Kinds of Race Tracks

Race track is a permanent facility or building. This track is an alternate term for a horse racing track, found in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. Velodromes is a track built for cycles. Similarly Circuit is a common abbreviation for racetrack, given the usual circuitous configuration of most race tracks, allowing races to occur over several laps.

According to its real definition in motorsports, A racetrack is a permanent building or a race track is a facility for racing of animals like horse racing or greyhound racing, automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A racing track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.

To some extinct, a race course is a term for non-permanent tracks for sports, particularly road running, water sports, road racing or rallying. Many sports around the globe usually held on racetracks can also occur on temporary but purpose built tracks, such as the Monaco Grand Prix in Formula One. For horse racing track, racecourse is an alternative track. Usually found in the countries like UK and UAE.

These Tracks are usually of an oval shape, often banked, which allows almost universal spectator views or high speed racing. Some tracks are variations on an oval shape, for practical reasons or to introduce varying difficulties, but are often criticized for lack of excitement. Racetracks may differ with each other like many racetracks have meandering circuits with many curves, chicanes and changes in height, to allow for a challenge in skill to the competitors, notably motocross and touring car racing.

Drag racing is specifically configured in a long straight way. Moreover, some races will be held only over the straight portion of a track (some horse racing and sprint athletics). Many motorsport and horse tracks are configurable, allowing different routes or sections. Some venues contain smaller tracks inside larger ones, with access tunnels and bridges for spectators.

Variety of racetracks is multi-purposed, allowing different types of sport on the same track, or incorporating many tracks in one venue. Commonly running tracks are incorporated within general use or soccer stadiums, either permanently visible or covered by stands/pitches.

Some of the racetracks consist of a short course plus longer course which uses part of the shorter one, usually the main straight, such as Brands Hatch. The Le Mans road race venue is centered on a smaller permanent circuit within its complex.

Some racetracks may offer little in the way of permanent infrastructure bar the actual track; others incorporate spectator facilities such as grandstands, hospitality or facilities for competitors, such as pit lanes and garages, paddocks and stables. Some racetracks are too small to be contained indoors, for sports such as motocross, cycling and athletics. But several racetracks are incorporated into larger venues or complexes, incorporating golf courses, museums, hotels and conference centers.

During the 1920s motorsports, many of the races on the Championship were on high banked wooden race tracks called board tracks. Latest tracks are designed with spectator safety paramount, following incidents of spectator and track marshal's fatalities. These often involve run off areas, barriers and high fencing.