WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is one of North America’s most celebrated road racing circuits, built in 1957 on the Central Coast of California near Salinas and Monterey. Famous for its dramatic Corkscrew section — a blind, downhill chicane with an elevation drop of nearly 18 metres — the 3.602 km circuit has hosted Formula One, IndyCar, MotoGP, World Superbike, and IMSA championships over its seven decades of operation.
At a glance
- Type
- Permanent road racing circuit
- Period
- Built and opened 1957
- Style
- Rolling hills road circuit with notable elevation change
- Location
- Monterey County, Central Coast of California, USA
- Coordinates
- 36.5839° N, 121.7532° W
Overview
Laguna Seca Raceway is a paved road racing track on the Central Coast of California, built in 1957 near both Salinas and Monterey, and used for both automobile racing and motorcycle racing. The facility is operated by the Monterey County Regional Park District and sits within a natural park setting of oak-studded hills and seasonal wetlands. Its naming rights are held by WeatherTech, which became the title sponsor in recent years, giving the circuit its current formal name.
History
The circuit was established in 1957 by the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) to replace road racing on public streets in the Pebble Beach area, which had been banned after a fatal accident in 1956. Early events attracted sports car pioneers, and the track grew through the 1960s and 1970s to become a fixture on the United States motorsport calendar. Its profile rose further when it hosted the United States motorcycle Grand Prix and CART IndyCar events in the 1980s and 1990s.
What you see
The circuit’s defining feature is Turn 8–8A, universally known as The Corkscrew — a blind left-right chicane that drops nearly 18 metres (59 ft) in elevation and is visible from the hillside spectator areas above. The 11-turn, 3.602 km layout winds through the Monterey hills, rewarding smooth, precise driving over raw speed. The facility includes permanent grandstands, a paddock, and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America museum located at the main entrance.
Cultural significance
Laguna Seca is widely regarded as one of the most technically demanding and scenically beautiful circuits in North America, and its Corkscrew corner has become one of the most photographed moments in motorsport. The circuit’s position within a public county park gives it an environmental sensitivity unusual in international racing venues, including restrictions on noise and run-off area development.
Practical information
- Address
- 1021 Monterey-Salinas Highway, Salinas, CA 93908, USA
- Admission
- Ticketed for major race events; check official website for schedule and pricing
- Hours
- Check official website for event schedule and open track days
Getting there
The circuit is located on Highway 68, approximately 9 km east of Monterey and 13 km west of Salinas. The nearest major airport is Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), approximately 15 km away. During major events, shuttle services typically operate from downtown Monterey and Salinas. The site is accessible by car via Highway 68; limited public transport serves the area outside event periods.
Sources & resources
Find it on the map
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