Laguna Seca

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
	;
Location	Monterey County, near Monterey, California and Salinas, California, United States
Time zone	UTC-8 (UTC-7 DST)
Coordinates	36°35′03″N 121°45′13″W / 36.58417°N 121.75361°W
FIA Grade	2
Owner	Monterey County
Operator	A&D Narigi Consulting, LLC
Opened	9 November 1957
Construction cost	$1.5 million USD
Former names	Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (2002–2017); Laguna Seca Raceway (1957–2001)
Major events	Current: IndyCar Series; IndyCar Monterey Grand Prix; (1960–2004, 2019, 2021–present); IMSA SportsCar Championship; Motul Course de Monterey (1957, 1963–1968, 1974–1987, 1989, 1991–1994, 1997–present); MotoAmerica (1976–1988, 1992–present); Monterey Motorsports Reunion (1974–2019, 2021–present); Former: World SBK; (1995–2004, 2013–2019); Intercontinental GT Challenge; California 8 Hours (2017–2019); GT World Challenge America (1990, 1999–2007, 2009, 2011–2012, 2015–2019); Grand Prix motorcycle racing; United States motorcycle Grand Prix; (1988–1991, 1993–1994, 2005–2013); Trans-Am Series (1969–1972, 1978–1982, 2000–2001, 2004, 2019, 2021–2022); SCCA National Championship Runoffs (2014); FIA GT Championship (1997–1998);
Website	https://www.weathertechraceway.com/
Grand Prix Circuit (1996–present)
Surface	Paved
Length	2.238 miles (3.602 km)
Turns	11
Race lap record	1:08.4168 ( Álex Palou, Dallara DW12, 2023, IndyCar)
Grand Prix Circuit (1988–1995)
Length	2.214 miles (3.563 km)
Turns	11
Race lap record	1:12.959 ( Paul Tracy, Penske PC-23, 1994, CART)
Original Circuit (1957–1987)
Length	1.900 miles (3.058 km)
Turns	9
Race lap record	0:56.810 ( Al Unser Jr., Frissbee GR3, 1982, Can-Am)

Laguna Seca Raceway (branded as WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and previously Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for sponsorship reasons) is a paved road racing track in central California used for both auto racing and motorcycle racing, built in 1957 near both Salinas and Monterey, California, United States.

The racetrack is 2.238 mi (3.602 km) long, with a 180 ft (55 m) elevation change.^[2]^[3] Its eleven turns are highlighted by the circuit's signature turn, the downhill-plunging "Corkscrew" at Turns 8 and 8A. A variety of racing, exhibition, and entertainment events are held at the raceway, ranging from superkarts to sports car racing to music festivals. Laguna Seca is classified as an FIA Grade Two circuit.^[4]

The name Laguna Seca is Spanish for dry lake: the area where the track now lies was once a lake, and the course was built around the dry lake bed. After the course was reconfigured, two artificial ponds were added.

^ "'About' Laguna Seca Raceway". Retrieved 2022-08-09.
^ "Modified.com - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca - Track Review". Archived from the original on 2012-06-15. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
^ "Detailed course map by Whitson Engineers". Archived from the original on 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
^ "List of FIA licensed circuits" (Press release). Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. December 14, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2019.

["About"-1] "'About' Laguna Seca Raceway". Retrieved 2022-08-09.

[2] "Modified.com - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca - Track Review". Archived from the original on 2012-06-15. Retrieved 2012-03-24.

[3] "Detailed course map by Whitson Engineers". Archived from the original on 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2012-03-24.

[4] "List of FIA licensed circuits" (Press release). Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. December 14, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2019.

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Laguna Seca

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