Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park-FIRM West Loop
The Florida International Rally and Motorsports Park, commonly called The FIRM, is a world-class Motorsports complex operating on a 420-acre lot of land at Keystone Heights Airport, a 10-minutes drive away from the Northern Floridian town of Starke and 40 minutes away from Gainesville. The complex includes a 1.6-mile (2.57-km) road track resulting from the combination of two independent circuits, the East Loop and the West Loop, a half-miler karting circuit, several rally stages offering different track surfaces, and a 1700 x 175 feet skidpad. The Firm sits in one of the rainiest spots in the United States, with high humidity year-round, super hot summers, and cool winters with no snow. Racers can enjoy the track in any season but paying attention to the weather forecast is very important.
The road course at The FIRM has ten turns and features a 1725 ft (525.78 m) straight away, which may include a succession of four 90-degrees turns in the middle, known as The Shoebox. This track is compatible with both the clockwise and counterclockwise orientation and has a constant width of 30 feet (9 meters). The average speed is 69 mph (111 km/h), with an average lap time of 1:18.2.
The West Loop configuration at Florida International Rally and Motorsport Park (FIRM) utilizes the western sections to create a specific layout variant at this unique multi-discipline facility combining road racing with rally stages. The West Loop emphasizes particular corner sequences in the western track sections, serving road course events requiring specific technical characteristics. This configuration demonstrates FIRM's modular design serving Florida's diverse motorsport community.
Operating the West Loop showcases FIRM's versatility across multiple motorsport disciplines where road course configurations complement rally stage infrastructure. Florida's subtropical climate creates year-round racing potential with afternoon thunderstorms common across summer months. The West Loop variant allows the facility to offer varied road course experiences, positioning FIRM as southeastern motorsport's unique multi-discipline venue where rally and road racing coexist.
