TT Circuit Assen
The TT Circuit Assen is a motorsport race track built in 1955 and located in Assen, Netherlands. Host of the Dutch TT, it is popularly referred to as "The Cathedral" of motorcycling by the fans of the sport. The venue holds the record for being the only circuit to have hosted a Grand Prix motorcycle event every year since the series was created in 1949.[1] It has a capacity of 110,000 spectators, including 60,000 seats. Since 1992, the circuit has also been part of the Superbike World Championship calendar.
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| Location | Assen, Netherlands |
|---|---|
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 |
| Coordinates | 52°57′42″N 6°31′24″E |
| Capacity | 110,000 |
| FIA Grade | 2 |
| Owner | Stichting Circuit van Drenthe |
| Opened | 1955 |
| Major events | FIM MotoGP Dutch TT World SBK DTM BOSS GP Superleague Formula (2010-2011) Champ Car World Series (2007) British Superbike Championship Motocross World Championship Supercar Challenge |
| Grand Prix Circuit (2006-present) | |
| Length | 4.555 km (2.831 mi) |
| Turns | 12 right, 6 left |
| Race lap record | 1:18.298 (Ingo Gerstl, BOSS GP, 2018) |
| Motorcycle Circuit (2010-present) | |
| Length | 4.542 km (2.822 mi) |
| Turns | 12 right, 6 left |
| Race lap record | 1:32.869 (Fabio Quartararo, Monster Energy Yamaha, 2021) |
| Website | www |
History
The original Assen track was first used for the 1926 Dutch TT (Tourist Trophy) race, after the first 1925 event was held on country roads through the villages of Rolde, Borger, Schoonloo and Grolloo, and organized by the Motorclub Assen en Omstreken. The brick- and semi-paved track had a length of 28.57 km (17.75 mi). The winner was Piet van Wijngaarden on a 500 cc Norton with an average speed of 91.4 km/h (56.8 mph). From 1926 on the Dutch TT was held at Assen on a street circuit through De Haar, Barteldsbocht, Oude Tol, Hooghalen, Laaghalen and Laaghalerveen.
In 1951 the Italian Umberto Masetti took the record on a 500 cc Gilera with an average speed of 162.35 km/h (100.88 mph). In 1954, Geoff Duke of Great Britain reached 170.69 km/h (106.06 mph). The circuit remained unchanged until 1955, when a whole new circuit was built by using a third of the original street circuit, joined with purpose-built sections, but less than a third of the length and much more like a modern road racing circuit.
In the period of 1999-2002, the circuit invested millions in upgrades. In 1999, the circuit management placed a new main grandstand and hospitality buildings. In 2000, a new Race Control tower was built, as well as 34 newly equipped pit boxes, a new media and medical centre. Between September 2001 and April 2002, another 9 million Euro's is spent on the enlargement of the paddock area from 40 to 60.000 square metres. This upgrade meant that the Veenslang and Ruskenhoek corners had to be altered. The main straight has also moved about 50 metres eastwards and a new two-lane tunnel now connects the paddock with the main entrance road and the media accreditation / welcome centre. The Mandeveen and Duikersloot corners have been moved back by 10 metres to accommodate larger run-offs and gravel beds at the southern part of the circuit. That part of the track has also been resurfaced with new asphalt. In total, the circuit has been shortened from 6.049 to 6.027 miles. The total amount of costs on these upgrades is 23 million Euro's.[2]
In 2005, the grandstand at the Geert Timmer corner was slightly altered. In order to improve the gravel run-off length, the grandstand was made in a 'floating' manner to accommodate the extra space that was needed. The lay-out of the circuit was also slightly altered.[3]
The circuit was fundamentally redesigned again in 2006, becoming the so-called A-Style Assen TT Circuit. All alterations aside, only one section of the circuit is original; the finish line never moved. On 21 September 2009 it was announced that a new chicane will be added, after a request from the A1GP organization,[4] however A1GP was unable to start the 2009–2010 season and as a substitute the Superleague Formula replaced A1GP.
Current racetrack
Assen race track was built in 1955, and initially had a length of 7,705 meters (4.788 mi). The current track has a length of 4,555 meters (2.830 mi) with the mixture of super fast flat-out and slow corners. The longest straight is 560 meters (0.348 mi).[5] The curves in Assen were traditionally banked and the surface is extremely grippy, so the riders were able to drive much faster on the course than other circuits. Today these sloped or curved bends have been modified due to safety issues.
Lap records
The official fastest race lap records at the TT Circuit Assen are listed as:
Innovation
On 6 July 2004 the organization announced plans for an amusement park located to the north of the track. In 2006 the northern loop was removed and the length was shortened to 4,555 meters. The new center is expected to be visited by 300,000 people, and the total investment is approximately €85 million.
Events
- April: Superbike World Championship
- June: Dutch TT
- July: DTM
- August: Gamma Racing Day
- Supercar Challenge
- BOSS GP
- Formula Renault 2.0 NEC
- CIK-FIA European Superkart Championship
- FIM Motocross World Championship
- September: British Superbike Championship
- October: Finaleraces
- Supercar Challenge
- CIK-FIA European Superkart Championship
References
- "Michelin ready to worship at the 'Cathedral of Speed'". motogp.com. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- Sports, Dorna. "TT Circuit Assen invests € 9 million in safety, paddock-area and new asphalt | MotoGP™". www.motogp.com.
- Sports, Dorna. "Safety upgrades | MotoGP™". www.motogp.com.
- (in Dutch) Dagblad van het Noorden Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- "Assen overview". netherlodger.com.
- "2019 Superbike World Championship Assen Session Facts". Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- "Prosecco DOC Dutch Round, 23-25 July 2021 Results Race 1" (PDF). Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- "Supersport 300 Prosecco DOC Dutch Round, 23-25 July 2021 Results Race 2" (PDF). Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- "2020 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Assen Session Facts". Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- "2014 Assen Acceleration FA1". Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- "2021 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Assen Race 2 Statistics". Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- "2018 TCR Europe Assen". Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- "Assen 2-3-4 September, 2005 Superbike - Results Race 1" (PDF). Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- "Assen 2-3-4 September, 2005 Supersport - Results Race" (PDF). Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- "2002 Superbike World Championship Assen Session Facts". Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- "Assen 5-6-7 September, 2003 Supersport - Results Race" (PDF). Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- "1999 Superbike World Championship Assen Session Facts". Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- "ASSEN - 7-8-9 September, 2001 Results Aggregate". Archived from the original on 7 February 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to TT-Circuit Assen. |
