The Circuit of the Americas measures 5.514 km (3.426 mi) in length with 20 turns and an elevation change of 41 metres. It was designed by promoter Tavo Hellmund and 1993 Motorcycle World Champion Kevin Schwantz, with circuit architecture by German designer Hermann Tilke. Construction began on 31 December 2010 and the track opened on 21 October 2012. The circuit runs counter-clockwise, one of only a handful on the international calendar to do so, which places greater physical demands on riders and drivers through more sustained left-hand forces.
The layout draws from several iconic European circuits. The first sector features a steep climb of over 11% gradient to the high point of the track, followed by fast sweepers modelled on Silverstone's Maggotts–Becketts–Chapel sequence. A long back straight leads to a hairpin at Turn 11, after which a sequence of technical corners is inspired by Hockenheim's arena bends and a multi-apex corner mirroring Istanbul's Turn 8. The start line is in front of the main grandstand at the lowest point of the circuit, meaning drivers and riders immediately charge uphill toward Turn 1 — named Big Red after investor Red McCombs.
COTA was declared FIA Grade 1 and opened with the United States Formula One Grand Prix in November 2012, drawing 117,429 spectators. By 2022 the three-day Formula One event was drawing roughly 440,000 total attendees over the weekend, breaking the series' North American attendance record.
Kevin Schwantz was the driving force behind bringing MotoGP to COTA. Plans were announced in April 2011 through his company 3fourTexas, but the arrangement became entangled in a legal dispute following the resolution of a separate ownership conflict at the circuit between promoter Tavo Hellmund and investors Bobby Epstein and Red McCombs. Schwantz alleged that circuit representatives had deliberately blocked his negotiations with Dorna Sports in order to negotiate a more favourable direct deal. Dorna claimed they terminated their arrangement with Schwantz in July 2012 after he failed to secure the necessary circuit rights. In October 2012, Dorna announced agreement with circuit organisers to add the Americas motorcycle Grand Prix to the 2013 MotoGP calendar. Prior to the 2014 race, COTA and Schwantz amicably settled their dispute, with Schwantz taking a role as COTA's official motorcycling ambassador.
The race quickly established itself as one of the most competitive stops on the calendar, with a surface that tends to reward precise mid-corner technique and powerful machines able to exploit the long back straight. The circuit's mix of slow technical sections and high-speed sweepers produces varied race strategies between classes.
The circuit complex extends across approximately 890 acres of southeastern Travis County. Key facilities include the 251-foot observation tower — a landmark double-helix structure designed by Miró Rivera Architects with an observation platform 70 metres above ground — and the Germania Insurance Amphitheater, a 14,000-capacity outdoor concert venue opened in April 2013. A permanent karting track of 1.01 km runs in front of the Main Grandstand.
The pit lane is connected to a large Grand Plaza, a 20-acre open space bordered on three sides by the track. COTA is developing COTALAND, a planned 30-acre amusement park in the circuit's infield, with several attractions partly operational from 2025 onwards.
COTA hosts a dense events calendar. In addition to MotoGP and Formula One, it runs the NASCAR Cup Series DuraMAX Grand Prix (since 2021), the FIA World Endurance Championship Lone Star Le Mans, MotoAmerica Superbikes, GT World Challenge America, and numerous support series. IndyCar raced at COTA in 2019 before being dropped from the schedule. The circuit hosted X Games Austin in 2015.
The top speed on the circuit was recorded at 355 km/h, set by Maverick Viñales aboard an Aprilia MotoGP machine in 2023.
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