WATCH: 21 Lost Tracks That Live On In Sim Racing


Sim racing is an incredible virtual museum - and it works well to preserve tracks that are no longer around. Here are 21 circuits that are not raced at anymore, but that you can still tackle in the rig!

Some race tracks are eternal - venues like the Nürburgring, Indianapolis Motor Speedway or Spa-Francorchamps being closed for racing is simply unthinkable. But that is not true for all circuits in the world, of course - plenty of them are either closed or even demolished completely.

Luckily, many of them live on in sim racing. Our favorite hobby's museum qualities are undeniable, and be it via mods or even as first-party content, throwback time is when you want it to be. So @Emily Jones took to 21 of these tracks that can no longer be raced in real life in the virtual world to show you what's out there.

Download Links On OverTake​


Of course, there are plenty more - sounds like a follow-up article to the video is in order, doesn't it?

What is your favorite racing circuit of yesteryear that is no longer around? Let us know in the comments below and join the discussion in our motorsport forum!
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About author
Yannik Haustein
Yannik Haustein
Lifelong motorsport enthusiast and sim racing aficionado, walking racing history encyclopedia.

Sim racing editor, streamer and one half of the SimRacing Buddies podcast (warning, German!).

Heel & Toe Gang 4 life :D

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Kimmo Kokkonen
Premium
Keimola

Keimola

"Keimola was founded in 1965 at Vantaa near Helsinki, Finland. Modern in design, the track measured 3.3 km long with a 1 km main straight, and constant-radius corners with banking. The track was built in quite a short time and was opened in 1966...
www.overtake.gg www.overtake.gg

Jim Clark introduces the track in the video (starts at 3 min 40 sec). The track was located approx. 15 km from my home.
 
Eckhart von Glan
iRacing has Oran Park in Australia, which was destroyed after the original scan and is today covered with homes. Also, iRacing keeps older versions of tracks alive, i.e. earlier scans which are still playable, for instance the older version of Phoenix or the Spa layout used until last year (or was it the year before?) There is also an oval which they made from old photographs and (I think) scans of the current remains, I forget what it's called, though, came out about a year ago.
 
Luciano Santos Filho
The Classic Interlagos, nearly 8km long, is my favorite.

I also love Curitiba, recently lost IRL, unfortunately.

I have been in both IRL with my Dad, and those are some of my most enjoyable memories.

We have also been in Jacarepagua, to watch the legendary Indycar race won by Andre Ribeiro, also a priceless experience.

Both are available in AMS and AMS2, I love driving in both.
 
bsmooth
Thats a great video, never knew, and Jim Clark, well thats more than one could ask for. I was surprised Bridgehampton wasn't mentioned, no less then the Sir Stirling Moss himself called it "the most challenging course in the states." Also one of the most dangerous as well.
 
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Trebor901
One track i wish there was a good version of is Birmingham superprix. The version out there for AC is i guess converted from something like F1C 99-02 and it shows.

Always used to run Oran Park on rf1 all the time too was a brilliant track.
 
mantasisg
Thomson Road to me biggest of them all. 5 stars of "unknown" factor. 5 stars of "epic" factor. 5 stars of modelling and implementation factor. So many amazing online races there, great memories... I would love to have it in rFactor 2.
 
jgf
Kyalami
Zandvoort
Riverside
Westwood
Bremgarten
Spa (original)
Brno (original)
Bridgehampton
Nassau
Paramount Ranch
...... the list goes on
 
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jgf
www.barnesandnoble.com

Autodrome: The lost race circuits of Europe|eBook

Around Europe lie a number of long forgotten monuments, wind swept and abandoned the derelict buildings and crumbling tarmac are all that remains of once great motor racing circuits. From the great speed bowls of Monza and Brooklands, to the parkland of Crystal Palace. All photographed as they...
www.barnesandnoble.com www.barnesandnoble.com
 
Saintbert
Kimmo Kokkonen said:
Keimola

Keimola

"Keimola was founded in 1965 at Vantaa near Helsinki, Finland. Modern in design, the track measured 3.3 km long with a 1 km main straight, and constant-radius corners with banking. The track was built in quite a short time and was opened in 1966...
www.overtake.gg www.overtake.gg

Jim Clark introduces the track in the video (starts at 3 min 40 sec). The track was located approx. 15 km from my home.
Click to expand...

It was exciting to get to first drive the circuit in Grand Prix Legends. Thank you and everyone else for keeping it alive!

I remember walking the track as a child when it had long since been ground to rubble (to prevent illicit racing). My father took me there and had some memories of a more exciting time, when it was host to not just racing but rock festivals. Now it's a suburban neighbourhood and I guess just about as interesting as most suburban neighbourhoods.
 
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pz666
This is where sim racing shines and will continue to shine into the future...

Time travel simulation... As modern day cars become more and more for the rich dentists and Strolls of the world whilst most new tracks are boring carparks or street circuits... Going back in time to enjoy the raw engineering both car and track side of motorsports history will just become more and more enjoyable...

Only hypercar comes close from a modern perspective and in the sim world we have few choices that actually come close to simulating them... Luckily for me we have rF2 mods and LMU...
 
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Pete Conway
Just a couple that I can think of on the spur of the moment that have been lost forever are Crystal Palace, and Ingliston, the former is available for Assetto Corsa, but both are enjoyable for GTR2... my preferred sim,
Both circuits had their heyday in the fifites and sixties, and have been removed from their complete function as circuits for some time, both are short and required big cahoonies when raced in real life.
 

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