TT Circuit Assen
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The TT Circuit Assen is a motorsport race track built in 1955 and located in Assen, Netherlands. Host of the Dutch TT, it is popularly referred to as "The Cathedral of Speed" by motorcycle racing fans. The venue has the distinction of holding the most Grand Prix motorcycle races every year (except 2020) since the series was created in 1949. It has a capacity of 110,000 spectators, including 60,000 seats. Since 1992, the circuit has also been part of the World SBK calendar except for the 2020 season.
History
The original Assen track was first used for the 1926 Dutch TT (Tourist Trophy) race, after the first 1925 event was held on country roads through the villages of Rolde, Borger, Schoonloo and Grolloo, and organized by the Motorclub Assen en Omstreken. The brick- and semi-paved track had a length of 28.57 km (17.75 mi). The winner was Piet van Wijngaarden on a 500 cc Norton with an average speed of 91.4 km/h (56.8 mph). From 1926 on the Dutch TT was held at Assen on a street circuit through De Haar, Barteldsbocht, Oude Tol, Hooghalen, Laaghalen and Laaghalerveen.
In 1951 the Italian Umberto Masetti took the record on a 500 cc Gilera with an average speed of 162.35 km/h (100.88 mph). In 1954, Geoff Duke of Great Britain reached 170.69 km/h (106.06 mph). The circuit remained unchanged until 1955, when a whole new circuit was built by using a third of the original street circuit, joined with purpose-built sections, but less than a third of the length and much more like a modern road racing circuit.
In the period of 1999–2002, the circuit invested millions in upgrades. In 1999, the circuit management placed a new main grandstand and hospitality buildings. In 2000, a new Race Control tower was built, as well as 34 newly equipped pit boxes, a new media and medical centre. Between September 2001 and April 2002, another €9 million was spent on the enlargement of the paddock area from 40 to 60.000 square metres. This upgrade meant that the Veenslang and Ruskenhoek corners had to be altered. The main straight has also moved about 50 m (160 ft) eastwards and a new two-lane tunnel now connects the paddock with the main entrance road and the media accreditation / welcome centre. The Mandeveen and Duikersloot corners have been moved back by 10 metres to accommodate larger run-offs and gravel beds at the southern part of the circuit. That part of the track has also been resurfaced with new asphalt. In total, the circuit has been shortened from 6.049 to 6.027 km (3.759 to 3.745 mi). The total cost of these upgrades was €23 million.
In 2005, the grandstand at the Geert Timmer corner was slightly altered. In order to improve the gravel run-off length, the grandstand was made in a 'floating' manner to accommodate the extra space that was needed. The lay-out of the circuit was also slightly altered.
The circuit was fundamentally redesigned again in 2006, becoming the so-called A-Style Assen TT Circuit. All alterations aside, only one section of the circuit is original; the finish line never moved. On 21 September 2009 it was announced that a new chicane will be added, after a request from the A1GP organization, however A1GP was unable to start the 2009–2010 season and as a substitute the Superleague Formula replaced A1GP.
Layout history
- Original Dutch TT Van Drenthe Circuit (1926–1954)
- Grand Prix Circuit (1984–2001)
- Grand Prix Circuit (2002–2004)
- Grand Prix Circuit (2005)
- Grand Prix Circuit (2006–present)
- Motorcycle Circuit (2010–present)
Current racetrack
Assen race track was built in 1955, and initially had a length of 7.705 km (4.788 mi). The current track has a length of 4.555 km (2.830 mi) with the mixture of super fast flat-out and slow corners. The longest straight is 560 m (1,840 ft). The curves in Assen were traditionally banked and the surface is extremely grippy, so the riders were able to drive much faster on the course than other circuits. Today these sloped or curved bends have been modified due to safety issues.
Innovation
On 6 July 2004, the organisation announced plans for an amusement park located to the north of the track. In 2006 the northern loop was removed and the length was shortened to 4.555 km (2.830 mi). The new centre is expected to be visited by 300,000 people, and the total investment is approximately €85 million.
Events
Current
- April: Superbike World Championship, Supersport World Championship, Sportbike World Championship, FIM Women's Circuit Racing World Championship, Moto4 Northern Cup
- May: Ducati Club Races
- June: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Dutch TT, Belcar ADAC Hansa Pokal Rennen, Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup
- July: Truckstar Festival[nl]
- August: Supercar Challenge Jack’s Casino Racing Day, BOSS GP, Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, IDM Superbike Championship[de], TABAC Classic GP Assen
- September: Sidecar World Championship, British Superbike Championship, British Supersport Championship, Moto4 Northern Cup
- October: Supercar Challenge Finaleraces, Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux
Former
- Acceleration 2014 (2014)
- ADAC Formel Masters (2008–2011)
- ADAC GT Masters (2008–2011)
- ATS Formel 3 Cup (2004–2012)
- Champ Car World Series Bavaria Champ Car Grand Prix (2007)
- Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (2019–2021)
- DTM Trophy (2021)
- Eurocup-3 (2025)
- European Truck Racing Championship (2004–2005, 2009)
- FIM Endurance World Championship (1979–1980, 1995–1996, 2003–2006)
- Formula 750 (1976–1979)
- Formula Renault 2.0 Germany (1997–1998, 2004–2005)
- Formula Renault 2.0 Netherlands (2003–2005)
- Formula Renault Northern European Cup (2006–2017)
- GT4 European Trophy (2011, 2013)
- Motocross World Championship (2015–2018)
- MotoE World Championship Dutch eRace (2021–2025)
- Porsche Carrera Cup Germany (1997)
- Prototype Cup Germany (2023)
- SMP F4 Championship (2017–2018)
- Superleague Formula Superleague Formula round Netherlands (2010–2011)
- Supersport 300 World Championship (2017–2019, 2021–2025)
- Super Tourenwagen Cup (1996)
- TCR Europe Touring Car Series (2018)
- W Series (2019)
Lap records
As of September 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the TT Circuit Assen are listed as:
Fatalities
- Yasutomo Nagai - 1995 Superbike World Championship
- Alessio Perilli - 2004 Superstock European Championship