Remove ads

Laguna Seca Raceway (branded as WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and previously Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for sponsorship reasons) is a paved road racing track in central California used for both auto racing and motorcycle racing, built in 1957 near both Salinas and Monterey, California, United States.

Quick Facts Location, Time zone ...
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Thumb

Thumb
LocationMonterey County, near Monterey, California and Salinas, California, United States
Time zoneUTC-08:00 (UTC-07:00 DST)
Coordinates36°35′03″N 121°45′13″W
FIA Grade2
OwnerMonterey County
OperatorA&D Narigi Consulting, LLC
Opened9 November 1957; 67 years ago (1957-11-09)[1]
Construction cost$1.5 million USD
Former namesMazda Raceway Laguna Seca (2002–2017)
Laguna Seca Raceway (1957–2001)
Major eventsCurrent:
Future:
Former:
Websitehttps://www.weathertechraceway.com/
Grand Prix Circuit (1996–present)
SurfacePaved
Length2.238 miles (3.602 km)
Turns11
Race lap record1:08.4168 (Spain Álex Palou, Dallara DW12, 2023, IndyCar)
Grand Prix Circuit (1988–1995)
Length2.214 miles (3.563 km)
Turns11
Race lap record1:12.959 (Canada Paul Tracy, Penske PC-23, 1994, CART)
Original Circuit (1957–1987)
Length1.900 miles (3.058 km)
Turns9
Race lap record0:56.810 (United States Al Unser Jr., Frissbee GR3, 1982, Can-Am)
Close

The racetrack is 2.238 mi (3.602 km) long, with a 180 ft (55 m) elevation change.[2][3] Its eleven turns are highlighted by the circuit's signature turn, the downhill-plunging "Corkscrew" at Turns 8 and 8A. A variety of racing, exhibition, and entertainment events are held at the raceway, ranging from superkarts to sports car racing to music festivals. Laguna Seca is classified as an FIA Grade Two circuit.[4]

The name Laguna Seca is Spanish for dry lake: the area where the track now lies was once a lake, and the course was built around the dry lake bed. After the course was reconfigured, two artificial ponds were added.

Remove ads

History

Thumb
Laguna Seca Raceway from between Turns 1 and 2
Thumb
Mario Andretti at Laguna Seca, 1991

The earliest development of the local area occurred in 1867 with the founding of the nearby Laguna Seca Ranch, which has operated continuously for 140 years with grazing and equestrian uses.[5]

The track was built in 1957 at a cost of $1.5 million raised from local businesses and individuals on part of the US Army's Fort Ord (a maneuver area and field artillery target range) after the nearby Pebble Beach Road Races were abandoned for being too dangerous. In 1974 the property was deeded over to the Monterey County Parks Department and continues to be part of the park system.

The first race, held on November 9, 1957, was won by Pete Lovely driving a Ferrari. In the intervening years, the track has hosted USRRC, Can-Am, Trans-Am, Formula 5000, IMSA GT, CART, Indy Car, American Le Mans Series, Grand American, Monterey Historic Automobile Races, Speed World Challenge, AMA (American Motorcyclist Association), WSBK Superbike World Championship and MotoGP motorcycle races (but 125/Moto3 and 250/Moto2 are not admitted).

The day-to-day operations of the track, along with the management and promotion of major racing events, are now handled by A&D Narigi Consulting, LLC. John V. Narigi is the General Manager and President. Until January 1, 2020, it was managed by the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP), which is a non-profit organization. With oversight by a board of local residents, SCRAMP operates with a professional staff on-site with the goal of generating income through the operations of the racetrack which is then redistributed to local charities.

The track itself has undergone significant changes over the past two decades to meet evolving safety homologation requirements of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and other sanctioning bodies. Changes include the addition of the entire infield area in 1988 (present-day turns 3, 4, and 5, eliminating the straight that started at present-day turn 2 and ended at present-day turn 5) extending the track from its original 1.9-mile (3.1 km) length to meet the minimum-track-length criteria of the FIM for MotoGP events, plus the more recent relocation of pedestrian bridges and embankments, and the expansion of gravel pits outside turns 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 for additional runoff. The original media center was demolished in 2006 to make way for additional run-off room in Turn 1. Also in 2006, the 'hump' at the top of the Rahal Straight was flattened to accommodate the MotoGP riders, though some claim that this increases the wind effects that can perturb a race motorcycle. Remnants of the old configuration can still be seen from the parking lot between turns two and five. They are found underneath a road leading to the parking area for entrant trailers and RVs.

Thumb
The "Corkscrew" at Turn 8, with gradient up to 16%
Thumb
A view of the "Corkscrew" from the bottom

The famous Turn 8 and 8A combination, popularly referred to as 'the Corkscrew', is considered one of the motorsport world's most challenging turns,[6][7] due to the 59 ft (18 m) drop in elevation as well as its blind crest and apex on the uphill approach.[6][7][8]

Turn 2, with its difficult and technical double-apex, has been renamed the 'Andretti Hairpin', in honor of former Formula 1 World Champion Mario Andretti, while Turn 9 has been renamed 'Rainey Curve' in honor of 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champion Wayne Rainey, a resident of nearby Salinas, California. Also, the straight that runs between Turn 6 and Turn 7 has been renamed the 'Rahal Straight' after four-time consecutive Champ Car race winner Bobby Rahal.

A Champ Car World Series weekend had been a prominent event from 1983 through 2004, when its spot on the calendar was shifted to the San Jose Grand Prix. On the last lap of the 1996 CART race, Alex Zanardi passed Bryan Herta on the inside of the Corkscrew to take the victory. Uruguayan driver Gonzalo Rodríguez died during the practice session of the 1999 CART race after crashing at the same corner. Because of the incident, runoff was installed at the end of the Rahal Straight.

Champ Car announced on September 11, 2007, that they would be returning the Northern California race to Laguna Seca from San Jose over the May 16–18 weekend in 2008.[9] But the subsequent merger of Champ Car and IndyCar resulted in the race being canceled. On July 17, 2018, IndyCar announced a return of IndyCars to Laguna Seca, with the event to be held the weekend of September 20–22, 2019.

The track is also the site of the annual Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, formerly known as the Monterey Historic Automobile Races. The event features an extraordinarily eclectic mixture of race cars on the course. Each year features a different marque. Considered one of the two greatest historic racing events (along with the Goodwood Festival in England), attendance often rivals, or surpasses the professional racing events listed above.

There are many permanent dry and hook-up camping facilities located at the raceway, which are available year-round as part of the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, the county park in which the racetrack is set.

The track's primary corporate sponsor is WeatherTech which began in April 2018. As part of the sponsorship, the track is now officially referred to as WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Previously, the sponsorship belonged to Mazda for 17 years with the track being known as Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

A 2015 study by California State University, Monterey Bay and commissioned by SCRAMP states that the raceway generated $62.1 million (2015 USD) to the Monterey County economy and $5.2 million in state and local taxes.[10]

Remove ads

Layout history

Remove ads

Lap records

On August 20, 2006, Toyota F1 test driver Ricardo Zonta set an unofficial lap record of 1:06.309.[11] The previous record time was 1:07.722, set by Hélio Castroneves in a Penske Champ Car during qualifying for the 2000 CART Honda Grand Prix of Monterey. The unofficial record was re-taken by a Champ Car on March 10, 2007, by Sébastien Bourdais, who lapped in 1:05.880 during Champ Car Spring Training. The unofficial record was again re-taken by a Formula One car on May 19, 2012, by Marc Gené, who lapped in 1:05.786 in a Ferrari F2003-GA during the 2012 Ferrari Racing Days.[12]

Christian Lundgaard is the unofficial qualifying record-holder with a lap time of 1:06.4610.[13]

At the 2008 Monterey Sports Car Championships, David Brabham set a pole position time of 1:10.103 in a Le Mans Prototype.[14]

At the 2012 United States motorcycle Grand Prix, Jorge Lorenzo set a pole time of 1:20.554 on the Yamaha YZR-M1.[15] During the 2014 Superbike World Championship season, Tom Sykes set the superbike qualifying record time of 1:21.811 on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R.[16]

The 2019 McLaren Senna holds the current production car lap record. Driver Randy Pobst piloted the unmodified McLaren to a 1:27.62 lap time during MotorTrend's 2019 best driver car award testing.[17]

The 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS previously held the current unofficial production car lap record with 1:28.30.[18]

The Porsche 918 Spyder held the previous unofficial production car lap record with 1:29.89.[19]

A Mission Motors Mission R, ridden by Steve Rapp, previously held the outright EV lap record with a time of 1:31.376. This was set during qualifying for the 2011 FIM e-Power International Championship/TTXGP World Series race.[20]

In 2018, Earl Bamber clocked an unofficial best lap time of 1:07 around Laguna Seca in the Porsche 919 EVO, despite not intentionally trying to set a lap record.[21]

A McLaren MP4/13, driven by Pato O'Ward set an unofficial lap time of 1:10.24 at the 2021 Velocity Invitational festival.

All-time unofficial lap records

More information Type, Event ...
Type Event Driver Vehicle Time Date
Outright lap record 2012 Ferrari Racing Days Spain Marc Gené Ferrari F2003-GA 1:05.786[12] 7 March 2012
All-time qualifying lap record 2023 Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey Denmark Christian Lundgaard Dallara DW12 1:06.4610[13] 9 September 2023
Electric car lap record 2024 Motorsports Reunion Hong Kong Philip Kadoorie McMurtry Spéirling PURE VP1 1:18.413[22] 17 August 2024
Motorcycle qualifying lap record 2012 United States motorcycle Grand Prix Spain Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha YZR-M1 1:20.554[15] 28 July 2012
Production car Private event United States Joel Miller Czinger 21C 1:24.75[23] 26 August 2024
Electric motorcycle qualifying lap record 2024 AHRMA Classic Motofest™ United States Jayson Uribe #36x LightFighter v2.0 1:30.794[24] 20 July 2024
Close

Official race lap records

As of May 2024, the fastest official race lap records at Laguna Seca for different classes are listed as:

More information Category, Time ...
CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
Current Grand Prix Circuit: 3.602 km (1996–present)[25]
IndyCar1:08.4168Álex PalouDallara DW122023 Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey
CART1:10.148[26]Alex ZanardiReynard 96I1996 Bank of America 300 Monterey Grand Prix
LMP21:11.156[27]Adrián FernándezAcura ARX-01B2008 Monterey Sports Car Championships
LMP11:12.126[27]Lucas LuhrAudi R10 TDI2008 Monterey Sports Car Championships
Indy NXT1:12.7677[28]Christian RasmussenDallara IL-152023 Laguna Seca Indy NXT round
LMDh1:14.196[29]Sébastien BourdaisCadillac V-Series.R2024 Motul Course de Monterey
DPi1:15.546[30]Tom BlomqvistAcura ARX-052022 Hyundai Monterey SportsCar Championship
LMP9001:16.280[31]Allan McNishAudi R82000 Monterey Sports Car Championships
Formula Atlantic1:16.499[32]Jonathan SummertonSwift 016.a2009 Monterey Sports Car Championships
DP1:16.914[33]Colin BraunOreca 072018 Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship
A1GP1:17.951Nicolas LapierreLola A1GP2005–06 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, United States of America
LMP1:18.129[34]Eric BernardPanoz LMP-1 Roadster-S1999 Monterey Sports Car Championships
LMP6751:18.185[35]James WeaverLola EX2572003 Monterey Sports Car Championships
WSC1:19.060[36]Andrea MonterminiFerrari 333 SP1997 Visa Sports Car Championship
GT1 (Prototype)1:19.094[37]Ricardo ZontaMercedes-Benz CLK LM1998 FIA GT Laguna Seca 500km
LMPC1:19.298[38]Bruno JunqueiraOreca FLM092012 American Le Mans Monterey
GT1 (GTS)1:19.604[39]Jan MagnussenChevrolet Corvette C6.R2007 Monterey Sports Car Championships
GT31:20.942[29]Loris SpinelliLamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO22024 Motul Course de Monterey
Indy Pro 20001:21.1769[40]Sting Ray RobbTatuus PM-182019 Laguna Seca Indy Pro 2000 round
MotoGP1:21.229Dani PedrosaHonda RC213V2012 United States motorcycle Grand Prix
LM GTE1:21.827[41]Nick TandyChevrolet Corvette C8.R2021 Hyundai Monterey Sports Car Championship
Formula Regional1:22.100[42]Ryan ShehanLigier JS F32024 FR Americas Invitational at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
World SBK1:22.700[43]Jonathan ReaKawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR2019 Laguna Seca World SBK round
Lamborghini Super Trofeo1:22.772[44]Patrick LiddyLamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO22024 Laguna Seca Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America round
Superbike1:23.185[45]Cameron BeaubierYamaha YZF-R12020 Laguna Seca MotoAmerica round
Ferrari Challenge1:23.520[46]Dylan MedlerFerrari 296 Challenge2024 Laguna Seca Ferrari Challenge North America round
GT21:23.793[47]Ron FellowsChevrolet Corvette C5-R1999 Monterey Sports Car Championships
Superkart1:23.875[48]Eddie Lawson250cc Yamaha superkart2003 World Superkart Challenge at Laguna Seca[49][50][51][52][53]
Porsche Carrera Cup1:23.879[54]Alex SedgwickPorsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup2023 Laguna Seca Porsche Carrera Cup North America round
US F20001:25.4774[55]Christian RasmussenTatuus USF-172019 Laguna Seca US F2000 round
GT1:25.586[56]Timo BernhardPorsche 911 (996) GT3 RSR2004 Monterey Sports Car Championships
TA11:25.874[57]Chris DysonFord Mustang Trans-Am2022 Laguna Seca Trans-Am round
Supersport1:26.010[58]Garrett GerloffYamaha YZF-R62017 Laguna Seca MotoAmerica round
Barber Pro1:26.395[59]Nilton RossoniReynard 98E2000 Laguna Seca Barber Pro round
IMSA GTP1:26.610[60]Bruce CanepaPorsche 962C2016 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
F50001:27.352[61]Paul ZazrynLola T3322015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Formula BMW1:27.668[62]Alexander RossiMygale FB022008 Laguna Seca Formula BMW Americas round
TA21:28.058[63]Kyle KelleyFord Mustang Trans-Am2024 Laguna Seca Trans-Am West Coast round
GT41:28.845[64]Daniel MoradMercedes-AMG GT42024 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 120
TCR Touring Car1:30.486[64]Tim Lewis Jr.Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR2024 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 120
IMSA GTO1:30.662[60]Jeremy BarnesMazda RX-72016 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
World SSP1:30.742Pere Riba Cabana [es]Ducati 7481998 Laguna Seca World SSP round
Group 5 sports car1:31.301[60]Bob EarlFerrari 312 PB2016 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Super Touring1:31.619[65]Neil CromptonHonda Accord1997 Laguna Seca NATCC round
eRoad Racing1:32.581[66]Shane TurpinBrammo Empulse RR2013 Laguna Seca FIM eRoad Racing World Cup round
Group 6 prototype1:35.044[60]Nick ColyvasChevron B162016 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Mazda MX-5 Cup1:36.288[67]Jeremy FletcherMazda MX-5 (ND)2024 Laguna Seca Mazda MX-5 Cup round
Formula Junior1:40.511[68]Jeremy BarnesLotus 222010 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 3 GT (over 2500cc)1:41.645[60]Chris MacAllisterShelby Cobra 289 MkII2016 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Historic GT (under 2500cc)1:43.077[60]Fred Della NoceGinetta G122016 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Group 2 touring car1:44.824[61]Mark ColbertBMW 3.0 CSL2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Historic Group 4 sports car
(under 2000cc)
1:45.737[61]Brian OroscoLola Mk12015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Historic sports car1:51.374[61]Cameron HealyCooper Mk7-7/53-Porsche[69]2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Historic GP2:00.507[61]Paddins DowlingMaserati 4CL2015 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Grand Prix Circuit: 3.563 km (1988–1995)[25]
CART1:12.959[70]Paul TracyPenske PC-231994 Toyota Monterey Grand Prix
IMSA GTP1:14.102[71]Juan Manuel Fangio IIEagle MkIII1992 Laguna Seca IMSA GT round
Indy Lights1:18.130[72]Greg MooreLola T93/201995 Laguna Seca Indy Lights round
IMSA GTP Lights1:22.976[71]Ruggero Melgrati [pl]Spice SE91P1992 Laguna Seca IMSA GT round
WSC1:23.017[73]Fermín VélezFerrari 333 SP1994 Laguna Seca IMSA GT round
IMSA GTS1:24.274[74]Scott PruettOldsmobile Cutlass1993 Laguna Seca IMSA GT round
500cc1:25.838Kevin SchwantzSuzuki RGV5001990 United States motorcycle Grand Prix
250cc1:27.959Loris CapirossiHonda NSR2501993 United States motorcycle Grand Prix
IMSA GTO1:30.892[74]Charles MorganOldsmobile Cutlass1993 Laguna Seca IMSA GT round
IMSA GTU1:31.244[75]Jeremy DaleDodge Daytona1989 Laguna Seca IMSA GT round
125cc1:32.971Kazuto SakataHonda RS125R1993 United States motorcycle Grand Prix
IMSA Supercar1:39.248[76]Martin SnowPorsche 911 (993) Turbo1995 Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey
Original Grand Prix Circuit: 3.058 km (1957–1987)[25]
Can-Am0:56.810[77]Al Unser Jr.Frissbee GR31982 Laguna Seca Can-Am round
F50000:58.230[78]Mario AndrettiLola T3321975 Monterey Grand Prix
IMSA GTP0:58.874[79]Al HolbertPorsche 9621986 Monterey Triple Crown Camel Grand Prix
Group 70:59.710[80]Mark DonohuePorsche 917/30 TC1973 Monterey Castrol Grand Prix
Indy Lights0:59.844[81]David SimpsonWildcat-Buick1987 Laguna Seca Indy Lights round
IMSA GTX1:03.020[82]Brian RedmanLola T6001981 Datsun Monterey Triple Crown
IMSA GTO1:04.693[83]Scott PruettFord Mustang1986 Monterey Triple Crown Camel Grand Prix
Trans-Am (TO)1:04.990[84]Greg PickettChevrolet Corvette 4271978 Shasta Monterey Grand Prix Trans-Am
IMSA GTP Lights1:05.061[85]Don BellSpice SE87L Pontiac Fiero GTP1987 Nissan Monterey Triple Crown
Group 51:06.004[86]David HobbsBMW 320i1977 Laguna Seca IMSA GT round
Group 41:07.400[87]Walt HansgenLola T701965 Monterey Grand Prix Laguna Seca 200 miles
F7501:08.250[88]Kenny RobertsYamaha TZ7501979 Laguna Seca Formula 750 round
IMSA GTU1:09.130[89]Roberto MorenoToyota Celica1983 Monterey Triple Crown
Trans-Am (TU)1:19.880[90]Bobby AllisonDatsun 5101972 Monterey Castrol GTX Grand Prix
Close
Remove ads

Other use

Automotive

When not being used by the major events the track can be rented. Approximately twice a year the Sports Car Club of America holds regional club races for the San Francisco Region. Various clubs rent the track throughout the year for informal high-performance driving schools that allow the public to drive their own cars at speed. The raceway has also played host to prototype testing of the Nissan GT-R in 2007.[91]

The track is featured in video games such as the Gran Turismo series (since the second installment, including the bike version Tourist Trophy), the Forza Motorsport series, and the MotoGP series. In a bid to compare real life versus video games, Jeremy Clarkson of the British automotive show Top Gear attempted to beat his Gran Turismo 4 time of 1:41.148 in a Honda NSX by racing the real track in the same car in 2005. During the trials, Clarkson determined that the game omitted a few details of the track, and the game's physics allowed him to brake later when coming into turns than he could in real life. As a consequence, he managed a best time of only 1:57 on the real course.[92] However, both he and the track instructor agreed that it is possible to complete the course in 1:41 in a Honda NSX if the driver were sufficiently experienced, talented, and most importantly fearless.

It was also used in 1976 for the film Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo as a qualifying track.

Other non-automotive events

Laguna Seca and the part of the old Fort Ord that is now Bureau of Land Management land annually host the Sea Otter Classic "Celebration of Cycling". The event has now become the largest cycling festival in the United States, bringing in over 10,000 racers and over 100,000 spectators and is now the first major event of the year, typically held in April – for both the road bike and mountain bike professional seasons.

Several times each year, bicycles are permitted on the track for 2 hours. The admission fee is $10 per bicycle rider.

Laguna Seca served as the finish line for Stage 4 of the 2016 Amgen Tour of California and Stage 3 of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California bicycle races.

The raceway has been occasionally as a venue for concerts and other non-sporting events. The Grateful Dead performed on the racetrack in May 1987; later that night, the band filmed their music video for "Touch of Grey" there.[93][94]

On September 17, 1987, Pope John Paul II celebrated mass at Laguna Seca Raceway, where 72,000 people had gathered to see him.[95]

In the 1990s, the raceway was the venue for the Laguna Seca Daze music festival, which featured performances from music acts in the folk, alternative rock and jam band genres. Artists who performed at the festival include Bob Dylan, Phish, Blues Traveler, 10,000 Maniacs, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Meat Puppets, 4 Non Blondes, Jeff Healey, The Allman Brothers Band, Gin Blossoms and Shawn Colvin.[96][97][98][99]

On June 24, 2011, John Mueller of Muellerized Suspension Systems married Sheila Stone on the top of the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca. This is the location where the ashes of Lee Mueller (4-time SCCA National Champion, IMSA GTU Champion, 3-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona, and 12 Hours of Sebring winner), John Mueller's father, were spread.[100]

In spring 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, graduation ceremonies took place at the raceway. Local schools participating included Carmel High School[101] (June 3, 2020) and Pacific Grove High School[102] (May 29, 2020). After collecting diplomas, graduates and their families were able to drive around the track in celebration.

Remove ads

Events

Current
Future
Former

Formula One

In 1989, the year following the last Formula One race in Detroit, choices for a new location for the United States Grand Prix came down to Laguna Seca and Phoenix.[103][104] The aforementioned 1988 improvements to the track were made in part to lure the F1 race. In the final decision, Laguna Seca was thought to be too remote and too small for an F1 crowd, and so Phoenix was granted the Grand Prix.[citation needed]

Remove ads

Fatalities

Remove ads

References

Further reading

Wikiwand in your browser!

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.

Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.

Remove ads