Circuit Zolder

The Circuit Zolder, also known as Circuit Terlaemen, is an undulating 4.011 km (2.492-mile) motorsport race track in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.

Built in 1963, Zolder hosted the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix on 10 separate occasions in the 1970s and 1980s. The F1 circus moved to Zolder after Spa-Francorchamps was deemed too fast and too dangerous. It switched between Nivelles-Baulers for 4 years until Nivelles was considered boring by the F1 community. From 1975 to 1982, Zolder was the location of the Belgian Grand Prix. Unfortunately, Zolder is probably best remembered as the place Gilles Villeneuve lost his life during qualifying at the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix, an event that signified the beginning of the end for the Flemish circuit as a Formula One venue (although the accident was not caused by problems with the track). The Belgian Grand Prix was held here only once more before going back to the shortened Spa-Francorchamps circuit which has hosted the Belgian Grand Prix nearly every year since.

On two occasions Zolder has hosted the World Championship Road Cycling; 1969 and 2002 and the World Championship Cyclo Cross in 1970 and 2002.

In the beginning of 2006, the track underwent some adaptations to increase safety. In 2007, the track hosted a Champ Car World Series Grand Prix, and a round of the FIA GT Championship. The track was venue of a round of the World Series by Renault championship from 2003 to 2006, and replaced Zandvoort as site for the Masters of Formula 3 in 2007 and 2008. Now, Zolder hosts the FIA WTCC Race of Belgium and the GT Belcar championship, including the 24 Hours of Zolder.