Circuit of the past · Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen

Grand Prix years
1961–1980
Grands Prix held
20
Lap length
5.435 km
Corners
11
Type
Race circuit
Elevation change
42 m

About the circuit

Home of the US Grand Prix

For twenty years in a row, from 1961 to 1980, the circuit in New York State, near Seneca Lake, hosted the United States Grand Prix. The first race brought the works Lotus team its first win, with Innes Ireland at the wheel, and Jim Clark and Graham Hill won here three times each. In 1971 the lap was lengthened to 5.4 km.

Title deciders

The title was decided here three times: in 1970 Emerson Fittipaldi’s win made Jochen Rindt a posthumous champion, in 1974 Fittipaldi himself became champion, and in 1977 Niki Lauda did. François Cevert was killed at this track in qualifying in 1973, and Helmuth Koinigg in the 1974 race. The Grand Prix was held here for the last time in 1980, and Alan Jones won.

Championship races
20 — from 1961 to 1980, all of them the United States Grand Prix
First race
8 October 1961 — Innes Ireland, Lotus
Title deciders
1970, 1974, 1977
Most wins
Jim Clark and Graham Hill — 3 each
Last race
5 October 1980 — Alan Jones

Layouts by year

1961–197010 races · 3.780 km · 8 turns
1971–19744 races · 5.435 km · 11 turns
1975–19806 races · 5.435 km · 11 turns

Winners

1980Alan JonesWilliamsfrom P5
1979Gilles VilleneuveFerrarifrom P3
1978Carlos ReutemannFerrarifrom P2
1977James HuntMcLarenfrom P1
1976James HuntMcLarenfrom P1
1975Niki LaudaFerrarifrom P1
1974Carlos ReutemannBrabhamfrom P1
1973Ronnie PetersonLotusfrom P1
1972Jackie StewartTyrrellfrom P1
1971François CevertTyrrellfrom P5
1970Emerson FittipaldiLotusfrom P3
1969Jochen RindtLotusfrom P1

Records

Lap record1:34.068Alan Jones · 1980
Most wins3Jim Clark, Graham Hill
First Grand Prix1961Innes Ireland
Races held20in the World Championship since 1961

The lap record is per circuit layout. Calculated by Gridlap from f1db history and the season’s results