Alex Holowczak's Top Auto Racing Track Ratings 2006

Introduction

This list is the order of 135 of the great race circuits in the world. Some were only emitted from my search through lack of time and effort on my part - this lot has taken about a month and a half to complete. I chose the best and some others I knew of and found, and as a result, this is what I came up with. From the well known, to the track that had a map that was listed that I then had to spend several subsequent hours researching, as far as I am aware, most are here.

This list shows the best tracks in their Grand Prix layouts. I included no tracks considered ovals, for they would not meet some of the criteria. No other layouts were used on the list, but the Grand Prix layout is compared to other tracks.

Moreover, you should think yourself lucky. After hours of searching, I have found precisely zero evidence of anything else similar to this in any way on the Internet. If you know of something I have clearly missed, point it out! It will help immensely for next time.

The idea was based on finding out that Golf Digest did a similar thing for the top Golf Courses of the world. I thought I could do something similar with Race Tracks. And so the idea was born.

Music for the Long Read

I realised when I wrote this article that it could take a while to digest the facts and figures. I also figured that if there was some good music in the background you would listen to it, and hence read the article while you listened to it/waited for it to buffer.

So I enclosed a random music video or two for you to listen to whilst you read it. I’m thoughtful like that…

I don’t know if you have this in the United States, it’s “Song 2” by Blur. It was popular in Britain in the late 1990s.

If you’re still here… Again, did you have this in America? “Wonderwall” by Oasis. (A bit longer than Song 2!)

Information

The information has either been based on my own experience of them on racing games, or watching races. A lot of these I have gauged from internet research, and reading descriptions of each race track, and its surroundings. I have looked at pictures to decipher some of the data. On occasions it was tough to make a statistical decision, as no information could have been available, especially for some of the lower tracks. I had to make a gut-based judgement in those cases, but these were infrequent and not essential to altering the results.

It must be said that these are only my opinion, and as a result, it is not official. If you think I have made a glaring omission, I will happily research a track that you request. I have no knowledge of oval racing, so feel free to adopt a similar method for oval circuits. I cannot enclose one single source, as there were too many spread out over the internet.

How I Rated Them

There are a variety of headings, which I shall now explain:-

O – Overtaking – How easy is it to overtake at a track? And at how many corners can overtaking be attempted? Out of 10.
H – Historical Layouts – Has there been a better layout before? If there has been no layout before, 5 is scored, as the track is likely to drop down on the tradition or history section. And in reality, it takes a few years, and a few great races for a track to become renowned. Out of 5.
S – Safety – Is the track safe? What safety measures are in place? Out of 15.
T – Tradition – Does the area boast a great racing tradition? Out of 5.
H – History – Has the track got a history of hosting great races? Or has it simply hosted races for ages? Out of 5.
M – Modern – Does the track have good facilities? Out of 10.
V – Variety – Are the corners all the same, or are there different challenges? Elevation changes perhaps? Out of 10.
A – Aesthetics – Does the track look good? Does the area around the track look good? Out of 5.
D – Difficult – Do the drivers find the track tough? Out of 10.
F – Fans – Are the fans passionate about racing? Can a large number of fans get in to the track? Can these fans watch a lot of action at once? Out of 5.
L – Length – Is the track the usual Grand Prix length? If it is too long or too short, then marks are dropped. Out of 10.
C – Character – Does the track have famous corners? Or famous straights? Or is it a Figure of 8? Anything else that stands out? Out of 10.
Rating – The sum of all the letters – to sound clever – f (O H S T H M V A D F L C). The maximum score is 100.

I thought that that best covered everything relating to making it a great track. Some of the points would be controversial, such as including marks for history and tradition. There is no reason why a track in Vietnam should be downrated from a track in Italy. I thought however, that there should be recognition of the older tracks, who will have lost score from their shortening due to safety (such as Spa, Nurburgring, Hockenheim, Kyalami, Montlhery). They lose marks under “H”, and since every new track gets 5 for “H”, the effect is limited. Also, it takes about a decade for a track to gather a fan base, and hence make the track great.

The Statistics


Track			Country			O	H	S	T	H	M	V	A	D	F	L	C	Rating
Spa Francorchamps	Belgium			9	5	10	5	5	8	10	4	10	4	9	10	89
Suzuka			Japan			8	5	8	5	5	8	10	5	10	5	10	10	89
Catalunya		Spain			6	5	14	3	3	10	9	4	9	5	10	9	87
Istanbul		Turkey			10	5	14	1	1	10	10	4	9	2	10	10	86
Montreal		Canada			7	5	10	4	4	8	8	5	10	5	10	10	86
Sakhir			Bahrain			8	5	15	1	1	10	10	4	9	2	10	9	84
Valencia		Spain			5	5	13	3	2	10	10	4	10	5	9	8	84
Vallelunga		Italy			8	5	9	4	5	9	8	4	9	5	10	8	84
Adelaide		Australia		9	3	8	3	4	8	9	4	10	5	10	10	83
Brno			Czech Republic		7	1	13	5	5	9	9	4	8	4	10	8	83
Jerez			Spain			8	4	11	3	2	9	9	5	8	5	10	9	83
Mugello			Italy			6	4	10	5	4	8	10	4	9	5	10	8	83
Sepang			Malaysia		9	5	13	3	2	10	8	5	7	3	10	8	83
Brands Hatch		Great Britain		6	5	9	5	5	6	9	4	8	5	10	10	82
Indianapolis		United States		9	5	10	2	4	10	6	3	9	5	9	10	82
Long Beach		United States		6	5	10	5	5	7	7	5	9	5	8	10	82
Phillip Island		Australia		4	5	9	5	5	8	7	5	9	5	10	10	82
Road Atlanta		United States		7	5	11	3	3	10	8	4	9	5	10	7	82
Shanghai		China			8	5	15	1	1	10	9	4	9	2	10	8	82
Bathurst		Australia		9	5	3	5	5	7	10	5	10	5	7	10	81
Donington Park		Great Britain		8	5	12	3	4	8	10	3	8	4	8	8	81
Laguna Seca		United States		7	5	8	3	3	9	9	5	10	5	7	10	81
Melbourne		Australia		7	5	11	3	5	9	7	5	7	5	10	7	81
Mexico City		Mexico			5	3	12	5	5	9	10	3	7	5	10	7	81
Almeria			Spain			8	5	12	2	2	9	8	4	9	4	10	7	80
Buenos Aires		Argentina		3	3	11	5	5	8	10	5	8	5	10	7	80
Hockenheim		Germany			8	1	11	5	5	10	9	4	7	3	10	7	80
Le Castellet		France			7	5	10	5	5	10	9	3	8	2	8	8	80
Zandvoort		Netherlands		9	4	8	5	5	6	10	3	8	4	9	9	80
Charade			France			5	3	10	5	5	7	8	4	8	5	10	9	79
Gotland Ring		Sweden			6	5	14	2	1	10	9	5	9	3	6	9	79
Oschersleben		Germany			6	5	13	3	1	9	9	4	9	3	10	7	79
Oulton Park		Great Britain		5	2	9	5	5	7	9	4	9	5	10	9	79
Silverstone		Great Britain		8	3	11	5	5	6	7	3	7	5	10	9	79
Cadwell Park		Great Britain		7	5	7	4	4	8	8	4	9	5	9	8	78
Doha			Qatar			7	5	15	0	0	10	8	4	9	2	10	8	78
Dubai			United Arab Emirates	9	5	14	0	0	10	8	3	8	2	10	9	78
Estoril			Portugal		6	3	11	3	3	8	9	4	9	3	10	9	78
Jarama			Spain			6	4	11	4	4	7	8	4	8	4	10	8	78
Anderstorp		Sweden			8	5	9	3	4	7	7	4	8	4	10	8	77
Fundidora		Mexico			7	5	11	3	2	10	8	4	7	4	9	7	77
Interlagos		Brazil			8	2	9	5	5	7	9	1	8	5	10	8	77
Watkins Glen		United States		5	5	7	4	4	8	8	5	10	4	10	7	77
Welkom			South Africa		5	5	14	2	2	10	8	4	8	3	10	6	77
Assen			Netherlands		6	2	11	5	5	8	9	3	8	4	10	5	76
Castle Combe		Great Britain		7	2	10	4	4	9	7	4	8	5	8	8	76
Eastern Creek		Australia		7	5	9	3	4	8	9	3	7	5	8	8	76
Fuji			Japan			6	1	12	4	3	10	8	4	7	5	10	6	76
Misano			Italy			7	4	11	4	4	8	8	3	8	4	8	7	76
Monza			Italy			8	2	8	5	5	7	6	4	6	5	10	10	76
Mosport Park		Canada			7	5	8	4	4	7	7	4	8	4	10	8	76
Nagatino Island		Russia			8	5	13	0	0	10	10	4	8	1	9	8	76
Nurburgring		Germany			4	1	10	5	5	8	9	5	9	4	10	6	76
San Martin		Argentina		7	5	9	3	2	9	7	4	8	4	10	8	76
Thruxton		Great Britain		4	5	8	4	4	7	8	3	9	5	10	9	76
Albi			France			6	2	11	5	5	8	8	3	7	4	9	7	75
Balcarce		Argentina		8	5	7	4	2	7	8	4	7	4	10	9	75
Magny Cours		France			5	5	12	2	3	7	9	4	7	4	10	7	75
Mar de Ajo		Argentina		8	5	10	3	1	9	7	4	8	4	10	6	75
Nueve de Julio		Argentina		8	5	9	3	2	8	7	4	7	4	10	8	75
Parana			Argentina		7	5	8	3	3	9	6	4	7	4	10	9	75
Puebla			Mexico			7	4	10	3	3	8	7	4	8	4	8	9	75
San Luis		Argentina		7	5	8	3	3	9	6	4	9	4	10	7	75
Taupo			New Zealand		7	5	10	3	1	10	7	4	8	4	9	7	75
Viedma			Argentina		6	5	10	3	3	9	7	3	8	4	10	7	75
Willow Springs		United States		5	5	9	3	3	9	8	4	8	4	10	7	75
Dijon Prenois		France			7	5	9	3	3	7	8	3	8	4	10	7	74
Le Mans			France			7	1	13	5	5	7	7	3	7	4	9	6	74
Monte Carlo		Monaco			1	5	8	5	5	6	8	5	10	5	6	10	74
Motegi			Japan			3	5	12	2	2	10	6	4	8	4	10	8	74
Race City		Canada			7	5	9	3	1	9	6	4	9	4	8	9	74
Road America		United States		5	5	6	4	4	7	9	4	10	4	7	9	74
Val de Vienne		France			6	5	11	2	2	7	8	3	8	5	9	8	74
Brasilia		Brazil			7	5	7	2	2	9	7	3	9	4	10	8	73
Calafat			Spain			7	5	10	2	3	8	8	3	7	4	8	8	73
East London		South Africa		6	5	9	4	4	7	8	3	7	4	10	6	73
Kyalami			South Africa		5	0	12	5	5	9	9	4	8	5	10	1	73
La Plata		Argentina		6	4	9	3	3	9	8	3	7	4	10	7	73
Mantorp Park		Sweden			7	5	10	2	2	7	9	4	7	3	8	9	73
Most			Czech Republic		4	5	9	3	5	7	8	3	8	3	10	8	73
Olavarria		Argentina		7	5	9	3	2	9	7	3	8	4	9	7	73
Oran Park		Australia		6	5	8	3	3	7	8	4	8	5	6	10	73
Sandown			Australia		6	5	7	5	5	7	7	3	8	5	7	8	73
Sebring			United States		7	4	9	3	3	7	8	3	10	4	7	8	73
Sentul			Indonesia		7	5	11	2	2	9	7	4	7	3	10	6	73
Surfers Paradise	Australia		7	5	6	2	1	8	7	5	9	5	8	10	73
Barbagallo		Australia		5	5	9	4	4	8	8	4	7	5	6	7	72
Lausitzring		Germany			6	5	5	3	2	10	8	3	7	4	10	9	72
Manfeild		New Zealand		4	5	9	3	4	9	7	3	8	4	10	6	72
Pukekohe		New Zealand		9	5	9	3	3	7	8	2	9	5	4	8	72
Rio Cuarto		Argentina		9	5	9	3	2	9	6	4	7	4	8	6	72
Santa Cruz du Sol	Brazil			7	5	9	3	2	8	7	3	9	4	8	7	72
Snetterton		Great Britain		7	1	10	4	4	8	6	3	8	5	8	8	72
Autopolis		Japan			6	5	8	3	2	8	7	4	8	4	10	6	71
Hidden Valley		Australia		6	5	10	3	3	8	6	3	7	5	7	8	71
Imola			Italy			2	2	13	5	5	8	7	3	7	5	10	4	71
Killarney		South Africa		8	5	9	3	3	7	7	3	8	4	7	7	71
Nogaro			France			6	5	10	2	2	8	8	3	7	4	9	7	71
Queensland Raceway	Australia		9	5	7	4	2	9	5	4	7	5	7	7	71
Campo Grande		Brazil			8	5	9	2	2	8	7	3	8	3	8	7	70
Durban			South Africa		4	5	9	4	1	7	7	5	8	5	7	8	70
Johor			Malaysia		7	5	11	1	0	9	7	3	7	5	9	6	70
Knockhill		Great Britain		8	5	8	4	4	7	7	3	7	4	6	7	70
Les Flores		Argentina		4	5	9	3	2	8	8	3	9	3	9	7	70
Mondello Park		Great Britain		3	5	10	2	3	7	7	4	9	4	10	6	70
Sendai			Japan			7	5	9	2	2	8	6	3	8	4	10	6	70
Zolder			Belgium			6	3	9	3	5	7	7	3	7	3	10	7	70
Aldo Scribante		South Africa		7	5	11	2	1	8	8	3	8	4	6	6	69
Curitiba		Brazil			8	5	8	2	3	7	6	3	7	4	9	7	69
Monterrey		Mexico			6	5	11	3	2	8	7	3	7	3	7	7	69
Ruapuna			New Zealand		6	5	8	4	2	7	7	3	8	4	8	7	69
San Juan		Argentina		8	5	6	3	1	8	6	3	7	4	8	10	69
Tokachi			Japan			8	5	7	3	3	8	5	3	7	4	10	6	69
Aida			Japan			2	3	14	2	2	9	7	3	9	3	10	4	68
Allen			Argentina		5	5	8	3	2	7	7	3	8	4	10	6	68
Enna Pergusa		Italy			5	5	10	3	3	7	5	3	7	4	10	6	68
Goiania			Brazil			7	5	7	2	3	7	7	3	7	4	9	7	68
Mine			Japan			6	5	8	2	2	8	8	4	8	4	8	5	68
Mont Tremblant		Canada			5	5	8	3	3	7	7	3	7	4	10	6	68
Pannoiraring		Hungary			5	4	11	2	1	8	7	4	8	3	10	5	68
Chimay			Belgium			7	0	10	5	5	8	5	4	5	5	10	3	67
Trelew			Argentina		5	5	7	3	2	7	8	3	7	4	10	6	67
Adria			Italy			6	5	9	2	2	9	6	3	6	5	7	6	66
Albacete		Spain			4	5	9	2	2	8	7	3	7	4	9	6	66
Alta Gracia		Argentina		6	3	7	3	3	8	6	4	7	4	10	5	66
Hungaroring		Hungary			2	5	14	2	2	9	7	3	6	3	9	4	66
Zwartkops		South Africa		6	2	9	3	4	8	6	3	8	3	6	8	66
Bahia Blanca		Argentina		6	5	8	3	2	7	7	4	6	4	8	5	65
Poznan			Poland			4	5	9	2	2	7	7	3	7	3	10	6	65
Sachsenring		Germany			3	2	7	4	5	8	8	4	8	3	6	7	65
Varano			Italy			6	4	12	1	3	8	7	3	7	4	5	5	65
Sugo			Japan			5	5	8	2	2	7	7	3	7	4	9	5	64
Comodoro Rivadavia	Argentina		6	5	8	3	1	7	6	4	5	3	9	6	63
Salta			Argentina		6	5	9	3	2	8	4	3	7	3	9	4	63
Montlhery		France			4	0	12	5	5	7	5	3	6	4	9	1	61

Explaining the Top Tracks

Spa has been around since the 1920s, and it is now better than ever before.
Spa Francorchamps – Overtaking is possible into La Source and into the remodelled Bus Stop. It was altered in the 1970s, and the old Masta Straight and Masta Kink were gotten rid of. The new track is just as good, if not better than the old one. Safety is a problem, but measures have been undertook to help. It is aging slightly, but it is still okay for F1 standards. There is huge variety, chicanes, straights, sweeping bends, esses, and a climb uphill through Eau Rouge. It looks good too, it is lined with trees, and “The Corner With No Name” has a hill next to it. With all of this, it is a challenging circuit – a really difficult place to be perfect. The fans are not as good as you will find at Monza, but they back their race well. The lap is perhaps too long though, taking over 1:45 to complete. It is the longest in Formula One. The track has loads of character, it has the uphill Eau Rouge onto the longest straight in the Formula One calendar. Blanchimont and Eau Rouge are famous in Formula One circles. All in all, Spa is a class act. It also rains a lot, and this often makes the races even more exciting (this was not taken into account in the decision process).
Suzuka – Overtaking is tough but possible into the chicane before the main straight. It is the only layout is has ever had. The only problem with Suzuka is its lack of safety, something that owners, Honda, hope to put right in a few years after losing the Japanese Grand Prix to Fuji in 2007 (which only just made the top 50). It has history and tradition, hosting the Japanese Grand Prix foe the last two decades, and having hosted famous battles for the championship between Prost and Senna. The facilities are adequate. The track is hugely challenging, with its mix of high and low speed corners and elevation changes. It looks the part, featuring a big Catherine-wheel in the background at 130R. The fans always turn out in droves to see the racing there. The lap length is fine.

Why is Suzuka leaving F1? It will be back. It has to come back.
It would have scored 10 in character even without the famous 130R or Spoon, due to its’ figure of 8 layout which is rare across the world. Suzuka is a great track that should easily be on the Formula One list next year. If Honda improve the safety there, there is no reason why Suzuka cannot become Number 1 outright on this list.
Catalunya – Formula One first left Jerez in 1991 for the Spanish Grand Prix. They chose to go to a new circuit in the Catalan area, and were so impresed with what they saw, that they still go there annually. It is also the principle testing venue during the winter months. Overtaking is tough at Catalunya, since most cars and teams use it to test in winter. So they all know the track really well. However, into Turn 1 there is a chance to pass. Minor revisions to the track have made it safer, while not altering the track much. It is becoming an historic and traditional track. Its facilites are superb, and the track offers both variety and challenge. It looks good from the outside too. The fans have become an integral part of racing there since Spain’s Fernando Alonso won the Formula One World Championship. Motorcycle racing also has huge attendances. The lap is of good length, and it only needs one

A great modern venue, Catalunya will be around in a few decades hosting racing.
famous corner to give it perfect character. Campsa is good, and a challenge, but it needs a more renowned problem corner. The circuit is one of the most used in the world, and with these qualities, you can see why.
Istanbul – Created for use in 2005, the Hermann Tilke designed circuit is going to be Number 1 on this list in a few years. It holds an annual Formula One race, with support from the Turkish government. It is also being used in MotoGP and the DTM, and is becoming one of the most frequently used circuits in the world. Overtaking is possible in about 4 places on the circuit, even in Formula One. Its only safety problem was a drain cover puncturing Juan Pablo Montoya’s tyre in the inaugural Formula One race. Everything else is fine – it has huge run-off areas. As I said, tradition and history are being established – and rapidly. The facilities are state of the art. The track offers something for everyone, high speed, low speed, elevation change. It has a few nice buildings and stands to make it look good. The fans are getting into motor racing still. The length is perfect. The quadruple-apex Turn 8 is already going down in F1 folklore, and the track provides unparalleled overtaking opportunity.

A future Number 1, Istanbul has gone from building site to one of the best tracks in the world in under three years.
Tilke’s best creation, if this were in Great Britain, France or Italy rather than Turkey, and was 10 years old, it would be comfortably in Number 1 spot, and well into the 90s on the points scale. Istanbul is destined to be a future Number 1 on this list in years to come. Other point of note – it is the highest anti-clockwise track on the list.
Montreal – Formula One moved to Montreal in 1978, when it was decided that Mosport Park was too dangerous, and its facilities were too poor. The track is a street circuit, build on land where the Olympic Regatta was held when Montreal hosted the Olympic Games. Overtaking is tough, and recent changes have improved safety slightly, though not entirely. Having hosted F1 for approaching 30 years, it has huge history. Named after Gilles Villeneuve, the circuit has tradition. The facilities are adequate and there is a good mix of corners and straightaways. Located on a lake, it looks the part. It is always challenging, with the “Wall of Champions” doing precisely what it says on the tin. Canadians love racing, and the F1 race there is always massively attended. The Wall of Champions and its location give it a lot of character. Montreal only needs safety improvements to be even better, but the problem is that being on road over a lake, there is no area there. Montreal still remains a perennial favourite.
Sakhir – Created for Formula One in 2004, the Bahrain track is one of the best in the world. Hermann Tilke again designed the circuit, and with strong backers, it is likely that the race will hold a place on the Formula One calendar for many years to come. Overtaking is possible off the two long straights. It has huge run-off areas and impeccable safety. It is gaining history and tradition.

On Bernie's endangered list, it would be a shame to see the underestimated Montreal circuit left off the F1 calendar.
It is supremely modern, and the track has a wide range of corners. It looks great with some photogenic buildings. It is a tough track that has won many admirers. The fans are coming to terms with racing, and F1 races have been well attended. It has perfect length, and only misses a great corner to have perfect character. This is another track that needs a few years to “bed in”, but it is sure to climb the rankings in future years.
Valencia – Another fairly modern circuit, Valencia has become one of the best motorsport venues in the world. Overtaking is tough, however, and it is hoped a change from clockwise to anti-clockwise will help with respect to overtaking. It is a very safe track, as it hosts MotoGP. It is gaining tradition and history, it is traditionally the last race of a MotoGP season. It is a modern venue, and it has plenty of undulations and plenty of variety in the corners. It looks good, and it is a twisty circuit, which makes it tough for drivers. There are huge crowds at the MotoGP race. It is a bit short for F1 standards, and with so much track in such small area, it is unlikely that it could be expanded to host the event. By hosting MotoGP, the track is gaining in character.

Bahrain boasts another great Tilke circuit in an untraditional venue.
Valencia is certainly up to Formula One standard, and the track hosts that by lengthening it slightly in future that it could host a race. It would have to be the European Grand Prix, as Catalunya looks destined to host the Spanish Grand Prix in the foreseeable future. With the Nurburgring losing the European race to share the German Grand Prix, Valencia hosting F1 in a few years is still a possibility.
Vallelunga – The circuit was redeveloped in 2005, and since opening, it has become better than it ever was before. It has a new straight leading to a hairpin designed for overtaking. The current layout is its best. Its safety still needs to be improved. It has a great history of racing, and is a traditional venue with fans. It is a modernish circuit, with fast and slow corners. It only lacks an elevation change. It is pleasing on the eye, and has become a demanding circuit due to the high speeds involved. It is ever popular with the fans. The track has been lengthened to Formula One standards and has grown in character with its long sweeping straights. The track has thrown itself into the hat as a replacement for Monza if it fails to improve safety. Should Vallelunga improve its safety, there would be a serious battle for Monza to retain the Italian Grand Prix – the race Monza was built to host. In a decade, Vallelunga could become a big track on the international scene.

There are copyright laws covering some of the tracks on this list, but maps of Valencia and Vallelunga can be seen at etracks if you're interested.

Formula One Ratings

The ratings of the 2007 Formula One Calendar:

Bernie can wipe out a track's very existence (by bankrupting it) by not hosting a race at it.

This shows that Formula One does not go to the greatest tracks, and indeed there is room for improvement. It does give an indication into what Bernie Ecclestone, F1 supremo is saying when he thinks that Imola, Magny-Cours, Monza and Silverstone are under threat. He also thinks Interlagos, Nurburgring and Monte Carlo are a bit dodgy. This clearly shows that the first priority of sorting out the season should be to abandon the Hungaroring.

Tracks in countries not in Formula One that could be:

Brno 83
Zandvoort 80

With the proximity of the Czech Republic to Hungary, scheduling would make little or no difference with regard to picking Brno. If the Hungaroring were scrapped, Spa could be moved into that spot along with a race at Zandvoort a week later due to the closeness between the Lowlands countries. Istanbul can be moved after Monza.

There are a lot of potential improvements/replacements for each race:

Ignoring all these issues, there are three tracks in Spain capable of hosting Grand Prix, so perhaps a European Grand Prix can be held there to improve the schedule.

Conclusion

The Number 1 for 2006 is shared between Spa Francorchamps and Suzuka, two of the old guard of tracks, but both have fragile places in the top motor sport, Formula One. Both need to improve safety, as Istanbul is leading the wave of new circuits looking to take over from the old. It is easier for the new circuits, who tend to have economies that help them to host the races. Tracks such as Silverstone have to fend for themselves. Honda are going to improve safety to get a Grand Prix back under the title of Pacific Grand Prix, and this could move it ahead of Spa in the long run.

I predict that next year Istanbul will rise up the rankings provided nothing should go wrong. I also think that some of the old guard such as Imola, Monza etc. will fall down the rankings.

I hope you enjoyed the music...

Acknowledgements

User Help

Thankyou to User:Davis21wylie - Who informed me of how to put a Excel spreadsheet onto Armchair via Notepad - without whom it would have been a 2 month job to put it into a table.
If anybody can put the pictures on the right a bit smaller, I would be grateful!
Anything I've missed, tell me, and I'll update it as soon as I can.

External Links/Sources

The ever helpful etracks website. He links to external sources on his website, which I also used. See the website for more information on those.
Google - Each track's website was brilliantly useful (or at least, those that had an English translation!)
YouTube - Showed some great races/battles that helped me gauge each tracks rating. It also helped with the music!

Officiality

This is completely unofficial, and is only my representation of each track. Feel free to have your own go at this, or do the same for oval circuits (which I did not include). If you do that for oval circuits (I am thinking that perhaps one or two might end up doing it eventually...) then contact me, and I'll put it together with this for a more complete picture.