Reverse the Course: Top 10 Circuits That Changed Driving Direction!

[@fontheking5]

The Arctic Circle Raceway in northern Norway, outside the village of Mo i Rana, also changed it's driving direction from clockwise to anti-clockwise. The reason being that it diden't pass safety inspection when completed, due a massive drop off behind the armco barrier of the first corner (which is now the last corner ), so in order to pass inspection, the driving direction was reversed, which means that all the corners are open on entry but tightens on exit. It was constructed in and around an old limestone mine and features some of the best views and landscapes of any modern day track, Norway is after all known for it's stunning views, mountain and landscapes and this track totally sums that that up perfectly.

[@Circuitsofthepast]

Thanks for sharing, it was new for me.

[@juanantonioalbacetecalero6538]

Great video! Thanks!

[@Circuitsofthepast]

You're welcome.

[@YuriBruschi]

Ciao Herman. Here in Italy, Misano have changed direction. Buona serata, ciao 🏁🇮🇹

[@Circuitsofthepast]

Ciao Yure. Thanks for the information! Buona serata.

[@miscellaneoussarnian5282]

@@Circuitsofthepastyeah, I was expecting Misano here

[@Circuitsofthepast]

As you saw, I didn't knew also Misano changed driving direction. So I learned something new today :)

[@janoswimpffen7305]

Truly excellent video. Well researched. A pontential additon: Phoenix International Raceway in Arizona. It is broadly known for its 1-mile dogleg oval which hosted IndyCar for many years and on-off Stock Car races from several series. Its road course is a little less known.I believe that racing on the road course predated the oval by few months. The orignal road course used a bit of the oval and then went out on the back side of the oval extending around some desert hills which provided excellent and cheap (i.e. free) spectator venues. I believe that it was run clockwise. It never hosted any major events, just mostly SCCA club meetings. The outer road course fell out of use in the 1970s and was later revived but now wholly as an infield course, similar to other such "rovals" like Daytona, but on a much smaller footprint. If I recall correctly, although I not sure, that it swapped to counter clockwise. Its height came in the 2000s when it hosterd sevral rounds of Grand-Am. Colombia's Tocancipa (near Bogota) may the the most unique. It changes directions during the course of each season. It hosts all the rounds of the National Circuit Championship (mostly touring cars with some GT & small prototypes). For typically 1-2 meetings per year the direction reverses. I could be wrong but I believe there have been cases where different heats of the same series during a single weekend change direction.

[@Circuitsofthepast]

Thanks for the information. In 2012 I visited Phoenix. Unfortunately, that time I was not aware about the road circuit. The Bogota story is totally new for me. Thanks 👍

[@kallsop2]

As always a great video. Some of these I did not know about at all and that's what I like about your channel. The one I did know was Kyalami after learning of it's major changes a few years ago. That is one track that gives me chills thinking about it, from the tragic events with Tom Pryce and track marshal Frederik Jansen van Vuuren.

[@Circuitsofthepast]

Thanks! Also good to hear people like my video's :)

[@SmeurkeDeKat]

I knew Gedinne was gonna be in there. I also know what the pre-'87 lay-out was like. I did some research through old footage and photo's and Google Maps. The older layouts are still a mistery to me.

[@Circuitsofthepast]

Heel goed :)

[@othgmark1]

Left out Misano?

[@Circuitsofthepast]

There will undoubtedly be many more circuits that have changed direction. This is a selection of 10.

[@alotafun1]

Brands Hatch reverted back to the Anti Clockwise Direction for the Hutchinson 100 Motorcycle Races in the late 60's and into the 70's as one off annual events.

[@Circuitsofthepast]

Thanks for this aditional information.

[@literallyhuman5990]

Wait, doesn't Misano also change direction after Wayne Rainey's crash?

[@Circuitsofthepast]

I think it was much later.

[@TheQwaz]

I thought Brno was having financial trouble and either last season or the one prior was the last time any major series went there. I hope it still exists. Massive shame if it has closed. 🥺

[@Circuitsofthepast]

As far as I know the circuit has a new director who wants to continue the necessary renovations and put the circuit back on the world map.

[@liamgbooth]

What about Misano?

[@Circuitsofthepast]

See the other comments. It has already been discussed.

[@RTPJu]

Interlagos changed half of it's layout in the late 80s

[@Circuitsofthepast]

Yes, the section from Curva do Sol to Ferradura.

[@alphtjodo9919]

Hallo

[@Circuitsofthepast]

Hallo

[@davidfxb]

And maybe famous Fuji

[@Circuitsofthepast]

As far as I know, Fuji was driven in both directions in the early years. Later only clockwise. I guess the original plan was to drive counter-clockwise, as it was original intended as an oval.