One of the longest road courses in the U.S., 3.56 miles through Alan Wilson's linked North and South loops
Autobahn Country Club opened in October 2004 as the first purpose-built motorsports country club in the United States. Founder Tim O'Donnell and partner David Basso brought in Alan Wilson, designer of Barber Motorsports Park, Gingerman Raceway, and other major circuits, to lay out a facility where two independent loops could also link into one long course.
The full circuit strings the 1.5-mile North Course and 2.06-mile South Course into 3.56 miles and 19 turns, all run clockwise. It is a big lap: long straights, linked esses, and several heavy-braking zones that reward patience on cold tires and commitment once the surface is warm.
Located southwest of Chicago in Joliet, Autobahn hosts HPDE groups, club racing, manufacturer programs, and member events throughout the season. The North and South layouts can also operate separately, or simultaneously, when the facility splits the property for different groups.
Notable features
- North Course link: The full lap begins on the shorter northern loop, a tight, technical segment that sets up the merge onto the faster South Course.
- South Course straightaways: The southern loop carries the highest average speeds on the property, with a main straight roughly 1,850 feet long.
- Full-course esses: Linked sections between the two loops flow at high speed and punish small mistakes with time lost over the entire lap.
- Clockwise rhythm: Every configuration runs clockwise, learn one direction and it carries across North, South, and Full layouts.
- Chicago-area access: Roughly 45 minutes from downtown Chicago, making it a regular HPDE and club-racing destination across the Midwest.
