreken. The brick- and semi-paved track had a length of . The winner was Piet van Wijngaarden on a 500 cc Norton with an average speed of . From 1926 on the Dutch TT was held at Assen on a street circuit through De Haar, Barteldsbocht, Oude Tol, Hooghalen, Laaghalen and Laaghalerveen.

In 1951 the Italian Umberto Masetti took the record on a 500 cc Gilera with an average speed of . In 1954, Geoff Duke of Great Britain reached . The circuit remained unchanged until 1955, when a whole new circuit was built by using a third of the original street circuit, joined with purpose-built sections, but less than a third of the length and much more like a modern road racing circuit.

In the period of 1999–2002, the circuit invested millions in upgrades. In 1999, the circuit management placed a new main grandstand and hospitality buildings. In 2000, a new Race Control tower was built, as well as 34 newly equipped pit boxes, a new media and medical centre. Between September 2001 and April 2002, another €9 million was spent on the enlargement of the paddock area from 40 to 60.000 square metres. This upgrade meant that the Veenslang and Ruskenhoek corners had to be altered. The main straight has also moved about eastwards and a new two-lane tunnel now connects the paddock with the main entrance road and the media accreditation / welcome centre. The Mandeveen and Duikersloot corners have been moved back by 10 metres to accommodate larger run-offs and gravel beds at the southern part of the circuit. That part of the track has also been resurfaced with new asphalt. In total, the circuit has been shortened from . The total cost of these upgrades was €23 million.

In 2005, the grandstand at the Geert Timmer corner was slightly altered. In order to improve the gravel run-off length, the grandstand was made in a 'floating' manner to accommodate the extra space that was needed. The lay-out of the circuit was also slightly altered.

The circuit was fundamentally redesigned again in 2006, becoming the so-called A-Style Assen TT Circuit. All alterations aside, only one section of the circuit is original; the finish line never moved. On 21 September 2009 it was announced that a new chicane will be added, after a request from the A1GP organization, Dagblad van het Noorden however A1GP was unable to start the 2009–2010 season and as a substitute the Superleague Formula replaced A1GP.

Layout history

Current racetrack

Assen race track was built in 1955, and initially had a length of . The current track has a length of with the mixture of super fast flat-out and slow corners. The longest straight is . The curves in Assen were traditionally banked and the surface is extremely grippy, so the riders were able to drive much faster on the course than other circuits. Today these sloped or curved bends have been modified due to safety issues.

Innovation On 6 July 2004, the organisation announced plans for an amusement park located to the north of the track. In 2006 the northern loop was removed and the length was shortened to . The new centre is expected to be visited by 300,000 people, and the total investment is approximately €85 million.

Events

Current

April: Superbike World Championship, Supersport World Championship, Sportbike World Championship, FIM Women's Circuit Racing World Championship, Moto4 Northern Cup May: Ducati Club Races June: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Dutch TT, Belcar ADAC Hansa Pokal Rennen, Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup July: August: Supercar Challenge Jack’s Casino Racing Day, Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, , TABAC Classic GP Assen September: Sidecar World Championship, British Superbike Championship, British Supersport Championship, Moto4 Northern Cup October: Supercar Challenge Finaleraces, Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux

Future

Motocross of Nations (2019, 2027)

Former

Acceleration 2014 (2014) ADAC Formel Masters (2008–2011) ADAC GT Masters (2008–2011) ATS Formel 3 Cup (2004–2012) BOSS GP (2010, 2015–2019, 2023–2025) Champ Car World Series Bavaria Champ Car Grand Prix (2007) Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (2019–2021) DTM Trophy (2021) Eurocup-3 (2025) European Truck Racing Championship (2004–2005, 2009) FIM Endurance World Championship (1979–1980, 1995–1996, 2003–2006) Formula 750 (1976–1979) Formula Renault 2.0 Germany (1997–1998, 2004–2005) Formula Renault 2.0 Netherlands (2003–2005) Formula Renault Northern European Cup (2006–2017) GT4 European Trophy (2011, 2013) Motocross World Championship (2015–2018) MotoE World Championship Dutch eRace (2021–2025) Porsche Carrera Cup Germany (1997) Prototype Cup Germany (2023) SMP F4 Championship (2017–2018) Superleague Formula Superleague Formula round Netherlands (2010–2011) Supersport 300 World Championship (2017–2019, 2021–2025) Super Tourenwagen Cup (1996) TCR Europe Touring Car Series (2018) W Series (2019)

Lap records

As of September 2026, the fastest official race lap records at the TT Circuit Assen are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent Grand Prix Circuit (2006–present): BOSS GP/F1 1:17.109 Ingo Gerstl Toro Rosso STR1 2023 Assen BOSS GP round BOSS GP/Formula Renault 3.5 1:20.478 Antônio Pizzonia Dallara T12 2023 Assen BOSS GP round Champ Car 1:20.727 Dan Clarke Panoz DP01 2007 Bavaria Champ Car Grand Prix BOSS GP/GP2 1:22.896 Simone Colombo Dallara GP2/11 2025 Assen BOSS GP round Superleague Formula 1:23.547 Yelmer Buurman Panoz DP09 2010 Assen Superleague Formula round Class 1 Touring Cars 1:26.123 Fabio Scherer Audi RS5 Turbo DTM 2020 2020 Assen DTM round FA1 1:26.831 Dani Clos Lola B05/52 2014 Assen FA1 round Formula Regional 1:31.528 Valerio Rinicella Tatuus F3 T-318-EC3 2025 Assen Eurocup-3 round Formula Three 1:31.903 Markus Pommer Dallara F306 2011 2nd Assen German F3 round LMP3 1:32.023 Jan Marschalkowski Ligier JS P320 2023 Assen Prototype Cup Germany round Superkart 1:33.059 Peter Elkmann Anderson/VM 2020 Dutch Superkart Grand Prix CN 1:33.364 Alex Cascatău Norma M20-FC 2020 2nd Assen GT & Prototype Challenge round GT3 1:33.743 Mike Rockenfeller Audi R8 LMS Evo 2021 Assen DTM round Formula Renault 2.0 1:34.963 Gilles Magnus Tatuus FR2.0/13 2017 Assen Formula Renault NEC round MotoGP 1:36.558 Valentino Rossi Yamaha YZR-M1 2009 Dutch TT Porsche Carrera Cup 1:38.410 Larry ten Voorde Porsche 911 (992 I) GT3 Cup 2023 Assen Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux round Formula 4 1:38.474 Michael Belov Tatuus F4-T014 2018 Assen SMP F4 round World SBK 1:38.680 Noriyuki Haga Ducati 1098R 2009 Assen World SBK round Lamborghini Super Trofeo 1:39.034 Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo EVO 2020 2nd Assen Supercar Challenge round 250cc 1:40.340 Álvaro Bautista Aprilia RSA 250 2008 Dutch TT ADAC Formel Masters 1:40.409 Dennis Vollmair Dallara Formulino 2009 Assen ADAC Formel Masters round World SSP 1:40.836 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha YZF-R6 2009 Assen World SSP round TCR Touring Car 1:43.563 Dennis de Borst Hyundai i30 N TCR 2020 2nd Assen Supercar Challenge round 125cc 1:45.098 Sergio Gadea Aprilia RS125R 2006 Dutch TT GT4 1:45.223 KTM X-Bow GT4 2021 Assen DTM Trophy round Formula Renault 1.6 1:46.198 Anton de Pasquale Signatech FR 1.6 2014 Assen Formula Renault 1.6 NEC round Pickup truck racing 1:50.118 Daniël de Jong MWV6 Pick Up 2014 Assen MW-V6 Pickup Series round Truck racing 2:10.057 Antonio Albacete MAN TGS 2009 Assen ETRC round Motorcycle Circuit (2010–present): MotoGP 1:31.866 Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Desmosedici GP24 2024 Dutch TT World SBK 1:32.357 Nicolò Bulega Ducati Panigale V4 R 2026 Assen World SBK round Moto2 1:35.580 Diogo Moreira Kalex Moto2 2025 Dutch TT World SSP 1:36.952 Stefano Manzi Yamaha YZF-R9 2025 Assen World SSP round MotoE 1:39.592 Alessandro Zaccone Ducati V21L 2025 Dutch TT Moto3 1:40.395 Joel Kelso KTM RC250GP 2025 Dutch TT Bagger World Cup 1:40.424 Eric Granado Harley-Davidson Road Glide 2026 Assen Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup round World SPB 1:42.190 Beñat Fernández Kove 450RR 2026 Assen World SPB round BMW F900R Cup 1:46.457 Nikki Coates BMW F900R 2026 Assen BMW F900R Cup round World WCR 1:47.132 Beatriz Neila Yamaha YZF-R7 2026 Assen World WCR round Supersport 300 1:48.158 Beñat Fernández Kove 321 RR-S 2025 Assen World Supersport 300 round 250cc 1:50.823 Kilian Holzer KTM RC4 R 2023 Assen Northern Talent Cup round Grand Prix Circuit (2005): MotoGP 2:00.991 Valentino Rossi Yamaha YZR-M1 2005 Dutch TT World SBK 2:04.685 Chris Vermeulen Honda CBR1000RR 2005 Assen World SBK round 250cc 2:05.191 Sebastián Porto Aprilia RSV 250 2005 Dutch TT World SSP 2:08.865 Katsuaki Fujiwara Honda CBR600RR 2005 Assen World SSP round 125cc 2:13.536 Héctor Faubel Aprilia RS125R 2005 Dutch TT National Circuit (2005): Formula Three 1:18.602 Dallara F303 2005 Assen German F3 round Formula Renault 2.0 1:20.762 Renger van der Zande Tatuus FR2000 2005 Assen Formula Renault 2.0 Netherlands round Truck racing 1:52.800 Markus Oestreich Volkswagen Titan 2005 Assen ETRC round Grand Prix Circuit (2002–2004): MotoGP 1:59.472 Valentino Rossi Yamaha YZR-M1 2004 Dutch TT World SBK 2:02.395 Colin Edwards Honda VTR1000SP2 2002 Assen World SBK round 250cc 2:03.469 Dani Pedrosa Honda RS250R 2004 Dutch TT World SSP 2:06.922 Katsuaki Fujiwara Suzuki GSX600R 2003 Assen World SSP round 125cc 2:10.123 Jorge Lorenzo Derbi RSA 125 2004 Dutch TT National Circuit (2002–2004): Formula Three 1:15.928 Thomas Holzer Dallara F302 2004 Assen German F3 round Formula Renault 2.0 1:18.067 Tatuus FR2000 2004 Assen Formula Renault 2000 Germany round Grand Prix Circuit (1984–2001): 500cc 2:02.471 Tadayuki Okada Honda NSR500 1999 Dutch TT World SBK 2:03.914 Carl Fogarty Ducati 996 RS 1999 Assen World SBK round 250cc 2:05.696 Valentino Rossi Aprilia RSV 250 1999 Dutch TT World SSP 2:08.748 James Whitham Yamaha YZF-R6 2001 Assen World SSP round 125cc 2:13.225 Noboru Ueda Honda RS125R 1999 Dutch TT 80cc 2:30.790 Krauser 80 1986 Dutch TT National Circuit (1981–2001): World SBK 1:23.110 Raymond Roche Ducati 888 SBK 1992 Assen World SBK round Super Touring 1:27.325 Laurent Aïello Peugeot 406 1996 Assen STW round Grand Prix Circuit (1981–1983): 500cc 2:47.470 Kenny Roberts Yamaha YZR500 1983 Dutch TT 250cc 2:57.790 Carlos Lavado Yamaha TZ 250 1983 Dutch TT 125cc 3:05.620 Ángel Nieto Garelli 125 GP 1983 Dutch TT 50cc 3:24.870 Eugenio Lazzarini Garelli 50 GP 1983 Dutch TT Grand Prix Circuit (1976–1980): 500cc 2:54.500 Virginio Ferrari Suzuki RG 500 1979 Dutch TT 350cc 3:02.500 Patrick Fernandez Yamaha TZ 350 1977 Dutch TT 250cc 3:02.800 Kork Ballington Kawasaki KR250 1979 Dutch TT 125cc 3:13.200 Ángel Nieto Minarelli 125 GP 1979 Dutch TT 50cc 3:33.500 Eugenio Lazzarini Kreidler 50 GP 1977 Dutch TT Grand Prix Circuit (1955–1975): 500cc 2:55.500 Barry Sheene Suzuki RG 500 1975 Dutch TT 350cc 3:01.400 Johnny Cecotto Yamaha TZ 350 1975 Dutch TT 250cc 3:04.000 Walter Villa Harley-Davidson RR250 1975 Dutch TT 125cc 3:12.500 Paolo Pileri Morbidelli 125 1975 Dutch TT 50cc 3:32.100 Eugenio Lazzarini 1975 Dutch TT Van Drenthe Circuit (1926–1954): 500cc 5:49.400 Geoff Duke 350cc 6:11.800 Fergus Anderson Moto Guzzi Bialbero 250cc 6:20.500 Werner Haas NSU Rennmax G.P. 250cc 125cc 7:06.900 Rupert Hollaus NSU Rennfox G.P. 125cc

Fatalities