The Sachsenring () is a motorsport racing circuit located in Hohenstein-Ernstthal near Chemnitz in Saxony, Germany. Among other events, it features the annual German motorcycle Grand Prix of the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championship.
History
The first race was held on 26 May 1927 on an layout on public roads, running also through the village of Hohenstein-Ernstthal itself. It was dubbed "Sachsenring" in 1937.
The East German motorcycle Grand Prix was held there from 1961 to 1972. The local two stroke MZ bikes of Zschopau were competitive during this time. The quickest lap was achieved by 15 time World Champion Giacomo Agostini on a MV Agusta with a average. After West German Dieter Braun won in 1971 and the East German fans sang the West German National Anthem in celebration (as is the case in sport, the winner's National Anthem is played after the event), the event was limited to East European entrants for political reasons.
In 1990, with faster Western machinery now available, racing through the village became too dangerous with some fatalities (this can be compared with the Isle of Man TT).
To accelerate redevelopment of eastern Germany in the new unified Germany, a short track berg corner was built in the 1990s to bring international motorsport to the eastern part of Germany. In 1996, IDM motorcycle racing and the ADAC Super Tourenwagen Cup resumed racing here. The DTM raced here in 2000, with Klaus Ludwig winning at age 51, but the DTM did not return after 2002, preferring international venues. DTM returned to Sachsenring in 2023 after its take-over by ADAC due to its preference of using national venues again.
Since 1998, the German motorcycle Grand Prix moved to the Sachsenring from Nürburgring. In recent years, the track has been made faster and longer again, with the length now being . Since 2007, the Sachsenring is part of the regular schedule of ADAC GT Masters. In 2011 the FIA GT1 World Championship held one of its race weekends at the Sachsenring.
Layout history
Most wins
Grand Prix motorcycle racing Marc Márquez has won 125cc class once and Moto2 class twice and MotoGP class ten times, making him winning 13 times overall at this venue.
# Wins Rider Years won13 Marc Márquez 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2025, 2026
Events
Current
May: July: Grand Prix motorcycle racing German motorcycle Grand Prix, Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, Moto4 Northern Cup September: Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, ADAC GT4 Germany
Future
ADAC GT Masters (2007–2023, 2027) F4 Germany Championship (2015–2017, 2019, 2021, 2027) Porsche Carrera Cup Germany (1999–2002, 2014, 2017–2025, 2027)
Former
ADAC Formel Masters (2008–2014) ADAC TCR Germany Touring Car Championship (2016–2022) Austria Formula 3 Cup (1998, 2005) FIA ETCR – eTouring Car World Cup (2022) FIA GT1 World Championship (2011) Formula BMW ADAC (2000–2002) Formula Renault 2.0 Germany (2004–2005) German Formula Three Championship (1997–2002, 2004–2005, 2007–2014) Grand Prix motorcycle racing East German motorcycle Grand Prix (1961–1972) MotoE World Championship German eRace (2019, 2023–2024) NXT Gen Cup (2024–2025) Prototype Cup Germany (2024) Sidecar World Championship (2005–2014, 2018, 2023–2024) Super Tourenwagen Cup (1996–1999) V8Star Series (2003)
Lap records
As of July 2026, the fastest official race lap records at the Sachsenring are listed as:
Category Time Driver Vehicle Event Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present): Formula Three 1:13.714 Frédéric Vervisch Dallara F306 2008 Sachsenring German F3 round LMP3 1:17.547 Keanu Al Azhari Duqueine D-08 2024 Sachsenring Prototype Cup Germany round Formula 4 1:18.362 Fabio Scherer Tatuus F4-T014 2017 Sachsenring ADAC Formula 4 round GT3 1:18.603 Luca Stolz Mercedes-AMG GT3 2017 Sachsenring ADAC GT Masters round GT1 1:19.602 Mike Hezemans Chevrolet Corvette C6.R 2011 Sachsenring FIA GT1 round MotoGP 1:20.667 Jorge Martín Ducati Desmosedici GP24 2024 German motorcycle Grand Prix Formula Renault 2.0 1:21.413 Colin Fleming Tatuus FR2000 2004 Sachsenring Formula Renault 2000 Germany round ADAC Formel Masters 1:21.715 Pascal Wehrlein Dallara Formulino 2011 Sachsenring ADAC Formel Masters round Superbike 1:22.134 Lukas Tulovic Ducati Panigale V4 R 2026 Sachsenring Euro-Moto Superbike round Moto2 1:22.248 Daniel Holgado Kalex Moto2 2026 German motorcycle Grand Prix Porsche Carrera Cup 1:22.629 Laurin Heinrich Porsche 911 (992 I) GT3 Cup 2022 Sachsenring Porsche Carrera Cup Germany round Supersport 1:24.428 Yamaha YZF-R9 2026 Sachsenring Euro-Moto Supersport round 250cc 1:24.552 Álvaro Bautista Aprilia RSA 250 2009 German motorcycle Grand Prix Moto3 1:25.227 Máximo Quiles KTM RC250GP 2026 German motorcycle Grand Prix MotoE 1:26.522 Héctor Garzó Ducati V21L 2024 German motorcycle Grand Prix TCR Touring Car 1:26.749 Luca Engstler Hyundai i30 N TCR 2018 Sachsenring TCR Germany round 125cc 1:26.909 Gábor Talmácsi Aprilia RS125R 2007 German motorcycle Grand Prix GT4 1:27.061 Mike David Ortmann Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 2022 Sachsenring ADAC GT4 round Sportbike 1:28.394 Jakob Rosenthaler Triumph Daytona 660 2026 Sachsenring Euro-Moto Sportbike round ETCR 1:30.251 Maxime Martin Alfa Romeo Giulia ETCR 2022 Sachsenring FIA ETCR round Supersport 300 1:31.779 Kawasaki Ninja 400 2023 Sachsenring IDM Supersport 300 round NXT Gen Cup 1:41.666 Victor Nielsen LRT NXT1 2024 Sachsenring NXT Gen Cup round Grand Prix Circuit (2001–2002): Formula Three 1:17.151 Kosuke Matsuura Dallara F301 2001 Sachsenring German F3 round DTM 1:21.221 Michael Bartels Opel Astra DTM 2002 Sachsenring DTM round Formula BMW 1.25.988 Maximilian Götz Mygale FB02 2002 Sachsenring Formula BMW ADAC round MotoGP 1:26.226 Valentino Rossi Honda RC211V 2002 German motorcycle Grand Prix 500cc 1:26.808 Shinya Nakano Yamaha YZR500 2001 German motorcycle Grand Prix 250cc 1:27.233 Marco Melandri Aprilia RSV250 2001 German motorcycle Grand Prix Porsche Carrera Cup 1:29.125 Roland Asch Porsche 911 (996 I) GT3 Cup 2001 Sachsenring Porsche Carrera Cup Germany round 125cc 1:29.486 Steve Jenkner Aprilia RS125R 2002 German motorcycle Grand Prix Grand Prix Circuit (2000): Formula Three 1:14.394 Alex Müller Dallara F300 2000 Sachsenring German F3 round DTM 1:19.971 Marcel Fässler Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK DTM 2000 Sachsenring DTM round 250cc 1:23.575 Olivier Jacque Yamaha YZR250 2000 German motorcycle Grand Prix 500cc 1:23.918 Tadayuki Okada Honda NSR500 2000 German motorcycle Grand Prix 125cc 1:26.150 Youichi Ui Derbi RS125R 2000 German motorcycle Grand Prix Porsche Carrera Cup 1:26.620 Roland Asch Porsche 911 (996 I) GT3 Cup 2000 Sachsenring Porsche Carrera Cup Germany round Grand Prix Circuit (1998–1999): Formula Three 1:20.078 Bas Leinders Dallara F397 1998 Sachsenring German F3 round 500cc 1:28.072 Alex Barros Honda NSR500 1999 German motorcycle Grand Prix Super Touring 1:28.384 Christian Abt Audi A4 Quattro 1999 Sachsenring STW Cup round 250cc 1:28.625 Tetsuya Harada Aprilia RSV 250 1998 German motorcycle Grand Prix 125cc 1:30.159 Emilio Alzamora Honda RS125R 1999 German motorcycle Grand Prix Grand Prix Circuit (1996–1997): Formula Three 1:24.416 Timo Scheider Dallara F397 1997 Sachsenring German F3 round Super Touring 1:31.800 Laurent Aïello Peugeot 406 1997 Sachsenring STW Cup round Grand Prix Circuit (1927–1990): 500cc 2:55.400 Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta 500 Three 350cc 2:59.200 Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta 350 3C 250cc 3:01.100 Jarno Saarinen Yamaha 250 V4 125cc 3:12.200 Bill Ivy Yamaha AS1 Formula Three 3:12.200 Kurt Ahrens Jr. Brabham BT18 1966 Sachsenringrennen Formula Junior 3:21.700 Willy Lehmann SEG - Wartburg 1963 Sachsenring East German Formula Junior round 50cc 3:41.200 Jan de Vries Kreidler 50 GP Formula Two 3:44.600 Fritz Riess AFM 3 1950 Sachsenringrennen
Spectators at the MotoGP since 1998 Year Spectators Growth 1998 142,000 1999 151,000 + 6.34% 2000 161.000 + 6.62% 2001 177,000 + 9.94% 2002 184,500 + 4.24% 2003 204,000 + 10.57% 2004 207,745 + 1.84% 2005 216,457 + 4.19% 2006 219,848 + 1.57% 2007 226,944 + 3.23% 2008 221,492 - 2.40% 2009 214,711 - 3,06% 2010 224,668 + 4.64%2011230,133 + 2.4%2012195,695 - 15%2013204,491 + 4.5%2014209,408 + 2.4%2015211,588 + 1%
References
Bibliography Wolfgang Hallmann: Das war der Sachsenring – Geschichte und Gegenwart einer legendären Rennstrecke; Chemnitzer Verlag, Chemnitz; 1996;
External links
Traffic safety center Sachsenring site (German page)
Map and history of Sachsenring at RacingCircuits.info Satellite View of Sachsenring from Google Maps