Targa Florio Circuit in 1929 - Photo free to use on Public domain
Racing circuits aren’t immortal, some fall to safety concerns, some vanish under pressure from real estate developers and some left behind by time.
Looking back in their prime, few of these lost circuits, they were alive, they had soul and character.
If we look at today’s calendar, some of them have still the name on it, but reality is, what stands today is often shell of what came before.
Let’s explore the seven circuits that once made racing something raw, dangerous and unforgettable, they don’t exist in their full original form anymore, but they deserve to be remembered.
1. Charade in France, the volcano circuit
It is hidden in the hills near Clermont-Ferrand in France, it was more than a race track, it was carved into the side of a volcano.
With over 8 kilometers of narrow, snaking tarmac and nearly 50 corners per lap, isn’t that attractive? This circuit was a test of patience, rhythm.
So what made it special? It wasn’t just layout, it was its mood, the corners flowed, just like Saudi Arabia circuit today, just pushing through fast corners, with no rest, no real straight and no room for error!
Interesting fact is that Helmut Marko, the man who manages Red Bull now, lost his eye here in 1972 after a stone fired through visor, that accident was not a fluke, it was Cherade doing what it did best, punishing anyone who got too comfortable!
The full circuit last used in 1988, but a shorter version still operates, but the volcanic rollercoaster that once hosted F1 is lost to time.
2. Silverstone (The Original)
Yes, Silverstone is still very much alive, but the version most fans know today is a far cry from what it used to be, its totally different.
Let’s go back in the late of 40s, Silverstone was was flat, fast, and brutally simple, the first races were practically drag races around cones and hay bales, By the early ’50s, it had evolved into a triangle of speed that rewarded commitment more than technical mastery.
Today’s version is modern, smooth, and carefully engineered, and some of the most loved circuit in the calendar by fans. But it no longer carries the wild, free nature that defined its early days, what was once a raw test of bravery is now a technical exercise in cornering precision.
3. Reims-Gueux
Photo by Valmara / Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 (CC BY-SA 3.0). Free to use with attribution.
This is another circuit in France, Reims-Gueux was built for speed, with long straight, shallow corners and endless slipstream battles, races here often came down to who had the guts to stay flat out just a second longer.
Between the ’30s and early ’70s, the track hosted some of the fastest racing in Europe, but as cars became quicker and more dangerous, the old layout,with minimal runoff and close barriers, became too risky, by the 1972, it was gone from the calendar forever.
What’s left is haunting, the pit buildings, still standing, faded by time but not forgotten. A few parts of the old track are still public roads, fans gather there, not to race, but to remember what racing used to feel like.
4. Targa Florio
This one is in Italy, it was not just a race track. it was an entire region turned into a race.
Nestled in the Sicilian mountains, this road circuit wound through tiny villages, across stone bridges, and up into hairpin-filled hills.
It also had the distinction of being the longest circuit in the world. In later years the Targa Florio was run on the Little Madonie circuit that had a length of just 45 miles or 72 kms. The original version had been 92 miles or 148 kms long and then this was shortened to 67 miles or 108 kms.May 20, 2018
Why we said the entire region turend into a race,? Because drivers had to memorize 72 kilometers of narrow roads, Drivers had to memorize 72 kilometers of narrow roads, and it was shortened, the original one was 148 kilometer long. Lined with walls, houses, and—yes—spectators just inches away.
Was it dangerous? It was terrifying, one mistake and you were out, in someone’s front yard or inside in their home.
From 1906 to the 1970s it was pure chaos, it ended not because fans lost interest but because the cars outgrew the track, speeds got too high and safety was impossible to guarantee!
Today, parts of the road still exist. Classic car rallies run the loop. But the original spirit? That lives only in the stories of those who dared to race it.
5. Old Spa-Francorchamps
Modern Spa is one of Formula One’s most beloved circuits, but it’s only half the story.
The original Spa was nearly 15 kilometers long. It ripped through the Ardennes forest at breakneck speeds, with corners like Burnenville and the infamous Masta Kink that made drivers lift not just the throttle, but their prayers.
It was fast, too fast and by the early 1970s, Spa had claimed too many lives. Formula One left in 1970. A safer, shorter version eventually replaced it in 1979.
The modern Spa still has hints of the old magic, especially Eau Rouge. But if you ever get the chance to drive the roads of the original layout, you’ll understand: the old Spa wasn’t just a track, it was a monster.
6. Riverside
Just east of Los Angeles, Riverside International Raceway was a hidden gem of American motorsport. With fast sweepers, tricky elevation changes, and perfect weather most of the year, it hosted everything from NASCAR to IndyCar to Can-Am.
Opened in 1957, Riverside was the kind of track that looked simple on paper but was full of surprises. Many drivers considered it one of the best in the U.S. until it vanished.
By the late ’80s, the land had become too valuable. The track was sold, bulldozed, and replaced with a mall and housing developments. Now, there’s no monument. No plaque. Just parking lots and storefronts where legends once raced.
7. AVUS
AVUS, in Berlin, might be the strangest track ever built. It wasn’t a circuit in the traditional sense—it was literally two long stretches of autobahn connected by a U-turn. And at one end? A monstrous 43-degree banked corner, so steep it looked like a wall.
Cars in the 1930s reached over 300 km/h here. Crashes were violent. Death was frequent. Still, AVUS continued to host events well into the postwar era.
Eventually, safety concerns,and common sense, prevailed. AVUS was shortened, then phased out completely. Today, it’s just part of Berlin’s road network, its terrifying past hidden beneath traffic signs and lane paint.
What can we say more…
These tracks didn’t just test lap times, they tested humanity. They were wild, unpredictable, and often unforgiving. But that’s what made them special.
They’re gone now. Either bulldozed, shortened, or buried under layers of concrete and caution. But the legends they produced? The stories? Those can’t be paved over.
