9 motorsport events you should tick off your bucket list

Live streams are soooo 2018. Get out of the armchair and experience the best motorsport events the world has to offer.

Written by James Roberts

8 min readPublished on 18.01.2018 · 12:14 UTC

Every motorsport fan should have a bucket list of events to hit in their lifetime – and we want to help you tick off some of yours in 2018. Forget planning a fortnight lazing around on a beach – instead, check out the list below, pick an event or two, clear the schedule and get stuck into planning your motorsport holiday.

24 Hours of Spa

GT3 cars going through Eau Rouge? Lovely
© Audi

Where? Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium

When? July 26-29

If it’s twice-around-the-clock racing thrills and spills you are looking for in 2018, cast your gaze away from Le Mans and focus on the hallowed tarmac and lush forests of Spa-Francorchamps. The 24 Hours of Spa has been going since 1924, and today the race plays host to some of the world’s finest GT cars, piloted by a mix of crack sportscar racers and amateurs.

Away from the racing, you can settle down to frites and mayonnaise, refreshing Belgian ales and, as night falls, get stuck into some typically high bpm music shows. For the more adventurous/romantic fans, a midnight stroll into the forests to witness the glowing brake discs and fire-breathing exhausts is a must. Just make sure you take a torch and be prepared to stumble across the unexpected!

BTCC at Snetterton

The BTCC action should be stonking at Snetterton this year
© BTCC

Where? Snetterton Circuit, Norfolk, England

When? July 28-29

Swing by any one of the tracks that host the British Touring Car Championship and you are guaranteed exciting racing. But in 2018, if you are only going to go to one BTCC race, head to the epic Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk in July.

This year, the sixth event on the BTCC calendar is a bit special. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the championship, the standard three sprint race format has been tinkered with slightly, and the Snetterton round will feature a double-points, 60-mile race. It should make for a special atmosphere, as the championship will be hotting up nicely by then – and with a multitude of excellent viewing opportunities at Snetterton, you won’t miss a thing.

MotoGP at Assen

The action's always gripping at 'The Cathedral'
© Gold & Goose/Red Bull Content Pool

Where? TT Circuit Assen, Assen, The Netherlands

When? June 29 – July 1

For decades, the Assen circuit – aka ‘The Cathedral’ of motorcycle racing – has provided a setting for MotoGP and Superbike fans to get up close and personal with the stars of two-wheeled racing amid a lively atmosphere. That 'lively atmosphere' largely comes courtesy of the 100,000 or so bike lovers who turn up to the track, a lot of them boisterous Scandinavians and Brits.

Just a hop and a skip from the Eurotunnel, get stuck into the plentiful beer and kebab stalls and park yourself on one of the many banks looking down on the super-fast, sweeping circuit. Make sure you take something waterproof, though – it will probably rain.

Portland IndyCar Grand Prix

Portland was an Indy fixture from 1984-2007, and makes its comeback in 2018
© Getty Images

Where? Portland International Raceway, Oregon, USA

When? August 31 – September 2

The Indianapolis 500 is THE IndyCar race to be at, but if you fancy something a bit different, why not head to the Pacific Northwest and the hipster paradise of Portland to witness America’s premier open-wheeled racing series. Wax that moustache and explore more craft beer options that you can shake a stick at.

The circuit, back on the Indy racing calendar this year for the first time since 2007, is a stone’s throw from Portland International Airport and a taxi ride from downtown Portland; it's a great city, featuring a lively nightlife and surrounded by an awe-inspiring snow-capped volcanic landscape and lush forests. Event tickets are cheap, the track is great, and once the dust has settled and the weekend’s action is over, you're only a short drive (or an even shorter flight) from Seattle and Vancouver. Road trip, anyone?

Goodwood Revival

Where? Goodwood Circuit, West Sussex, England

When? September 7-9

Chocks away, Ginger! Jaguar E-Types, Ferrari 250 GTOs and Ford GT40s whizzing around the track while Spitfires and Lancaster Bombers soar through the sky. There is no motorsport event quite like the Goodwood Revival.

Celebrating motorsport between 1948 and 1966, punters dress up in period clothes; all around, you'll see motorsport fans turned out like American GIs, rockabillys or spivs, while even the drivers and mechanics are clad in period attire. And then there's the racing. From pre-war Auto Unions to priceless GT thoroughbreds of the 1960s and classic Nortons and MV Agustas, the on-track competition is fierce and anything but a nostalgic romp.

Drivers and riders like Tom Kristensen and Wayne Gardner regularly turn out, and this event is a must for any fan of fast cars, bikes, planes, fashion and just about anything with an engine.

Berlin ePrix

Where? Templehof Airport Street Circuit, Berlin, Germany

When? May 19

One of the great things about watching Formula E in the flesh is that all of the series' races take place in urban settings, meaning you can mix city centre nightlife and sightseeing with an afternoon watching the likes of Sébastien Buemi and Lucas Di Grassi battling it out.

Head to Berlin in May, and away from the racing you can hit the city's never-ending choice of upscale bars or dive pubs and clubs, offering everything from thrash metal to all-night techno. Then, try not to miss your alarm, jump on the U-Bahn to the Art Deco time capsule of Templehof Airport and soothe your hangover with some wheel-bashing, non ear-bashing Formula E action.

Japanese Grand Prix

Where? Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, Japan

When? October 4-7

While Formula One remains the pinnacle of motorsport, many purists feel that, with the futures of classic circuits like Monza and Hockenheim under threat, so too is the essence of what makes F1 so great. A trip to the classic Suzuka Circuit in Japan is just the tonic.

Alongside Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Suzuka provides some of the most famous bits of tarmac in racing parlance, from the Degner Curves to the breathtaking 130R left-hander. From a fan’s point of view, if you can get the logistics sorted and arrange to be there for a week or so, it would make for a truly unforgettable experience.

The circuit is in the Mie Prefecture, 50km south of the city of Nagoya, which is a good place to aim for accommodation-wise. It won’t be cheap, but there are options such as camping or, if you're feeling brave, some 24-hour internet cafes – aka ‘manga kissa’ – offer bed and board for a fraction of the price a hotel will set you back. Do your research for this one…

Bathurst 1000

Supercars plunging down the Mount Panorama circuit is a sight to behold
© VUE Images/Red Bull Content Pool

Where? Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia

When? October 4-7

The world of Supercars – the racing series formerly known as V8 Supercars – is a truly Antipodean culture shock of spectacular, brutish tin-top racing. But for northern hemisphere petrolheads, it's frustratingly a bit too far away to make a weekend of it.

However, for a fix of panel-bashing, 300kph Holden vs Ford action (OK, and Nissan too) you have to get it together and visit Mount Panorama, home of the Bathurst 1000. The race is a flat-out, 1000km race up down and around the legendary Mount Panorama Circuit – a track set on the side of an actual mountain and featuring a maximum elevation of 174 metres and a straight that's nearly 2km long!

Away from the action, the fans like to party hard, so beers and BBQ are the order of the weekend. It's more fun than an Ashes or Lions tour, so forget the more traditional Australian sporting holidays and take a walk on the V8-powered wild side. The only question is: Are you a Holden fan or a Ford fan? Or, you know, a Nissan fan…

Rally Finland

Head to the forests for the rally known as 'The Grand Prix of Finland'
© @World/Red Bull Content Pool

Where? Jyväskylä in central Finland

When? July 27-29

Whatever World Rally Championship event you decide to visit, you are guaranteed plenty of sporting thrills and scenic bang for your buck. But for something truly special from the WRC calendar, pack your Gortex and get along to Rally Finland.

Obviously, a car is essential to visit the splendour of rural Finland, and in terms of accommodation, aim for the city of Jyväskylä – the hub for Rally Finland – about a three hour drive from Helsinki airport. As one would expect, hotels and the like will be in demand, so if getting a roof over your head fails, take a tent and drive from stage to stage like a modern day WRC groupie.

If the special stages are a bit too sanitised for your taste, there are plenty of iconic stages with excellent viewing opportunities, such as Ouninpohja (aka The Yellow House stage) Urria and the shakedown stage, Ruuhimäki. Get planning, stock up on mosquito repellent and you will be rewarded with an unforgettable WRC experience.

So here's our pick of the most epic motorsport events: