65 meters of elevation change per lap, over a distance of around 4.3 kilometers: The Spielberg race track in the Styrian Murtal valley is the home of the Austrian Grand Prix in Formula 1 and MotoGP. At this length, it is one of the shorter circuits on the F1 calendar. Here you’ll find its history, track profile, and tips for your visit – plus the ups and downs as a 3D relief for your wall.
The Spielberg Race Track by the Numbers
The track is located in the town of Spielberg in the Murtal district, between Knittelfeld and Zeltweg. The first Grand Prix took place here in 1970, and to this day, Spielberg remains the home of the Austrian Grand Prix – albeit with some longer breaks in between.
- Location: Spielberg, Murtal district, Styria
- Length: 4.326 km in the Grand Prix variant; 4.348 km for motorcycles with an additional chicane
- Corners: 10, including 7 right and 3 left
- Elevation change: 65 meters between the lowest and highest points
- Inclines and declines: up to 12% uphill, up to 9.3% downhill
- Start-finish straight: 626 meters
- F1 races: 71 laps
- Lap record: 1:05.619 minutes, set in 2020
Most of the figures come from the track data on the operator’s website. Previously, the length was listed as 4.318 km, but under the FIA’s new method, measurements are now taken along the center line rather than the racing line.
On our 3D frame of the Spielberg race track, the key data is also printed, still showing the earlier length of 4.318 km and the year 2011, when the rebuilt track reopened.
Spielberg and Formula 1: From the Österreichring to Today
Formula 1 was already in the Murtal valley before the current track: in 1964, it raced on the nearby Zeltweg airfield, a flat and bumpy course.
1969 to 1987: The Fast Österreichring
As a replacement, the Österreichring opened in 1969 in the hills near Spielberg: nearly six kilometers long, with wide, fast corners that were rarely taken below third gear. From 1970 to 1987, Formula 1 visited here 18 times in a row. Then it stopped: parts of the track were little more than a road with minimal safety, and concerns became too great.
1996 to 2003: The A1-Ring
In the mid-1990s, the facility was rebuilt according to plans by Hermann Tilke. The nearly six kilometers became around 4.3 km, and the fast corners were replaced by three tight right-hand turns designed to create more overtaking opportunities. As the A1-Ring, the track hosted the Motorcycle World Championship in 1996 and 1997, and Formula 1 returned in 1997, staying until 2003.
2004 to Today: Standstill and Restart
After the last Grand Prix in 2003, parts of the facility, including pit buildings and grandstands, were demolished. The track then lay dormant for years. Under entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz, it was rebuilt and reopened on May 15, 2011, under the name Red Bull Ring. In 2014, the Austrian Grand Prix returned to the calendar, and since 2016, MotoGP has also been racing at Spielberg again.
A Lap Around the Spielberg Track: Ups and Downs
On paper, the lap seems simple: ten corners and three long straights. Its character comes from the terrain. Up to Turn 3, it’s mostly uphill, followed by a mix of downhill sections, dips, and short climbs.
Start and Finish to Turn 3: The Ascent
From the start-finish straight, it’s uphill into the first right-hand corner, the Niki Lauda Curve. According to the operator, braking too late here sends you wide, while braking too early makes you an easy target. A quick left kink then leads into the steepest section, with a 12% incline. At the top is Turn 3, the slowest corner of the lap and the best spot for a braking overtake.
For motorcycles, the ascent near Turn 2 was converted into a right-left chicane, used since 2022. It is designed to reduce speed before Turn 3 after a serious accident occurred there during the 2020 MotoGP race. With the chicane, their lap measures 4.348 km.
Turn 4 and the Fast Middle Section
After Turn 3, the next straight leads downhill to Turn 4. This off-camber right-hand corner is usually taken in third gear, according to the operator. Then comes the flowing middle section: in Turn 6, the track drops, and the apex appears late; in Turn 7, it first dips and then climbs again.
Rindt Curve and Final Corner
Finally, there are two right-hand corners. The penultimate one is named after Jochen Rindt, Austria’s first Formula 1 World Champion. According to the operator, drivers enter at around 250 km/h and barely see the exit. Anyone who doesn’t exit the final corner cleanly loses momentum for the 626-meter start-finish straight.
Spielberg thrives less on a single famous corner and more on the ups and downs of the entire lap. For corners with legendary status, check out our list of the most legendary corners in motorsport. And to see how a single climb can define a whole track, read our Spa-Francorchamps article about the Eau Rouge.
Race Weekend in Spielberg: Dates and Camping
Formula 1 was at Spielberg on June 28, 2026, and for 2027, the operator lists July 9–11. MotoGP raced from September 18–20, 2026, and in 2027, it will return to its usual August slot, from August 27–29. The DTM and other events are also on the schedule.
One advantage for spectators: according to the operator, the hilly terrain means you can see large parts of the track, not just a single corner.
Camping at the Track
There are several campsites around the facility, named after colors, from Pink and Turquoise to Red and Beige. To spread out arrivals, signage on the Murtal Schnellstraße S36 directs drivers to either the Knittelfeld West or Zeltweg West exit, depending on their campsite.
- Arrive early: Campsites are accessible all day on Wednesday and Thursday; on Friday and Saturday, the operator recommends arriving before 9 AM.
- Day visitors: If you’re not camping, parking is free within walking distance during the F1 weekend. The operator advises arriving before 8 AM.
Drive Yourself at Spielberg: Your Own Car or a Driving Experience
The track isn’t just for professionals. During driver training with your own car, you first practice in the driving technique center. Depending on the package, you can then drive on the Grand Prix track without a speed limit. According to the operator, you need a Class B driver’s license and a road-legal car.
No car? No problem: the operator also offers driving experiences with sports cars from its own fleet.
Traveling from Germany: Car, Toll, and Train
By Car
The main access route is the Murtal Schnellstraße S36, with exits at Knittelfeld West, Zeltweg Ost, and Zeltweg West. If you’re coming from Germany, there are two main routes:
- Via Salzburg (e.g., from Munich): take the Tauern Autobahn A10 southbound, then the B96 through Tamsweg and Murau into the Murtal valley.
- Via Upper Austria (e.g., from Passau): take the Pyhrn Autobahn A9 to the Trieben exit. The operator recommends this route to avoid the St. Michael interchange.
Remember the toll: On highways and expressways in Austria, you need a vignette, plus distance-based tolls for the Tauerntunnel (A10) or Bosrucktunnel (A9). More routes and parking info are in the arrival by car instructions.
By Train
The destination station is Knittelfeld. During the Formula 1 weekend, free shuttle buses run from the station to the track from Friday to Sunday, every 20 minutes during the day. The operator advises booking train tickets online in advance.
Spielberg as a 3D Relief in a Frame: A4 or A3?
On flat paper, the Spielberg circuit looks unremarkable. Our Spielberg frame restores its terrain: the red track line is 3D-printed in PLA, raised above the dark map, and follows the original elevation changes. You can see how it climbs from the start-finish straight to Turn 3 and descends toward Turn 4.
You can choose between A4 (21 × 30 cm) for €55 and A3 (30 × 40 cm) for €85. For a small Austria series with the Salzburgring frame next to it, two A4 frames cost €110. If Spielberg stands alone, the A3 format gives the track’s ups and downs more space. Both ship free within Germany for orders over €85.
Personalize the frame for an extra €5: add a name, starting number, country, and two lines of text. Each frame is made in Germany, only after your order.
A second design variant in red-white-red is the Spielberg Tribute.
Find more tracks from Europe and overseas in the GP Frames collection.
Spielberg as a Christmas Gift: Who It’s For
The frame suits people with a personal connection to this track: the friend who camps in the Murtal every summer, the sister who has the Austrian Grand Prix marked in her calendar, or the colleague who drove up to Turn 3 during a track day. A line like “Murtal 2026 – first race weekend” makes it unique.
Pair it with an experience: tickets for the Grand Prix from July 9–11, 2027, plus a campsite. The frame goes up at Christmas, the trip to the Murtal follows in summer.
Put the tickets in an envelope and the frame in the Premium Gift Packaging (€9.90). Hang it on the first holiday with the Adhesive Hook (€3.99) – no drilling needed, and it can be removed without a trace later.
We ship within 1–2 business days – but order by mid-December to be safe.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Spielberg Circuit
Where is the Spielberg Circuit Located?
In the Murtal valley in Upper Styria, in the municipality of Spielberg between Knittelfeld and Zeltweg. By car, take the Murtal expressway S36; by train, travel to Knittelfeld.
How Long is the Spielberg Circuit?
The Grand Prix version measures 4.326 km according to the operator, with 10 turns and 65 meters of elevation change. Motorcycles race an additional chicane, totaling 4.348 km.
When is the 2027 Formula 1 Race in Spielberg?
From July 9–11, 2027, with the race on Sunday, July 11. This is confirmed by the track operator and the 2027 Formula 1 calendar.
Can You Drive on the Spielberg Circuit Yourself?
Yes. The operator offers driver training with your own car (Class B license, road-legal vehicle) and driving experiences with sports cars from their fleet.
Why Does the Spielberg Frame Show 4.318 km?
That was the earlier length measurement in English notation (4.318 km). Today, the operator states 4.326 km because the FIA now measures along the center line. The measurement method changed, not the track itself.
Conclusion: Short Track, Big Elevation
The Spielberg circuit is short but far from flat: ten turns, 65 meters of elevation change, and a history spanning from the fast Österreichring to the A1-Ring and its 2011 restart. If you’re going in July 2027, book your campsite and travel early. Until then, the Spielberg frame already shows the climb to Turn 3 on your wall.
