The World’s Most Dangerous Racetracks
If you love adrenaline and fast rides, you are probably familiar with Grand Prix races. You can feel the excitement of watching these vehicles generating speeds of more than 200mph.
Yet, apart from being super exciting, Grand Prix races are known to be extremely dangerous too. The reason for this lies in the layout of the circuit, weather conditions, and other significant aspects of the event. We will present to you the five most dangerous circuits in the world …
Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Since the circuit opened in 1922, 52 drivers and 35 spectators have lost their lives on this deadly track. Some of the most prominent names include drivers like Alberto Ascari, Jochen Rindt, and Ronnie Peterson. Yet, the one whose ride marked Monza as one of the most dangerous circuits was Wolfgang von Trips. In 1961, Trips’ crash with Jim Clarke resulted in the death of 14 spectators after which the Monza track became more formidable.
Nürburgring Nordschleife
Nürburgring Nordschleife earned the nickname Green Hell thanks to its 150 turns. The various surfaces and unreliable weather conditions add to the notoriety of this circuit. According to the publicly available statistics, during official competitions, 78 people died on this track. However, considering that the track is also used for various test rides and races, we can only assume the actual number of fatalities.
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Don’t let the word spa in its name trick your — Spa-Francorchamps is not exactly a place of relaxation. Many consider this track to be one of the most demanding on the planet because it features Eau Rouge corner — a combination of a steep uphill section, sweeping left-right-left turns, hairpin bend, and a blind summit. From the day it started its operation, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps has taken the lives of 23 drivers and still presents a challenge even for top drivers.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been considered dangerous since its very first race. On that particular day, in 1909, two people were killed, and the number of fatalities has reached 73 including 42 drivers over the years. The most saddening crash ever on this circuit involves the death of a 13-year-old Peter Lenz who was killed during a warm-up lap in 2010.
Le Mans
The last circuit on our list is here due to the specific type of race it hosts, rather than the circuit itself. One of the most famous race tracks in the world, Circuit de la Sarthe, is known for being home to 24 hours of Le Mans. For obvious reasons, the race is also called the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency.
However, since the race lasts an entire day, drivers are prone to extreme exhaustion that many times led to catastrophic disasters. One of the biggest tragedies happened in 1955 when Pierre Levagh’s car flipped after a crash, killing him as well as more than eighty spectators.
