WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Laguna Seca near Monterey, California: a 3.602 km circuit opened in 1957, famous for its Corkscrew that drops 18 metres.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is in Monterey County, California, near Monterey and Salinas. It was built in 1957; the first race was held there on 9 November 1957.[1],[2]
The current layout is 3.602 kilometres (2.238 miles) long, has 11 turns and is run counter-clockwise. The total elevation change is about 55 metres.[1],[2]
At a glance
| Place | Monterey County, California[1],[2] |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Endurance series | IMSA |
| Period | 1957-present |
| Opened | 9 November 1957[1],[2] |
| Length | 3.602 km, 11 turns[1],[2] |
| Elevation change | about 55 m[1],[2] |
Landmarks of the circuit
- The Corkscrew
- Turns 8 and 8A form the Corkscrew, an S-shaped sequence that drops 59 feet (about 18 metres) in one go.[1],[2]
- The Andretti Hairpin
- Turn 2 is the Andretti Hairpin, named after Mario Andretti.[1]
- The Rainey Curve
- Turn 9, which follows the Corkscrew, is the Rainey Curve, named after Wayne Rainey.[1]
- Zanardi's 1996 pass
- In 1996, Alessandro Zanardi passed Bryan Herta at the Corkscrew to take the lead of a CART race, one of the most famous moments of the circuit.[1]
Key dates
- 9 November 1957 — First race on the circuit, won by Pete Lovely in a Ferrari.[1],[2]
- 1974-1998 — The circuit hosts several races of the IMSA GT Championship, including the Monterey Sports Car Grand Prix.[1]
- 2001-2002 — The circuit becomes Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca after Mazda acquires the naming rights.[1],[2]
- April 2018 — The current name, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, replaces Mazda Raceway.[1],[2]
- Today — The Monterey SportsCar Championship, a round of the IMSA SportsCar Championship, is held there in May.[1]
In the game
This circuit is part of the Circuit game: a heavily zoomed photo of one of its landmarks that you have to recognise. Play Circuit
Sources
The numbers in brackets refer to the sources listed at the bottom of the page.