Watkins Glen International

Track Info

Location	Watkins Glen, New York
Type	Permanent Road Course
Length	3.4 miles (5.47 km) - Grand Prix layout with Boot
Turns	11
Surface	Asphalt
Capacity	~41,000 (permanent seating)
Opened	1956 (street races from 1948)

Track Characteristics

Watkins Glen International is one of America's premier road courses and a track with deep roots in both Formula 1 and sports car racing. Set in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, the 3.4-mile Grand Prix layout with the Boot section provides a challenging and fast circuit that rewards bravery and precision in equal measure. The track flows through rolling terrain with significant elevation changes that add a three-dimensional challenge to every lap.

The circuit begins with a sharp Turn 1 right-hander that is one of the best overtaking spots in North American road racing. Cars brake from high speed on the front straight into a tight corner with multiple lines available, and the action here during endurance race restarts can be spectacular. The Esses (Turns 2-5) are a high-speed sequence of sweeping bends that require absolute commitment and test a car's aerodynamic balance at speed.

The Inner Loop, added in 1992, is a tight chicane that breaks up the back straight and creates another overtaking opportunity with heavy braking. The Boot section extends the lap through a series of medium-speed corners that wind through the wooded hillside, adding both distance and complexity. The final corner, Turn 11, is a fast right-hander that leads onto the long front straight where drafting and top speed matter.

For endurance racing, Watkins Glen presents unique challenges. The Six Hours of The Glen runs through the long summer afternoon, and the track's location in the Finger Lakes means weather can change rapidly. Rain, fog, and sudden temperature drops are always possibilities, and the tree-lined sections of the track can hold moisture long after the rest of the circuit has dried.

Getting There

Nearest Airport	Elmira/Corning Regional Airport (ELM) is about 20 miles south. Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) is about 90 miles northeast. Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC) is about 100 miles northwest.
Nearest City	Watkins Glen, NY. The village sits at the southern tip of Seneca Lake in the heart of the Finger Lakes wine region.

Series That Race Here

• IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship - Six Hours of The Glen (endurance round)
• NASCAR Cup Series - Go Bowling at The Glen
• NASCAR Xfinity Series
• IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge
• SCCA - Various club racing events

2026 IMSA Event Info

Race Name	Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen
Date	June 25, 2026
Duration	6 hours
TV	Peacock (full race), NBC / NBCSN
Endurance Cup	Round 3 of 4 in the Michelin Endurance Cup

Notable Past IMSA / Sports Car Races

• 1948 - First Watkins Glen Race: The original race ran on public roads through the village of Watkins Glen, making it one of the earliest post-war road races in America. A fatal spectator accident in 1952 led to the construction of the permanent circuit.
• 1961-1980 - Formula 1 United States Grand Prix: Watkins Glen hosted the US Grand Prix for 20 consecutive years, bringing the world's best drivers to upstate New York and establishing the track's international reputation.
• 2014: Action Express Racing's Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi won a dramatic Six Hours of The Glen that came down to fuel strategy in the final stint, demonstrating why endurance racing at this track always delivers surprises.
• 2023: The Six Hours featured intense GTP class battles between Porsche, Cadillac, and Acura in the new prototype era, with the long race duration allowing strategies to diverge and teams to recover from setbacks.

Track Facts

• Racing at Watkins Glen began in 1948 on public roads through the village. The permanent circuit was built in 1956 after spectator safety concerns with street racing.
• The track hosted the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix from 1961 to 1980, making it one of the most historically significant circuits in American motorsport.
• The Boot section adds roughly a mile to the circuit and is used for the Grand Prix layout favored by IMSA. NASCAR uses the shorter 2.45-mile configuration without the Boot.
• The Finger Lakes wine region surrounding the track makes Watkins Glen one of the most scenic race weekends on the calendar, with dozens of wineries within a short drive of the circuit.
• The Inner Loop chicane, added in 1992, created one of the best braking-zone overtaking spots on any road course in North America.

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