The Salzburgring is a motorsport race track located in Plainfeld, east of Salzburg.
Key facts
Track Length
Bends 15
Straights 4 (the longest being at start/finish which is 750m)
Incline maximum 3,8%
Decline maximum 1,8%
Altitude difference ca
Altitude to
Boxes 31
History
1968 Groundbreaking ceremony
1969 Opening with a combined car and motorbike race
1970 First Grand Prix of Austria for Motorbikes
1971 First FIM Motorbike World Championship race
2012–2014 Touring Car World Championships
2013 First Electric Love Festival which, in 2018, brought 180,000 attendees to the track
2019 50th Anniversary
The race track was first opened in 1969. Lying in a narrow, alpine valley, it has a rather simple layout, with two long straights plus the sweeping and fast "Fahrerlagerkurve" ("paddock turn") at the bottom, and the narrow "Nockstein-Kehre" on the top. In spite of its simple layout, it garnered a fearsome reputation for the high speeds reached on the straights and the "Fahrerlagerkurve". Michael Doohan describes the section between 7 and 10 as his all time favorite piece of racetrack, likening it to "threading a motorcycle through the eye of a needle at whilst banging fairings with your competitors with armco barriers on each side". He continues "Sure it was fast and dangerous, but also enormous fun. To me it's what motorcycle racing is all about".
The Salzburgring track hosts touring car races like the German ADAC Procar Series, Deutsche Produktionswagen Meisterschaft, Deutsche Tourenwagen Challenge, Super Tourenwagen Cup and the European Touring Car Championship. It was also the home of the Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix from 1971 to 1994, except for the 1980 and 1992 seasons. Giacomo Agostini and Angel Nieto are the all-time leaders in motorcycle Grand Prix victories at the circuit, with six wins apiece. Sidecar motorcycle races were also held at the venue. The track has also hosted the Oldtimer Grand Prix as well as during the last years a "Rupert Hollaus Memorial" organized by Ex-Grand Prix motorcycle and sidecar racer, . In 2008, the circuit played host to the then one-off European Touring Car Cup, with the event being won by Michel Nykjaer.
Layout history
Events
Current
May: TCR Eastern Europe Touring Car Series Rundstrecken Trophy Salzburgring, Formula 4 CEZ Championship September: ADAC GT Masters Salzburgring Motorsportfestival, Histo-Cup Austria Heimrennen am Salzburgring, ADAC Tourenwagen Junior Cup
Former
ADAC TCR Germany Touring Car Championship (2022) Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft (1979–1982) Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (1987) European Formula 5000 Championship (1970) European Formula Two Championship (1972–1976) European Superbike Championship (1990–1991, 1995) European Touring Car Championship (1970–1981, 1983–1985) European Touring Car Cup (2008, 2010–2014) Formula 750 (1977) Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup (2006) Formula Renault 2000 Germany (1997, 1999, 2001–2004) Formula Volkswagen Germany (2001–2003) German Formula Three Championship (1972, 1974, 1981–1982, 1984–1986, 1988, 1997–1999, 2006) Grand Prix motorcycle racing Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix (1971–1979, 1981–1991, 1993–1994) Porsche Carrera Cup Germany (1987–1989, 1993, 1999) SEAT León Eurocup (2014) Sidecar World Championship (1971–1979, 1981–1991, 2005–2007) Super Tourenwagen Cup (1994–1999) Superbike World Championship (1995) TCR Europe Touring Car Series (2024) TCR International Series (2015–2017) V8Star Series (2001–2002) World Sportscar Championship (1976–1977) World Touring Car Championship FIA WTCC Race of Austria (2012–2014)
Lap records
As of September 2026, the fastest official race lap records at the Salzburgring are listed as:
Category Time Driver Vehicle Event Grand Prix Circuit (1998–present): Formula Three 1:16.843 Akash Nandy Dallara F308 2015 Salzburgring Austria F3 Cup round GT3 1:17.755 Finn Zulauf Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 2026 Salzburgring ADAC GT Masters round Porsche Carrera Cup 1:20.422 Colin Bönighausen Porsche 911 (992 I) GT3 Cup 2023 Salzburgring Porsche Sprint Challenge Central Europe round Formula 4 1:21.193 Elia Weiss Tatuus F4-T421 2026 Salzburgring Formula 4 CEZ round Formula Renault 2.0 1:21.235 Alexander Geier Tatuus FR2.0 2026 Salzburgring Formula Renault 2.0 TC1 1:22.571 José María López Citroën C-Elysée WTCC 2014 FIA WTCC Race of Austria Formula Volkswagen 1:22.777 Reynard Formula Volkswagen 2002 Salzburgring Formula Volkswagen Germany round V8Star Series 1:24.774 Robert Lechner V8Star car 2002 Salzburgring V8Star round TCR Touring Car 1:24.868 Adam Kout Hyundai Elantra N TCR 2026 Salzburgring TCR Eastern Europe round Super Touring 1:24.922 Christian Abt Audi A4 STW 1998 Salzburgring STW Cup round GT4 1:26.833 Edwin Waldhier Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport 2020 Salzburgring Porsche Sprint Challenge Central Europe round Super 2000 1:26.875 Yvan Muller Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 2013 FIA WTCC Race of Austria SEAT León Supercopa 1:27.701 Pol Rosell SEAT León Cup Racer 2014 Salzburgring SEAT León Eurocup round Renault Clio Cup 1:36.464 Tomáš Pekar Renault Clio R.S. V 2026 Salzburgring Clio Cup Bohemia round Super 1600 1:39.637 Ford Fiesta 1.6 16V 2010 Salzburgring ETC round Motorcycle Circuit (1986–1997): 500cc 1:17.896 Mick Doohan Honda NSR500 1994 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix World SBK 1:20.147 Carl Fogarty Ducati 916 R 1995 Salzburgring World SBK round 250cc 1:20.916 Loris Capirossi Honda NSR250 1994 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix Sidecar (B2A) 1:25.149 Ralph Bohnhorst Bohnhorst 1991 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix 125cc 1:28.950 Dirk Raudies Honda RS125R 1994 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix 80cc 1:38.280 Krauser 80 1986 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix Grand Prix Circuit (1976–1997): Group 6 1:12.450 Vittorio Brambilla Alfa Romeo 33SC12 1977 Salzburgring Elan Trophae Group 5 1:13.620 Manfred Winkelhock Porsche 935J 1980 Salzburgring DRM round Formula Three 1:13.684 Timo Scheider Dallara F397 1997 Salzburgring German F3 round Formula Two 1:14.950 René Arnoux Martini MK19 1976 Salzburgring F2 round 500cc 1:17.420 Christian Sarron Yamaha YZR500 1985 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix Super Touring 1:19.243 Laurent Aïello Peugeot 406 1997 Salzburgring STW Cup round Group N 1:22.610 Kris Nissen BMW M3 GTR 1993 Salzburgring ADAC GT Cup round 250cc 1:23.270 Freddie Spencer Honda NSR250 1985 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix 350cc 1:24.230 Anton Mang Kawasaki KR350 1982 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix Group 2 1:25.760 Tim Schenken Jaguar XJ12C 1977 Salzburgring ETCC round Group A 1:26.930 Win Percy Jaguar XJS 1984 Salzburgring ETCC round 125cc 1:28.130 Fausto Gresini Garelli 125cc GP 1985 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix Grand Prix Circuit (1969–1975): Formula 5000 1:10.500 Peter Gethin McLaren M10B 1970 Olympia Trophy Formula Two 1:10.840 Patrick Depailler Alpine A367 1973 Salzburgring F2 round Group 5 1:11.800 John Burton Chevron B21 1972 Salzburgring European 2-Litre Championship round Group 6 1:14.000 Vic Elford Lola T212 1971 Taurenpokal Salzburgring Group 2 1:16.810 Hans-Joachim Stuck BMW 3.0 CSL 1974 Salzburgring ETCC round Formula Three 1:20.700 Alceste Bodini Tecno 70/T00 1974 Salzburgring German F3 round 500cc 1:21.780 Giacomo Agostini Yamaha YZR500 1975 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix 350cc 1:23.850 Hideo Kanaya Yamaha TZ 350 1975 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix 250cc 1:27.700 Börje Jansson Derbi 250 GP 1972 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix 125cc 1:31.690 Pier Paolo Bianchi Morbidelli 125 1975 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix 50cc 1:47.000 Jan de Vries Kreidler 50 GP 1971 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix
Results Motorcycle Grand Prix 1971 500cc: Giacomo Agostini - MV Agusta 1975 500cc: Hideo Kanaya - Yamaha 1978 500cc: Kenny Roberts - Yamaha 1983 500cc: Kenny Roberts - Yamaha 1987 500cc: Wayne Gardner - Honda 1990 500cc: Kevin Schwantz - Suzuki 1994 500cc: Michael Doohan - Honda
European Touring Car Championship
Year Winner(s) Car 1970 Helmut Marko BMW 1600 1971 Alfa Romeo 1300 GTA Junior 1972 Carlo Facetti Alfa Romeo 1300 GTA Junior 1973 Dieter Glemser John Fitzpatrick Ford Capri RS 2600 LW 1974 Hans-Joachim Stuck Jacky Ickx BMW 3.0 CSL 1975 Dieter Quester Urs Zondler BMW 3.0 CSL 1976 Patrick Nève BMW 3.0 CSL 1977 Gunnar Nilsson Dieter Quester BMW 3.0 CSL 1978 Martino Finotto Carlo Facetti BMW 3.0 CSL 1979 Martino Finotto Carlo Facetti BMW 3.0 CSL 1980 Dieter Quester Dieter Kindlmann BMW 320 1981 Helmut Kelleners BMW 635 CSi 1982 Jo Gartner BMW 528i 1983 Tom Walkinshaw Jaguar XJS 1984 Tom Walkinshaw Jaguar XJS 1985 Gianfranco Brancatelli Volvo 240T Source:The European Touring Car Championship
Notes
References
External links Salzburgring Official Website The Oldtimer Grand Prix Salzburgring in Google Maps