Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen in New York State: a circuit born from public-road races in 1948, home of Formula 1 from 1961 to 1980.
Watkins Glen International, nicknamed "The Glen", is near Watkins Glen, in New York State, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake, in the Finger Lakes region.[1],[2]
The current Grand Prix layout is about 5.5 kilometres long with 11 turns; a shorter version is used for NASCAR racing. The circuit hosts the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, a round of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.[1],[2]
At a glance
| Place | Near Watkins Glen, New York State (Seneca Lake)[1],[2] |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Endurance series | IMSA |
| Period | 1948-present |
| First races | 1948, on public roads[1],[2] |
| Permanent circuit | Opened in 1956[1] |
| Grand Prix circuit | about 5.5 km, 11 turns[1],[2] |
Landmarks of the circuit
- The Boot
- This section, finished for the 1971 United States Grand Prix, added four corners and took the lap from 2.350 to 3.377 miles. It is also called the "Anvil".[1]
Key dates
- 1948 — First Watkins Glen Grand Prix, on a course of about 10.6 km laid out on public roads.[1],[2]
- 1952 — After a crash that kills a spectator, the race moves to a wooded hilltop south of the town.[1],[2]
- 1956 — The first permanent circuit opens.[1]
- 1961-1980 — The circuit hosts the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.[1],[2]
- 1981-1984 — The circuit closes after a bankruptcy in 1981 and reopens in 1984 as Watkins Glen International.[1]
- 1992 — The Inner Loop chicane is added on the back straight.[1],[2]
- Today — The 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, counting towards the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, are part of the North American Endurance Cup.[1]
- 2015 — The whole course is repaved.[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.