Lausitzring 2026

The Lausitzring near Klettwitz in Brandenburg was built on the grounds of a former open-pit mining region, not far from the borders with Poland and Czechia. The first plans for a permanent racing circuit in Lusatia date back to 1986, when this part of Germany was still part of the GDR. The authorities at that time were seeking an adequate replacement for the legendary AVUS in Berlin, and Lusatia proved to be a suitable location for this ambitious project.

The facility was ultimately realized in 2000, when the complex officially opened. In terms of naming rights, the circuit has been known as Dekra Lausitzring since then, named after the inspection company that serves as owner and naming partner. With its distinctive NASCAR-style tri-oval, the Lausitzring became the only facility of its kind on the European continent and simultaneously the first high-banked oval to be newly built in Europe since the 1920s.

In addition to the oval, the Lausitzring features a GP Circuit that runs through the infield of the oval and was established as the primary racing circuit configuration at the time of opening. This counter-clockwise circuit extends 4.35 kilometers and comprises 14 turns. Shortly after opening, the circuit attracted the DTM, which has used the course annually since 2001, making the Lausitzring a permanent fixture of the championship. For the 2007 season, turn one of the circuit layout was re-profiled and converted into a tighter hairpin turn, a measure designed to create additional overtaking opportunities and reduce the first-lap incidents that had previously characterized some DTM races.

For the DTM, there is also a specially adapted circuit variant, the GP-DTM configuration, which extends 4.41 kilometers and likewise comprises 14 turns. This variant incorporates subtle layout adjustments and modified turn profiles that have been developed over decades based on DTM race data to optimally suit the course to modern GT3 touring cars that dominate today’s championship.

As a continental European one-of-a-kind among superspeedways, the Lausitzring with its combination of oval and infield circuit provides a unique challenge for drivers and teams. The decades-long association with the DTM, coupled with the structural modifications to the layout, has made the circuit an established venue with its own history, which the DTM will once again build upon in 2026.