Road Course
Circuit of the Americas is a road course in Austin, Texas. On a road course like this, racing is about rhythm: linking a sequence of turns cleanly, braking late, and carrying speed where others can't. It's one of roughly 12 tracks within about 75 miles of Austin, so a visit can anchor a full weekend of racing in the area. The front office picks up at (512) 301-6600; pair that with the map and directions here to plan the trip. New to this kind of racing? Our guides walk through what to expect, what to bring, and how a typical event runs.
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Watch: Circuit of the Americas
Know Before You Go
- Gear requirements
- Track-day organizers typically require a Snell SA-2020 helmet (or newer), long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Many tracks have rental helmets for first-timers.
- Run groups
- Drivers are slotted into novice, intermediate, or advanced run groups based on pace and instructor sign-off. Group-jumping isn't permitted — you build up over time.
- Tech inspection
- Expect a pre-event tech form plus a visual gate check. Brake-fluid age, throttle return, battery tie-down, and seatbelt condition are the most common flags.
- Cost expectations
- HPDE / open-track days typically run $200-450 per day with 4-6 on-track sessions of 20-25 minutes each. Memberships at private clubs are substantially more.
- First-timer tip
- Most clubs require novices to ride with an instructor for the first day before being released solo. Sign up for instruction in advance — slots fill weeks ahead.