TT Circuit Assen, Racing Circuit

The TT Circuit Assen lies in the province of Drenthe in the north of the Netherlands and is revered among motorcycle racers as the 'Cathedral of Speed', a venue as significant to two wheels as Le Mans or Monaco are to four. Road racing in the area dates back to the 1925 Dutch Tourist Trophy, held on brick-paved public roads through nearby villages, and a more compact Circuit van Drenthe followed in 1926. The Dutch TT has been a fixture of the Motorcycle World Championship every year since the series began in 1949, a streak no other venue can match, and the circuit still hosts MotoGP and World Superbike rounds. A semi-permanent course was laid out in 1955, and over the following decades the once-a-year track was steadily upgraded with proper pit garages, separated pit lanes and permanent run-off areas. The northern loop was halved in 1984, and by the early 1990s the venue became a fully closed permanent circuit, opening the door to four-wheeled racing. A major remodelling completed for the 2006 season cut the lap to its current length of around 4.5 kilometres, demolishing the old northern section, removing the famous S-Bocht and creating a new stadium-style first corner. The world's first 'floating' grandstand was installed above the final-corner run-off in 2005. Distinctive corners include the fast Ruskenhoek, the Ramshoek and the final Geert Timmer chicane that leads onto the main straight. Beyond MotoGP and Superbikes the circuit has welcomed Champ Cars, the DTM and TCR Europe, underlining its versatility across both two and four wheels.

Operated by: TT Circuit Assen BV