The name Masaryk Circuit honours Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the first president of Czechoslovakia. The original circuit was a public road course measuring approximately 29.194 km on the outskirts of Brno, where racing took place from the 1930s. The track saw rounds of the European Grand Prix for cars including events in 1930 through 1935 and 1937, attracting top drivers and teams of the era.
On 25 September 1949, the Czechoslovakian Grand Prix was held as part of the first season of the Formula One World Championship — the only time an F1 world championship race took place at the Brno road circuit. The event ran on a shortened layout of 17.800 km. Despite a crowd estimated at over 400,000 spectators, it was the last time the old circuit hosted a Formula One race.
From 1950 the circuit became primarily associated with motorcycle racing, hosting the Czechoslovakian motorcycle Grand Prix, which gained World Championship status from 1965. The road circuit progressively shortened over the years, from 13.941 km in 1964 to 10.921 km by 1975.
The current permanent circuit at Brno opened on 18 July 1987, ending the use of public roads for Grand Prix racing. Measuring 5.403 km, the new track lies within the perimeter once used by the original road circuit but uses an entirely purpose-built layout. It is a flowing, medium-speed circuit with a mix of fast and technical sections and considerable elevation change. The motorcycle Grand Prix transferred immediately to the new facility, which regained its World Championship status the same year.
The circuit has been ranked among the most frequently visited venues in MotoGP history, sitting alongside the TT Circuit Assen in terms of the total number of motorcycle World Championship events held there. The Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix was part of the World Championship in 1965 to 1982, 1987 to 1991, 1993 to 2020, and from 2025 onward.
Beyond MotoGP, Brno has hosted a broad range of top-level motorsport. A World Sports Car Championship race was held there in 1988. The Superbike World Championship raced at Brno from 1993 to 1996 and again from 2005 to 2012 and in 2018. The FIA GT Championship, the FIA GT1 World Championship, the World Touring Car Championship, and FIA Formula Two have all held rounds at the circuit. An A1 Grand Prix round took place in the 2006 season.
The Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix at Brno built a reputation as one of the most popular events on the MotoGP calendar, beloved by riders for the circuit's fast, sweeping character and by fans for the circuit's accessibility and atmosphere. The race typically drew large crowds, with Brno's central European location making it accessible to fans from Austria, Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary as well as the Czech Republic.
The event ran continuously from 1993 following the gap years of 1991-1992, through to 2020, when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The race did not return in 2021, 2022, 2023, or 2024, but is scheduled to resume from 2025 under a new agreement. The gap in the calendar reflected financial pressures on the Czech Grand Prix promoter, compounded by the pandemic disruption.
As of 2023, the circuit is owned by the Czech company Shakai.
Brno's standing in motorcycle racing history is considerable. The circuit traces an unbroken line from the earliest days of the World Championship, combining historical depth with the technical demands of its modern permanent layout. For decades it served as a rare Central European venue where fans could watch the premier class race in an intimate, festival-like setting. Its return to the MotoGP calendar from 2025 is a recognition of the circuit's continued importance to the championship's European footprint.