GridpediaWatkins Glen
- Location
- New York State, USA
- Races held
- 20 (1961 to 1980)
- Most wins, drivers
- Graham Hill (3), Jim Clark (3), Carlos Reutemann (2), James Hunt (2), Jackie Stewart (2)
- Most wins, teams
- Ferrari (3), BRM (3), McLaren (2), Tyrrell (2), Team Lotus (2)
- Most poles
- Graham Hill (3), Mario Andretti (2), James Hunt (2), Jackie Stewart (2), Jack Brabham (2)
- Map
- OpenStreetMap
What is a lap of Watkins Glen like?
The Boot, a hammerhead-shaped up-and-downhill extension through the woods, was added in 1971, stretching the lap to 5.435 km; it is the layout F1 used for its last ten races at the Glen (1971-1980). The lap opens with The 90, a downhill 90-degree right-hander, then the fast Esses climb onto the back straight; after François Cevert's fatal crash in the Esses in 1973, a fast right-left chicane named after Jody Scheckter was added there for 1975 to slow the cars. The Boot section drops downhill left through the trees, follows the hillside through two consecutive uphill right-handers over a blind crest, then returns via fast left-handers at Turns 9 and 10 and a quick right at Turn 11 onto the pit straight. The 'Bus Stop' Inner Loop chicane at the end of the back straight was added in 1992 and was not part of the Formula 1 layout.
- Lap length
- 5.435 km
- Turns
- 11
- Direction
- clockwise
- Longest straight
- about 840 m
- Character
- Fast and flowing (about 39% of the lap is cornering)
- Layout described
- Grand Prix Circuit including The Boot, with the Scheckter chicane at the Esses (added 1975), 3.377 mi (5.435 km), used for the United States Grand Prix 1975 to 1980; the same course without the chicane was used 1971 to 1974
| Turn | Name | Side | Type | Angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The 90 | Right | medium | 97° |
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | ||||
| 4 | ||||
| 5 | The Loop (now the Outer Loop) | Right | medium | 143° |
| 6 | Left | medium | 143° | |
| 7 | Toe of the Boot | Right | hairpin | 178° |
| 8 | Heel of the Boot | Right | medium | 120° |
| 9 | Left | medium | 128° | |
| 10 | Left | fast | 73° | |
| 11 | Right | fast | 90° |
Sources for the checked facts (15)
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watkins_Glen_International
- theglen.com/facility-maps/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1975_United_States_Grand_Prix
- racingcircuits.info/north-america/usa/watkins-glen.html
- formula1.com/en/latest/article/moments-in-time-united-states-special.2KYqYutdoSJMnSXtrEIuw
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_United_States_Grand_Prix
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_United_States_Grand_Prix
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_United_States_Grand_Prix
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_United_States_Grand_Prix
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_United_States_Grand_Prix
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_United_States_Grand_Prix
- iracing.com/?p=8966
- nascar.com/news-media/2018/08/01/analyzing-each-turn-at-watkins-glen-international/
- nasaspeed.news/columns/driver-instruction/one-lap-around-watkins-glen-international-racewa
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_reduction_system
Map, character and grey values are approximate (measured from a GPS trace). Report a correction.
Does pole position win at Watkins Glen?
The pole sitter has won 10 of 20 races here (50%). Across all circuits since 1950 the pole sitter wins 44% of races. The winner started from the front row (P1 or P2) in 14 of 20 races (70%) and from the top three in 16 (80%). Lowest grid position to win: 8th, Innes Ireland in 1961.
| Winner started from | Wins | Share |
|---|---|---|
| P1 | 10 | 50% |
| P2 | 4 | 20% |
| P3 | 2 | 10% |
| P4 | 1 | 5% |
| P5 | 2 | 10% |
| P8 | 1 | 5% |
Where the winner started, every race at this circuit. Pole sitter means the driver who set the fastest qualifying time (first on the grid where no qualifying data exists); a grid penalty can move the pole sitter back, and that race still counts for them. Compare every circuit.