Berlin
Berlin's position in Brandenburg grants motorsport enthusiasts access to several racing circuits developed during the late GDR and post-reunification era. DEKRA Lausitzring (115 kilometers southeast of Berlin, 75-90 minute drive near Klettwitz) represents the nearest internationally significant facility - originally completed in 2000 as EuroSpeedway Lausitz, the circuit combines a 3.478km grand prix course with a unique high-speed oval (continental Europe's only NASCAR/IndyCar-style banking). Following DEKRA's 2017 acquisition, the facility primarily functions as a proving ground for road car innovations but continues renting to race promoters hosting DTM, ADAC GT Masters, IDM motorcycle championships, and smaller events. Track days are coordinated by GT-Days (100dB noise limit, maximum 30 cars in 3 groups) and other organizers, with the circuit's complex layout enabling various configurations for different driver experience levels.
Spreewaldring Training Center (STC Motodrom), 70 kilometers south of Berlin via A13, provides more accessible regular track day opportunities on a 2.7km permanent road circuit featuring 17 corners. STC operates a flexible pricing model - Free Ride sessions with STC license cost 19 Euro for 15-minute blocks up to 895 Euro annual passes, while Afterwork Track-Days (approximately 149 Euro for 4 hours) offer relaxed, instructor-supported evening sessions suitable for beginners. Teichmann Instruktor Trainings provides premium coaching sessions (approximately 260 Euro for two-day training) with riders split into pace groups and professional guidance. Further afield, Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (near Magdeburg, 3.696km) and Sachsenring (near Chemnitz, south of Leipzig, 3.645km) extend options - the latter hosts the German MotoGP Grand Prix and offers weekday track days at 442 Euro and weekend sessions at 479 Euro (9am-4:15pm).
German track day culture operates under the Deutscher Motor Sport Bund (DMSB), which enforces strict licensing requirements for competitive racing. The DMSB National A license (Rennerlaubnis) requires prior demonstration of driving experience through a one-day car driving training course, followed by licensing courses combining theory sessions (racing rules, flag signals, safety procedures), practical driving assessments, and written examinations. For the Nürburgring Nordschleife, an additional DMSB Permit Nordschleife (DPN, issued in levels A/B/C according to vehicle category and driver level) is mandatory. This structured licensing system reflects German emphasis on systematic skill development rather than casual American approaches - track days often emphasize instruction and progressive learning environments over pure performance driving opportunities. For Berlin enthusiasts, the combination of DEKRA Lausitzring for high-speed oval experience, Spreewaldring accessibility for regular practice, and regional access to historic circuits like Sachsenring creates diversified if geographically dispersed infrastructure - reflecting eastern Germany's motorsport rebuilding following reunification.