Klaas Zwart made his fortune in the oil industry before turning to motorsports as a serious pursuit. He competed in events including the British GT Championship, where he finished third in 1995, and the EuroBOSS series, in which he won championships in 2003, 2006, and 2007. In 1999 Zwart purchased the Ascari Cars marque. Seeking a safe, private environment in which he and others could drive supercars away from public roads, he acquired land near Ronda in southern Spain. The site had previously functioned as a sheep farm. Construction of the track began in 2000, with Zwart designing the layout to follow the existing contours of the terrain rather than imposing a flat, artificial shape on the landscape.
The Ascari circuit is approximately 10 km from Ronda, located between hills and a military training base. The hillside location renders noise concerns minimal, which has made the venue a favoured destination for European car manufacturers conducting product launches away from public scrutiny.
The circuit is 12.2 m wide and features 26 curves, many of which are deliberately designed to evoke famous turns from well-known circuits around the world. The track includes ascending and descending gradients of up to 12 percent and banked turns of up to 18 percent, creating a technically demanding and varied driving experience. In addition to the track itself, the resort includes a clubhouse with a full restaurant and swimming pool designed in the style of a Spanish villa.
Visitors may rent vehicles ranging from race-prepared road cars to former Formula 1 machines, making the facility accessible to enthusiasts without their own track-day cars.
After opening, Zwart made membership available to 500 wealthy motorsports enthusiasts. Notable members have included broadcaster and former Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle, racing driver Christian Danner, musician Jay Kay, and actor Dolph Lundgren.
Zwart himself set the overall circuit record of 1:38.46 in 2019, driving an ex-Formula 1 Jaguar R5 from 2004. The record for road-going vehicles belongs to Pål Pettersen Berg, who set a time of 2:14.078 in 2020 driving a Porsche 911 GT2 RS (991.2).
In March 2022, CEO Jesús Gijón confirmed that two companies — one Swiss, one Argentine — had purchased the Ascari site from Zwart. The new owners publicly voiced concern that proposed photovoltaic energy developments nearby could cause irreparable damage to the landscape and environment in the area.
Sony Computer Entertainment used the Ascari resort and the surrounding Ronda area to launch Gran Turismo 6 in 2013. The Ascari circuit is included as a playable track in the game, giving it visibility among a global audience of sim racing enthusiasts.