Which is the oldest Grand Prix track?

When I was sat watching the grand prix in Suzuka last weekend, I started wondering about some Grand Prix trivia. I actually had more than one thought so you will see other posts on this pop up in due course

So which is the oldest Grand Prix track in the world?

It turns out that it depends on how you define a “Grand Prix track,” there are three technically right answers. The distinction lies in whether you mean the first place a Grand Prix was ever held, the oldest purpose-built track, or the oldest one still used in Formula 1 today.

1. The Very First (1906): Le Mans, France

The first race ever officially called a “Grand Prix” (the 1906 French Grand Prix) was held on a 64-mile (103 km) triangular circuit of closed public roads near Le Mans.

• Status: It wasn’t a permanent track, but rather a series of public roads connecting the towns of Le Mans, Saint-Calais, and La Ferté-Bernard.
• Fun Fact: Drivers had to complete 12 laps over two days—a total of nearly 770 miles!

2. The First Purpose-Built Track (1907): Brooklands, UK

If you mean a permanent, dedicated racing circuit rather than public roads, the answer is Brooklands in Surrey, England.

• Opened: June 1907.
• Claim to Fame: It was the world’s first purpose-built banked motor racing circuit. It hosted the first-ever British Grand Prix in 1926.
• Status: It closed for racing in 1939 at the start of WWII. Today, it is a museum, though sections of the iconic concrete banking still stand.

3. The Oldest Still in Use (1922): Monza, Italy

When fans ask about the “oldest track,” they usually mean the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

• Opened: September 1922.
• Claim to Fame: It was the world’s third purpose-built race track (after Brooklands and Indianapolis).
• Status: It is the oldest circuit currently on the Formula 1 calendar. Aside from 1980 (when it was being renovated), it has hosted the Italian Grand Prix every year since the modern F1 World Championship began in 1950.

Comparison at a Glance