Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Main Circuit with Chicane
The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is located halfway between Columbus and Cleveland in Lexington, Ohio. The track is a synonym for motorsports in the Buckeye State, hosting regular professional events for IndyCar, NASCAR, and IMSA Series. Club events for NASA and SCCA are also held regularly at the track. The local businessman and passionate racer Les Griebling opened the raceway in 1962 as a weekend pastime for club racing that grew up to be a full-fletched racing venue apt for top-notch competitions. There are four distinct seasons in Lexington, with mild summers and freezing, snowy winters, and 141 days with precipitation throughout the year.
The FIA Grade Two Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has two possible configurations: the Pro Course and the Club Circuit. The Start line is apart from the finish line and sits right beside sweeper turn number 3, in the fastest straightaway. There are several blind corners with heavy banking in the eastern section, and speeds as high as 180 mph (290 km/h) are possible in the western part before The Keyhole. The average velocities of both circuits are around 80 mph, with average lap times around 1 minute and 40 seconds.
The Main Circuit with Chicane configuration at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course adds a chicane element to the facility's standard 2.258-mile layout, creating a technical braking zone that transforms the circuit's character at this historic Ohio facility in Lexington. The chicane addition interrupts the flow through a section where the standard Main Circuit allows sustained speed, creating different setup priorities and racing dynamics. This variant serves events requiring specific technical characteristics or adhering to series regulations mandating chicane configurations.
Operating the Main Circuit with Chicane showcases Mid-Ohio's flexibility in serving varied event requirements across the facility that has hosted major championships since opening in 1962. The chicane insertion creates overtaking opportunities and reduces speeds through specific sections, altering tire degradation patterns and fuel consumption strategies. Ohio's continental climate creates distinct seasonal racing windows with the facility operating primarily April through October. The Main Circuit with Chicane configuration demonstrates modern circuit philosophy where temporary chicanes customize existing layouts matching specific series requirements without permanent track modifications.
Class Podiums
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Main Circuit with Chicane is 3.9 km, 15 turns, clockwise. Fastest recorded lap: 1:32.864 (Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06 2009 (w/DH Slick)).