The Brno racing circuit (Czechoslovakia)
The original name of the circuit was Masaryk-circuit (in Czech: Masarykův okruh), named after the first president of Czechoslovakia, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.
The original street circuit consisted of several public roads, including elevation changes, and even included a tunnel.
With a total length of 29.194 km, it was a very long circuit, and demanding for man and machine. It was first used for a car race on 28 September 1930.
The varied course consisted of fast passages with winding mountain roads full of hairpin bends, and could be described as challenging but also dangerous.
From the early years on the circuit attracted top teams in both car and motorcycle racing.
As in many European countries, the races were halted during World War II. It was not until 1949 that they started up again in then communist Czechoslovakia. However, from that moment on races were run clockwise, and the total length was shortened to 17.8 km.
In early 1950, the Czech Grand Prix for motorcycles was held for the first time, which was part of the world championship series from 1965 onwards. For this purpose, the length was again shortened to 13.941 km in 1964.
Car races were no longer held on this circuit, because the new rulers actually found capitalist car racing too "bourgeois". In 1968, the reformists came to power in Czechoslovakia. From that moment on, car races were allowed to be held again.
One of the stars who triumphed at this circuit was the Czech driver Frantisek Stasny.
In 1975, the old Brno circuit was shortened again, this time to 10.925 km. This was due to the new safety requirements for the motorcycle World Championship. In 1982, the last motorcycle GP took place on the old circuit. The circuit, which could no longer meet the increasingly stringent safety requirements of the FIM, was declared unfit for motorcycle racing.
The current circuit is only 5.403 km long and was opened in 1987. It is located north of Kyvalka and is positioned inside the old 1930 circuit loop, but without using public roads. Since then, the Grand Prix for motorcycles that count towards the world championship have been held on this circuit.
Due to its location in the beautiful hilly landscape, the current circuit is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe. However, in terms of variety, it cannot even come close to the original street circuit from 1930.
A photo impression of the original circuit can be seen on the website "Circuits of the Past":
https://www.circuitsofthepast.com/brno-circuit
Overview of the Brno circuit through the years
Hans Baartman
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