Racing at the Sachsenring dates to 26 May 1927, when the first event was held on an 8.618 km (5.355 mi) road course that ran through public roads and through the village of Hohenstein-Ernstthal itself. The layout was named the Sachsenring in 1937.
The circuit became a significant fixture in the world championship calendar during the East German motorcycle Grand Prix, held there from 1961 to 1972. The local MZ two-stroke machines from Zschopau were competitive during this period, and the circuit drew substantial crowds. The fastest lap of the era was set by fifteen-time world champion Giacomo Agostini on a MV Agusta at an average of 180 km/h (110 mph). The series ended under political pressure: after West German rider Dieter Braun won in 1971 and spectators sang the West German national anthem in celebration, the East German authorities restricted the event to East European entrants for political reasons.
By 1990, with faster Western machinery now available in the unified Germany, racing through the village on the old public roads layout had become dangerously fast and was discontinued following fatalities.
To assist the redevelopment of eastern Germany after reunification, a compact 3.517 km (2.185 mi) short circuit with a distinctive berg (hill) section was built during the 1990s to attract international motorsport to the region. IDM motorcycle racing and the ADAC Super Tourenwagen Cup resumed at the new Sachsenring in 1996. The DTM raced there in 2000 and 2001, with Klaus Ludwig winning the 2000 event at age 51, but the series did not return until 2023 when ADAC took over the DTM and reoriented it toward German national venues.
In 1998, the German motorcycle Grand Prix relocated to the Sachsenring from the Nurburgring, establishing what became the circuit's signature event. Subsequent years saw the circuit lengthened and made progressively faster; the current layout measures 3.671 km (2.281 mi). From 2007, the Sachsenring joined the regular ADAC GT Masters schedule. The FIA GT1 World Championship visited in 2011.
No rider is more associated with the Sachsenring than Marc Marquez. He won in the 125cc class once, took two victories in the Moto2 class, and claimed the MotoGP race nine times, giving him twelve victories at the venue overall — a record of dominance without parallel at any single circuit in the modern world championship era. His MotoGP winning run at Hohenstein-Ernstthal stood as one of the most remarkable streaks in the history of Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
The Sachsenring's modern layout is compact by international standards and technically demanding, featuring significant elevation changes and a left-heavy corner sequence that places unusual demands on riders' physiques. Its position in the calendar during high summer and the passionate local fan base — with strong turnout recorded annually for the MotoGP round — have made it one of the most atmospherically distinct circuits on the world championship schedule.
The circuit's current programme centres on the German motorcycle Grand Prix in July, supported by the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and the Northern Talent Cup. The DTM returned in 2023 after ADAC assumed ownership of the series. The Euro-Moto Superbike Championship visits each May. Former events include multiple seasons of German Formula Three, ADAC Formula 4, the FIA ETCR electric touring car series, and various Porsche and Formula Renault championships.