Road America Track Notes 2026

Sep 18, 2026

Comprehensive track briefing for Road America, covering the facility’s location and driving character, including how elevation changes influence car behavior from start/finish through key sectors. Provides detailed track geometry: total length and turn count, run-off expectations, and a directional elevation profile across major turns. Identifies technical corners requiring braking, reduced speed, or careful setup, and lists fast segments and longest straights. Includes safety signaling overview (light boards and black-flag number board), pit-lane speed guidance, and practical preparation items for HPDE participation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLifestyle

FormatPDF

Pages23

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Road America Overview

The Track Layout and Elevation Changes

Technical Corners and Fast Sections

Local Track Names and Track Lights

Black Flags and Number Boards

What to Bring to an HPDE Event

Entering the Track and Signal Meanings

Road America Track Notes 2026 Road America General Setting Road America is one of the premier road racing courses in North America, if not the world. RA is nestled in the northern Kettle Moraine of Wisconsin, and the varied, hilly relief is a legacy of the glaciers’ meltdown at the end of their last stand in Wisconsin. Views in the fall while driving on the track are spectacular—both colors and topography—but, don’t be distracted. RA is a high-speed, high-performance track, but well-driven cars with lower horsepower can make time on the twisty “backside” of the course. The track The track is 4.048 miles long with fourteen (14) turns. The track surface elevation drops 160’ from the start/finish line to the straight between turns 11 (Kink) and 12 (Canada Corner), and for those in low horsepower cars, it feels like you have to climb all the way up from turn 14 to the start/finish line. There is plenty of run-off room at all of the high-speed corners. The track surface is uphill from 14 to 1, downhill from 1–2–3; downhill continuing into 5; uphill from 5-6; downhill from 6-7 and 7-8; relatively flat to downhill through 9-10 (Carousel) and through the “Kink”; flat from the “Kink” to 12 (Canada Corner); uphill from 12-13; and flat from the access road on the right after turn 13 to 14. The track has four turns that are considered quite technical because they are a) tight and require serious braking and speed reduction downhill (5 & 8), b) are blind and tight coming off a short uphill straight (6), or c) are off camber in the corner (8) . However, 6 and 8 lead to significant “straights”, so they need to be negotiated well – slow in, fast out. There are some blazingly fast corners if you are set up correctly – 7, The Carousel (9&10), the “Kink” (11) and 13. There are some relatively fast sweepers (14 and 1) and there is turn 12, which you enter off one of the fastest straights of the track. The longest straights are: 14-1, 3-5, and in lower horsepower cars , 8-12. Page 2 of 23 1/15/2025 Local Names Road America Straight–Turn 14 to Turn 1 Moraine Sweep – Turn 3 to Turn 5 Hurry Downs – Turn 7 to Turn 8 Carousel – Turn 9 to Turn 10 Kink – Turn 11 Bend – Used instead of the Kink during some events Kettle Bottoms – Turn 11 to Turn 12 Canada Corner – Turn 12 Thunder Valley – Turn 12 to Turn 13 Track Lights There are safety light boards at a number of locations around the track. These light boards can display standing yellow, waving (flashing) yellow, red or write lights. The condition of the light will be the same asthe corner worker station immediately following the light. These lights are found in the following locations: 1. Before turn 1 on the left 2. Before turn 5 on the right 3. Before turn 6 on the right 4. Before turn 9 on the left 5. Before turn 11 on the left 6. Before turn 12 on the left 7. Before turn 14 on the left Number Board Near the safety light board at turn 14 there’s also a number board. This board will display the number of a car that is being black flagged. The corner worker on the right at turn 14 will also point their black flag at you if you are being called into the pits. Black flags are used to call a driver into the pits to discuss some type of on track infraction or to bring cars into the pits if they appear to be having a mechanical problem. If you get a black flag or see your number on the board, come into the pits at the entrance following turn 14. Be sure to observe the pit lane speed limit of 35 mph. If you ignore the black flag, you’ll likely see another one at the start/finish line. Page 3 of 23 1/15/2025 Somethings You Might Want to Consider Bringing with You to an HPDE Event 1. A second key for your car. 2. If you wear glasses or contacts bring a second pair of glasses or contacts. Sun glasses. 3. Helmet, Snell approved, 2015 specification or later. You may also be able to rent a helmet from Road America for the event. 4. Tools – Torque wr

FAQs

How long is the Road America track and how many turns does it have?

Road America is 4.048 miles long and has fourteen turns. The briefing also notes a 160’ elevation drop across key start/finish to the straight between turns 11 and 12.

What do the track safety light boards indicate for driving and passing?

Safety light boards display standing yellow, waving/flashing yellow, red, or write lights. A green light means the track is open and passing is allowed; a yellow light means the track is open but passing is not allowed; a red light means the track is closed.

What should a driver do if they receive a black flag or see their number on the board?

If given a black flag or if a driver sees their number on the black-flag number board, they should enter the pits at the entrance following turn 14 and observe the pit lane speed limit of 35 mph.

Sep 18, 2026

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