From Local Passion to International Legend
VIR is much more than just a racetrack. What was once a working farm and plantation dating back to the early 1800s opened in 1957 as one of the country’s first permanent road racing circuits.
VIR hosted automobile and motorcycle racing through 1974, when the track was shuttered due to economic hardships. It lay fallow until 1998, when we discovered it and saw through the shadows of the weed-infested, overgrown facility, envisioning a racing venue that would provide entertainment and recreation for the entire family.
What we saw in the 1,500-acre site was the possibility to create America’s first true “motorsports resort,” a vacation destination centered around road racing. VIR reopened in 2000 and has received international rave reviews since. Read more about the history of VIR and Road Racing.
Exciting Drivers and Spectators Alike
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World-Class Racing at a World-Class Resort
Today, VIR’s 3.27-mile circuit is exactly like it was in 1957, only widened just a bit with lots of safe run-off room and world-class facilities and amenities. The track now has two cross-overs that allow simultaneous events on the North (2.25-mile) and South (1.65-mile) courses.
In 2003, the 1.1-mile Patriot Course was constructed by combining the two cross-overs and can be used as a stand-alone circuit or combined with the full circuit to create a myriad of configurations, the longest of which is 4.2 miles. An 1840s-era house where the plantation owner’s family once lived has been restored for use as the Plantation Clubhouse, the centerpiece of the VIR Motorsports County Club whose membership is continually growing. The track is booked nearly year-round for racing, testing, schools, television productions and corporate events.
Also located within the facility are the VIR Raceplex , a motorsports-oriented industrial park; The Lodge at VIR , a hotel overlooking the track; the Paddock Suites and Garages; the Oak Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the Plantation Clubhouse; and the VIR Kart Track , a 5/8-mile, 24-foot-wide karting circuit with 30 feet of elevation change.
VIR Kart Track
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At the Forefront of the Motorsport Industry
In 2006 we opened the new Virginia Motorsport Technology Park, which houses SoVA Motion, a national center for ground vehicle performance research and engineering.
In 2007 we began construction on The Villas at South Bend, a 60-unit complex of three-bedroom residential villas that will be located near VIR’s signature Oak Tree Bend, and inaugurated Camp Motorsport, a motorsports-themed camp for young people aged 10-16.
The Very Best in Professional and Enthusiast Motorsport
We always have an exciting roster of events: Heacock Classic Gold Cup Historic Races, featuring British, German, Italian and American Muscle cars. Additionally, NASA, SCCA, and WERA bring their own brand of excitement to the track on various weekends throughout the season. Check out our full spectator schedule for more details!
The Oak Tree Tavern and Connie’s Pub
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We hope you will explore VIR and take advantage of our unmatched amenities, of which we are very proud. The Oak Tree Tavern provides the best track food in the business at the Pagoda restaurant in the paddock, which also serves our own private-label beer, Oak Tree Pale Ale. The Oak Tree Pro Shop offers sportswear, racing gear, books and collectibles for racing enthusiasts.
VIR has certainly come a long way from its humble beginnings, and we are very proud of what we think is one of the world’s finest motorsports venues, but it remains a work in progress. We are always striving to improve, and we welcome your input and suggestions. Thank you for your interest in VIR, and we hope that you will be a regular visitor in the years to come.