Circuit of the Americas
Circuit of the Americas, or COTA to just about everyone, is the purpose-built Grand Prix track southeast of Austin, Texas, where the first thing you do on every lap is charge up a steep, blind hill into Turn 1. It hosts Formula 1, MotoGP, NASCAR and endurance racing. Here’s what you’ll want to know before you go, buy a ticket or load it up in a sim: the name, the history, a sector-by-sector lap, the lap records, the calendar and how to visit.
COTA at a Glance
Length 5.513 km / 3.426 mi Grand Prix circuit, used since 2012
Turns 20 run counter-clockwise
Elevation change 41 m / 133 ft with an 11%-plus climb to Turn 1, the highest point
Opened October 21, 2012 first race: the US Grand Prix on November 18, 2012
Location & owner Austin, Texas about 890 acres in southeastern Travis County, owned by Circuit of the Americas LLC
Race lap record 1:36.169 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Formula 1, 2019
Why Is It Called Circuit of the Americas?
The name was announced in April 2011, while the track was still a construction site. Investor Red McCombs explained that it reflected Austin’s central position between North and South America; he’d actually pitched “Speed City” first. Nobody calls it the full name for long, though. On tickets, signs and TV it’s simply COTA.
A few other names are worth knowing. Turn 1 is officially “Big Red,” renamed in 2020 for McCombs. The concert venue next to the observation tower is now the Germania Insurance Amphitheater, after earlier lives as the Tower Amphitheater and the Austin360 Amphitheater. And the race names change with sponsors: the NASCAR Cup race ran in 2026 as the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix, while MotoGP’s Austin round, long known as the Grand Prix of the Americas, became the United States Grand Prix in 2026.
The concept came from race promoter Tavo Hellmund and 1993 500cc world champion Kevin Schwantz, a Texan. Hermann Tilke’s firm drew the final layout, and Austin’s Miró Rivera Architects designed the grandstands, the Grand Plaza, the tower and the amphitheater.
Circuit of the Americas History
COTA is young by racetrack standards. It was built from scratch on ranch land southeast of Austin to bring Formula 1 back to the United States, and it nearly didn’t happen: there were lawsuits, a fight over state event funding and a construction shutdown before the first race. Since then it has become a regular stop for F1, MotoGP and NASCAR, and it hosts concerts, festivals and now a theme park.
- 2010 Tavo Hellmund announces plans in July for a Formula 1 track in Austin. Construction starts on December 31.
- 2011 The name is revealed in April. Late in the year work stops during a dispute between the owners, the promoter and Formula 1’s management, then restarts after a deal in December.
- 2012 Mario Andretti drives the ceremonial first laps on October 21. On November 18 Lewis Hamilton wins the first US Grand Prix at COTA for McLaren in front of 117,429 people.
- 2013 MotoGP arrives with the Grand Prix of the Americas, along with the World Endurance Championship’s Lone Star Le Mans and a visit from the Australian V8 Supercars.
- 2013–21 Marc Márquez wins seven MotoGP races here, every year from 2013 to 2018 plus 2021.
- 2019 IndyCar makes its only visit, and Colton Herta wins. Charles Leclerc sets the Formula 1 race lap record that still stands.
- 2020 The US Grand Prix and the IndyCar race are cancelled because of COVID-19. Turn 1 is renamed Big Red for Red McCombs.
- 2021 NASCAR’s Cup Series races here for the first time on May 23. Chase Elliott wins a rain-shortened race.
- 2022 After riders and drivers complain about bumps, large parts of the track are repaved in January. That October, about 440,000 people attend the Formula 1 weekend, a record for the event.
- 2024 The WEC’s Lone Star Le Mans returns after a few years away.
- 2025 NASCAR switches to a shorter 3.862 km (2.400 mi) layout. In October Max Verstappen wins the US Grand Prix from pole, his fourth Austin win.
- 2026 Tyler Reddick wins NASCAR’s March race, his third straight to open the season. Marco Bezzecchi wins MotoGP on an Aprilia, Ferrari wins the Lone Star Le Mans in September, and the COTALAND theme park opens next to the track. The US Grand Prix runs October 22–25.
Turn 1 at COTA: The Climb to Big Red
Turn 1 is the corner everyone remembers. You leave the grid on a straight that tilts up like a ramp, and the braking zone sits on the steepest part of the hill. At the top the track flicks left through a tight hairpin you can’t see until you’re nearly there, then drops away downhill into Turn 2. Because the corner entry is very wide, drivers can take wildly different lines, which makes race starts here a mess of cars fanning out side by side.
41 m / 133 ft
Total elevation change
The whole lap rises and falls 41 m (133 ft), and the top of the hill at Turn 1 is the highest point on the track.
11%+
The climb
The run up from the start line to Turn 1 is steeper than 11%, so you’re braking hard uphill toward a corner you can’t see.
Big Red
The name
Turn 1 was renamed in 2020 for Red McCombs, one of the track’s founding investors.
The rest of the track borrows from famous corners elsewhere. The Esses (Turns 3 to 6) are modeled on the fast Maggotts–Becketts–Chapel section at Silverstone, the stadium section echoes Hockenheim, and the long multi-apex sweep at Turns 16 to 18 is inspired by Turn 8 at Istanbul Park. Turn 1 is the part that’s pure Texas hill country, though.
COTA Track Guide: A Lap, Sector by Sector
COTA runs counter-clockwise and packs 20 corners into 5.513 km (3.426 mi). Think of it in three parts: the hill and the fast Esses, the long back straight into a heavy braking zone, then a slow, technical final sector in front of the grandstands. Here’s how a lap goes on the Grand Prix layout. NASCAR has used a shorter 3.862 km (2.400 mi) version since 2025 that cuts out the back straight.
T1
Big Red
Brake uphill and late, aim for an apex you can’t see yet, then let the car fall away down the other side. It’s the main overtaking spot at the start and a good one all race.
T2
Turn 2
A fast downhill right that throws you straight into the Esses. A clean exit matters more than a heroic entry.
T3–6
The Esses
A rhythm section of quick left-right direction changes, modeled on Silverstone’s Maggotts and Becketts. Get Turn 3 wrong and you’re compromised all the way through.
T7–9
Turns 7 to 9
The Esses tighten up and start climbing. You’re fighting for a good line into Turn 9 while the car is still settling from the last change of direction.
T10
Turn 10
A fast left over a crest. It looks easy from the grandstands, but the car goes light at the top.
T11
Turn 11
A slow left hairpin that opens onto the back straight. Exit speed here decides your speed for the next kilometer, and it’s a common place to set up a pass.
BS
Back straight
About 1 km (0.62 mi) of flat-out running. Maverick Viñales hit 355 km/h (221 mph) here on an Aprilia MotoGP bike in 2023.
T12
Turn 12
The heaviest braking zone on the lap, a left at the end of the back straight. Most overtakes at COTA happen right here.
T13–15
Stadium section
A run of slower corners in front of the grandstands and the tower, inspired by Hockenheim. Lots of traction zones and plenty of chances to lock a wheel.
T16–18
Turns 16 to 18
A long, multi-apex sweeper inspired by Istanbul Park’s Turn 8. You hold a steady load on the car for what feels like forever, which is tough on tires.
T19
Turn 19
A quicker left that sets up the last corner. Keep it tidy rather than fast.
T20
Turn 20
The final left onto the start-finish straight. Get on the power early and you’ll carry more speed up the hill to Turn 1.
Circuit of the Americas Lap Records
Only laps set in a race count as official records, which is why the fastest lap ever driven at COTA isn’t the lap record. The 2019 Formula 1 cars still hold both numbers. Here are the times people usually ask about, so you can compare an F1 car, a Le Mans prototype and a Cup car.
1:36.169
Race lap record
Charles Leclerc set the official race lap record in a Ferrari SF90 during the 2019 US Grand Prix.
1:32.029
Fastest lap ever
Valtteri Bottas took pole in a Mercedes W10 in 2019. Qualifying laps don’t count as official records.
1:47.052
Endurance prototype
Loïc Duval lapped in an Audi R18 LMP1 car during the 2016 Lone Star Le Mans.
1:39.244
NASCAR Cup
Kyle Larson set this lap in a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in 2025 on the shorter 3.862 km (2.400 mi) NASCAR layout.
Races and Events at Circuit of the Americas
COTA is one of the few tracks in the world that hosts both Formula 1 and MotoGP, and NASCAR and the WEC make it a busy calendar. Dates move around every year, so check the official schedule before you book. Here’s what usually runs, with 2026 results and dates for reference. If you’re new to the series, our guides to Formula 1, the NASCAR Cup Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans explain the basics.
October
Formula 1 United States Grand Prix
Formula 1 Concerts
The big one. Max Verstappen won the 2025 race from pole, his fourth win in Austin. The 2026 weekend runs October 22–25, with Maroon 5 playing on Friday and Post Malone on Saturday.
Spring
MotoGP United States Grand Prix
MotoGP Moto2 Moto3
Marc Márquez owned this race for years, with seven wins. In 2026 it ran on March 29 under its new name, and Marco Bezzecchi won on an Aprilia. The 2027 round is set for April 23–25.
Late winter
NASCAR Cup Series at COTA
NASCAR Cup Series O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
NASCAR’s road-course visit has been on the schedule since 2021. Tyler Reddick won the 2026 race on March 1, his second COTA win. Next year’s race weekend is March 5–7, 2027.
September
Lone Star Le Mans
World Endurance Championship IMSA support
The WEC’s six-hour race brings hypercars and GT3 cars to Austin. In 2026 it ran September 4–6, and the #50 Ferrari 499P of Fuoco, Molina and Nielsen won. The 2027 date hasn’t been announced.
September
MotoAmerica Superbikes at Texas
MotoAmerica Superbike
America’s national superbike championship held its own standalone weekend at COTA on September 11–13, 2026, and the track also sees club racing and track days most other weekends.
COTA Race Calendar: 2026 and 2027
Here are the big public race weekends at Circuit of the Americas, so you can plan a trip around what you want to see. Track days, club racing, concerts and festivals fill in many of the other weekends. Dates marked TBA haven’t been announced yet, and it’s always worth checking the official COTA calendar before you book.
2026 season
| Dates | Event | Series | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1 | DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix | NASCAR Cup Series | Done |
| Mar 29 | MotoGP United States Grand Prix | MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3 | Done |
| Sep 4–6 | Lone Star Le Mans | World Endurance Championship, IMSA Mustang Challenge | Done |
| Sep 11–13 | MotoAmerica Superbikes at Texas | MotoAmerica | Done |
| Oct 22–25 | Formula 1 United States Grand Prix | Formula 1, Porsche Carrera Cup North America | Upcoming |
2027 season
| Dates | Event | Series | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 6 | Austin E-Prix | Formula E (first visit) | Upcoming |
| Mar 5–7 | NASCAR at COTA | NASCAR Cup Series | Upcoming |
| Apr 23–25 | MotoGP United States Grand Prix | MotoGP | Upcoming |
| May 7–9 | Texas 8 Hour | SRO GT racing | Upcoming |
| Oct 24 (race day) | Formula 1 United States Grand Prix | Formula 1 | Upcoming |
| TBA | Lone Star Le Mans | World Endurance Championship | Date TBA |
| TBA | MotoAmerica at COTA | MotoAmerica | Date TBA |
COTA Weather by Season
Austin has hot summers, mild winters and rain that tends to arrive in short, heavy bursts. The numbers below are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for Austin’s Camp Mabry station in the city, so treat them as a guide rather than a forecast.
23–31°C
Spring · Mar–May
Daily highs of 23–31°C (73–87°F) and lows of 11–19°C (52–67°F). It warms up fast, and May is the wettest month of the year at about 128 mm (5 in) of rain, often in thunderstorms. NASCAR and MotoGP weekends usually land in the comfortable early part of spring.
34–37°C
Summer · Jun–Aug
Daily highs of 34–37°C (93–98°F) with lows around 23–24°C (73–75°F). It’s properly hot, and there’s very little shade on the hillsides. If you go to a summer track day or event, plan on lots of water and sunscreen.
22–33°C
Fall · Sep–Nov
Highs drop from about 33°C (91°F) in September to 22°C (72°F) in November. October averages about 28°C (83°F) by day and 16°C (61°F) at night, which is why US Grand Prix weekend is often lovely, but it’s also the second-wettest month at about 99 mm (3.9 in).
17–19°C
Winter · Dec–Feb
Daily highs of 17–19°C (63–67°F) and lows of 5–8°C (42–46°F), with about 48–69 mm (1.9–2.7 in) of rain a month. Cold snaps happen, so bring a warm layer for Formula E in February.
Visiting COTA: Tickets, Getting There and Tips
COTA was designed with spectators in mind, so you get big grandstands, grassy hillsides and long sight lines across the track. It’s also huge, at about 890 acres, so wear comfortable shoes and plan how you’ll get in and out before race day.
Where to watch
- Turn 1. Watching cars brake uphill into Big Red on the first lap is the signature COTA moment. Check your ticket map to see which areas your ticket covers.
- The Esses. Fast changes of direction at Turns 3 to 6, where you can really see how hard the cars are working.
- Turn 12. The end of the back straight is where most of the passing happens.
- The stadium section. The grandstands around Turns 13 to 15 sit right under the observation tower, close to the action.
- The tower. The observation tower is 77 m (251 ft) tall, with a viewing deck at 70 m (230 ft) that looks out over most of the track.
Tickets
For the US Grand Prix, COTA sells three-day and single-day general admission, reserved grandstands and a range of hospitality options. General admission is the cheapest way in and lets you roam, while a grandstand seat gets you a fixed view and somewhere to sit.
Getting there
The track is out in southeastern Travis County, past Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and traffic on F1 weekend is serious. For the Grand Prix, official shuttles run from the Travis County Expo Center and Waterloo Park using dedicated bus lanes. If you drive, you need a parking pass bought in advance. Rideshare drop-off and pickup is at the North McAngus lot, with a free tram to the Grand Plaza. You can’t walk in from outside the property, so pick one of those options.
Camping and tips
COTA sells RV and camping passes for big events, and there’s an RV park on the property. Late-October weather in Austin is usually warm and pleasant, but spring and summer events can be hot, so bring sunscreen, a hat and water. May and October are the rainiest months, so pack a light rain jacket for the Grand Prix too.
Can You Drive Circuit of the Americas?
Yes. When the big series aren’t in town, COTA is rented to track-day organizers and clubs. Hooked On Driving, for example, runs high-performance driving events here for everyone from first-timers to experienced drivers, with instructors available. You bring your own car, pass a tech inspection and go out in run groups based on experience.
If you don’t want to risk your own car, there are cheaper ways in. COTA Karting is a 1.01 km (0.63 mi), 15-turn kart track on the property, revamped in 2022, that borrows the feel of the big circuit. And the new COTALAND park next door sells passenger hot laps on the Formula 1 track.
COTA is also easy to drive on a screen. It’s been in the official Formula 1 games since it joined the calendar, and you’ll find it in iRacing, Project CARS 2 and Assetto Corsa Competizione, where it arrived in the American Track Pack in 2022. Turn 1 feels steep even in a sim.
Talk COTA With Other Enthusiasts
Headed to the Grand Prix, booking a track day or chasing a faster lap in the sim? Share what worked, ask questions and find people going the same weekend in the AutoGathering community.
- US Grand Prix trip planning
- Best general admission spots
- Shuttle and parking tips
- MotoGP weekend meetups
- NASCAR at COTA
- Track-day experiences
- COTA Karting lap times
- Sim racing setups for COTA
Circuit of the Americas FAQ
How long is Circuit of the Americas?
The Grand Prix circuit is 5.513 km (3.426 miles) long with 20 turns, run counter-clockwise. NASCAR uses a shorter 3.862 km (2.400 mi) layout.
How steep is Turn 1 at COTA?
The climb from the start line to Turn 1 is steeper than 11%, and the top of the hill is the highest point on the track. The whole lap has about 41 m (133 ft) of elevation change.
When is the 2026 US Grand Prix at COTA?
The 2026 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix weekend runs October 22–25, 2026, with the race on Sunday, October 25. The 2027 race is scheduled for October 24, 2027.
What is the lap record at Circuit of the Americas?
The official race lap record is 1:36.169, set by Charles Leclerc in a Ferrari in 2019. The fastest lap ever is Valtteri Bottas’s 1:32.029 pole lap in a Mercedes from the same weekend, but qualifying laps don’t count as records.
What races are held at COTA?
The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, MotoGP’s United States Grand Prix, a NASCAR Cup Series race, the World Endurance Championship’s Lone Star Le Mans and MotoAmerica superbikes. Formula E is scheduled to race in Austin for the first time on February 6, 2027.
Can you drive your own car at COTA?
Yes. Track-day organizers such as Hooked On Driving run events on the circuit, and you can also drive the COTA Karting track or book a passenger hot lap.
How do you get to COTA for the Grand Prix?
Official shuttles run from the Travis County Expo Center and Waterloo Park. You can also drive with a pre-bought parking pass or use rideshare to the North McAngus lot. Pedestrians can’t walk in from outside the property.
Who designed Circuit of the Americas?
Tavo Hellmund and former motorcycle world champion Kevin Schwantz came up with the concept, Hermann Tilke’s firm designed the track, and Miró Rivera Architects designed the tower, grandstands and amphitheater.
Explore More Racing Circuits
COTA is one of 40 tracks in our North American racing circuit directory. If you’re following Formula 1 south, Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is the next-closest F1 track.
Photo credits
- Header image: HoverVan, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Looking back down the main straight from…: Lars Plougmann, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped and resized.
- Track map of the Circuit of the…: Gustavo GirardelliOwn work This W3C-unspecified vector image was created…, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped and resized.
- The field of the 2013 United States…: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Endurance prototypes racing at the 2020 Lone…: United Autosports, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped and resized.
- View east from the Circuit of the…: pedrik, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.
- NASCAR Cup cars racing in a tight…: Spheroidite, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- A motorcycle racer at speed at Circuit…: John Catlin, CC BY 3.0, cropped and resized.