Circuit of the Americas
5.513 km of purpose-built track outside Austin, Texas. Circuit of the Americas starts with a steep climb to a wide hairpin, then borrows ideas from some of the best corners in the world. Learn how the lap works, then open it in the designer and make your own version.
The track at a glance
Circuit of the Americas, often shortened to COTA, is near Austin, Texas, in the United States. It is 5.513 km long with 20 turns, runs anticlockwise, and a Grand Prix there is 56 laps. It opened in 2012 as the first purpose-built Grand Prix circuit in the US.
The lap starts with a climb of more than 11% up to Turn 1, the highest point of the track, then drops into a fast run of esses. A long back straight leads to a slow, stadium-style section and a long multi-apex corner.
The circuit was laid out by Hermann Tilke’s firm from an idea by Tavo Hellmund and motorcycle champion Kevin Schwantz. It also hosts motorcycle Grand Prix and sports car racing.
A lap of COTA, corner by corner
The corners at COTA are known by number. Turns 1, 3, 9, 11, 12, 15, 17 and 20 are marked on the map.
- T1Up the hill. A steep uphill climb to a wide, blind left-hand hairpin. The width lets drivers take many lines on the first lap.
- T3–6The esses. A fast sequence of left and right bends, inspired by Silverstone’s Maggotts and Becketts.
- T9End of the esses. The last of the quick changes of direction before a slower section.
- T11The hairpin. A slow left-hand hairpin at the start of the back straight. A good exit is vital.
- T12End of the back straight. A heavy stop at the end of a straight of about 1 km. The best place to overtake.
- T15The stadium. A tight, slow section in front of the grandstands, inspired by Hockenheim.
- T16–18The multi-apex. A long right-hand curve with several apexes, modelled on a famous corner at Istanbul Park.
- T20The final corner. A slow left back onto the pit straight and the climb to Turn 1.
Racing at COTA
The circuit brought Grand Prix racing back to the United States on a permanent track.
- 2012The circuit opens and hosts its first United States Grand Prix.
- 2013Motorcycle Grand Prix racing comes to COTA.
- 2019The race lap record is set at 1:36.169.
Designed from the best
COTA was designed to bring together features from great circuits around the world, with a dramatic climb added at the start. The result is a lap with something of everything: fast esses, a long straight, a slow stadium section and a long multi-apex curve.
The very wide Turn 1 is a modern idea to give drivers more than one line into the first corner. For more, read about Hermann Tilke or our guide to overtaking zones.
Ideas for your remaster
The Remaster button opens the traced layout in the designer. You can move any point and the lap time, speed trace and corner analysis update as you go. A few places to start:
Borrow your favourite corner. COTA copied ideas from other tracks. Add a corner inspired by your favourite circuit.
Rework the stadium. The slow stadium section is tight. Try a faster or more flowing version.
Name your turns. None of the corners has an official name. Group and name them in the designer, and they will show on your exports and share link.
Finish it properly. Add track width, kerbs, run-off and a pit lane so it reads like a real venue.
When you’re happy with it, share your version with its own link. The original stays here for the next person to remaster.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Circuit of the Americas?
It is 5.513 km (3.426 miles) long with 20 turns. A Grand Prix there is 56 laps.
How steep is Turn 1 at COTA?
The climb to Turn 1 has a gradient of more than 11%. The track rises and falls by 41 m (133 ft) over a lap.
Which way does COTA run?
Anticlockwise. The lap climbs to Turn 1, runs through the esses, down the back straight, through the stadium section and the multi-apex curve, and back to the line.
Which corners were inspired by other tracks?
The esses were inspired by Silverstone, the stadium section by Hockenheim, and the long multi-apex curve by Istanbul Park.
Is the remastered COTA an exact copy?
It is a close trace of the centreline using 84 editable points, within a few metres of the real layout. Track width, kerbs, run-off and the pit lane are left for you to design.
Layout traced from the open circuit data in bacinger/f1-circuits (MIT licence). Circuit facts: Wikipedia. RaceTrackDesigner is not affiliated with the circuit, its owners or any racing series.