Autobahn Country Club

Last updated
Autobahn Circuit
Location3795 CenterPoint Way, Joliet, Illinois 60436 [1] 815-722-2223
Time zone UTC−06:00 (UTC−05:00 DST)
Coordinates 41°27′17″N088°07′38″W / 41.45472°N 88.12722°W / 41.45472; -88.12722
OpenedOctober 2004;20 years ago (2004-10)
Architect Alan Wilson
Major eventsFormer:
Atlantic Championship (2009, 2021)
Trans-Am Series (2010)
Star Mazda Championship (2009–2010)
U.S. F2000 National Championship (2010)
Global MX-5 Cup (2009–2010)
Speed World Challenge (2009)
IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge (2009)
Full Circuit (2004–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length5.729 km (3.560 miles)
Turns19
Race lap record2:05.542 ( Flag of the United States.svg John Edwards, Swift 016.a, 2009, Formula Atlantic)
North Circuit (2004–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length2.350 km (1.460 miles)
Turns9
South Circuit (2004–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length3.380 km (2.100 miles)
Turns15
Race lap record1:13.408 ( Flag of the United States.svg Keith Grant, Swift 016.a, 2021, Formula Atlantic)

Autobahn Country Club is an auto racing road course located in Joliet, Illinois, operated as a country club, while also hosting many outside events. Autobahn was the first purpose-built motorsports country club in the United States, and has inspired several others. The club has a sanctioning body called Autobahn Member Racing, which hosts series for Spec Miatas, GT cars, karts, Radical Sportscars, a discipline called Chase Racing similar to bracket racing, open wheel cars, as well as competitions for rallycross and autocross. As of the 2023 race season, the club requires a $45,000 membership initiation fee. Annual dues is $6100. Membership includes unlimited access to the tracks six days a week in season (April - October), use of the Member Clubhouse, which contains a bar and 40,000 sq. ft. event space. Members can purchase land to build garages and personal condos. A Social/Karting Membership is $5900 and includes all Member Social Events and unlimited access to the go-kart track at Kart Circuit Autobahn, during member hours. Notable members include legendary racers Bobby Rahal, Graham Rahal, David Heinemeier Hansson, Cooper MacNeil, Jay Howard, Peter Dempsey, and Tom Bagley. Many members use the club to drive their exotic and classic cars.

Contents

The facility is available for rent by private groups. It hosts events for various organizations including the SCCA, NASA, Gridlife, Midwestern Council, PCA, One Lap of America, and various marque and track day clubs. [2] Many manufacturers also rent the facility for marketing events.

The tracks and facilities

The Autobahn full track is 3.560 mi (5.729 km) in distance. The facility includes a configurable main track with a 1.460 mi (2.350 km) north track, a 2.100 mi (3.380 km) south track, a full track of 3.560 mi (5.729 km), skid pad, and a 0.52 mi (0.84 km) kart track. The full track can be split into two smaller tracks. Autobahn Country Club also offers a skidpad for the teen driving academy and drifting. The kart track is also open to the public on weekdays. The club has a fleet of performance cars for members to drive on track at reduced speeds.

Businesses in paddock

Along with private garages and condos, various performance shops and race headquarters are located on the Autobahn campus. Some of these include Eurosport Racing, Team Stradale, Havoc Motorsport, Turn 3 Motorsport, and many other businesses available for onsite service.

Lap records

As of September 2021, the fastest official race lap records at Autobahn Country Club for different classes are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
Full Circuit: 5.729 km (2004–present) [3] [4]
Formula Atlantic 2:05.542 [5] John Edwards Swift 016.a 2009 Joliet Atlantic Championship round
Star Mazda 2:13.299 [6] Conor Daly Star Formula Mazda 'Pro' 2010 Joliet Star Mazda Championship round
US F2000 2:17.051 [7] Patrick McKenna Élan DP08 2010 Joliet US F2000 round
Trans-Am 2:21.137 [8] R. J. López Chevrolet Corvette Trans-Am 2010 Joliet Trans-Am round
South Circuit: 3.380 km (2004–present) [3] [9]
Formula Atlantic 1:13.408 [10] Keith Grant Swift 016.a 2021 Joliet Atlantic Championship round
Formula 2000 1:18.024 [11] Nathan Byrd Van Diemen F2000 2021 Joliet F2000 Championship round
Formula 1600 1:26.227 [12] Thomas Schrage Mygale SJ 2012 2021 Joliet F1600 Championship round

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References

  1. ↑ "The Autobahn tracks". Archived from the original on 2007-11-01.
  2. ↑ "NA-Motorsports".
  3. 1 2 "Autobahn Country Club - Guido de Carli" . Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "Autobahn Country Club - Full Circuit" (PDF). Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "Autobahn Country Club, July 26 Juillet 2009 - 2009 Autobahn Grand Prix Presented by Mazda - IMSA Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda - Round 7/Epreuve 7". 26 July 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "2010 Star Mazda Championship Autobahn Raceway - Results of Formula Mazda - Star Mazda Championship Race #2" . Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  7. ↑ "Harrah's Autobahn Grand Prix presented by Mazda USF2000 National Championship powered by Mazda - Round 8" (PDF). 1 August 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  8. ↑ "Autobahn Country Club Harrah's Autobahn Grand Prix, August 1 Août 2010 - SCCA Trans-Am Series - Round #7/Epreuve #7". 1 August 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "Autobahn Country Club - South Circuit" (PDF). Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  10. ↑ "FRP at Autobahn CC 2021 - Atlantic Championship - Provisional Race 2 Results" (PDF). 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  11. ↑ "FRP at Autobahn CC 2021 - F2000/F1000/Pro4 - Provisional Race 2 Results" (PDF). 12 September 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "FRP at Autobahn CC 2021 - F1600 Championship Series - Provisional Race 2 Results" (PDF). 30 August 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
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