Motorsport Arena Oschersleben

Circuit guide by Chris Pollitt · dates updated 2 November 2026

Oschersleben opened in 1997 as the Motopark, about 30 km west of Magdeburg in the old East Germany, and it went on to host DTM, World Superbikes and the World Touring Car Championship. The Grand Prix layout is 3.696 km long, 11 to 13 metres wide and pretty flat, with only 23 metres of elevation change. What it lacks in hills it makes up for in corners: 14 of them, with very little straight between most.

It's a popular venue with German and eastern European organisers, and bike days are especially common. The bikes use the slightly shorter A circuit, which swaps the abrupt Turn 1 for a gentler bend. With no blind corners, good grip and a predictable surface, it's a sensible track for novices, but the constant direction changes keep experienced drivers and riders busy all day. There's a hotel at the circuit, which makes a two-day visit easy.

A lap of Motorsport Arena Oschersleben

Layout: Grand Prix, 3.696 km (2.30 miles)

The lap starts on the long start-finish straight, which leads to the fastest point on the circuit. Then it's a long, hard stop for Turn 1, a tight 90-degree left. In racing it's notorious for first-lap pile-ups because three cars arrive side by side and only one fits on the line. On a track day the danger is simpler: braking too late from top speed. Grip is better on the outside line, so don't dive for the inside.

The left feeds into the sweeping right-hander of the Hotel corner, where you want to carry speed and run out to the kerb. From there the lap winds through the infield, and there's very little time to rest. The corners come quickly, so it pays to learn them as linked pairs, thinking about the exit of one as the entry to the next.

The trickiest section is the Triple, a fast run of left-hand curves in the infield. Race drivers enter it in fifth and have to shift down quickly while the car is still turning, so a smooth, early downshift is important in any car. It's followed by a tight right-hand hairpin and a chicane. The kerbs are the issue here. Use too little of them and you lose time, but attack them too hard and you risk breaking suspension.

The last part of the lap leads through a hairpin at Turn 13 and onto the start-finish straight. That exit is the most important on the circuit, because it sets your speed all the way to Turn 1. It's also the only real passing spot in racing, so on a busy day expect faster cars to be right behind you there. Be patient and point them by afterwards.

Track day tips

• The 98 dB limit applies to cars and bikes, and bike days measure at half of maximum revs. Check your exhaust before you set off.
• Turn 1 comes at the end of the fastest part of the lap. Brake early on your first few laps and build up from there.
• Cars running wide drag dirt and sand onto the track, so watch for a dusty line, especially after another car has had a moment.
• Don't take the infield kerbs too aggressively. Oschersleben has a reputation for breaking suspension parts.
• There are few straights to cool off on, so on hot days keep an eye on brake, oil and tyre temperatures.
• The circuit's own car days ban timing and filming, so leave the lap timer and camera at home or check the rules first.

Getting there

Oschersleben is a long trip from the UK, at roughly 800 km from Calais via Belgium, the Netherlands and northern Germany. Most people break the drive overnight, around Hanover or the Ruhr. The circuit is about 30 km west of Magdeburg, a short run from the A2 or A14 motorways. For flying, Hanover and Berlin Brandenburg both have regular UK flights, and Leipzig/Halle is another option. There's a hotel at the circuit, and Magdeburg has plenty more.