In spite of being a small city of only around 5,400 inhabitants (2018), it contributes significantly to the tourist industry of Styria, as the community is home of the Red Bull Ring race track.
Understand
[edit]Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]Spielberg and the Red Bull Ring are in close proximity to the S36 motorway, a spur road that connects the Aichfeld region to the A9 and S6 motorways. For normal visits, simply use the Spielberg exit of the S36 motorway and follow the signs for Spielberg or “Red Bull Ring”.
During major events like the Formula 1 Grand Prix or the Moto GP, different traffic patterns may be used to cope with the high amount of vehicular traffic, and to provide sufficient parking. Access to the residential areas is very limited during this time and only possible with invitation of a resident.
By train
[edit]Spielberg has its own 1 train station Spielberg in the district of Pausendorf. This station is only served by local trains and has no further public transit connection. However the neighbouring city of Knittelfeld has the 2 Knittelfeld train station, also served by intercity train services running between Vienna and Villach. Intercity trains operate every two hours and local train services operate hourly. Transport from Graz requires the change of trains either in Bruck/Mur or Leoben.
By plane
[edit]The next regularly served airports are Graz, Vienna and Salzburg. If you are wealthy enough though, you might also land your private jet at 3 Fliegerhorst Zeltweg, the main military airport of Austria, that opens for private jets during major events in Spielberg.
Get around
[edit]
See
[edit]- 1 Town hall - the administrative center of Spielberg in the Pausendorf dirstict
- 1 Pfarrkirche Schönberg ob Knittelfeld - parish church throning above the race track.
- 2 Pfarrkirche Lind-Maßweg - historic church built in 1103
- 3 Red Bull Ring Main Grandstand and Pit Building including exhibitions about motorsport and the history of the race track. Access is free of charge.
- 4 Der Bulle aus Stahl - The “Bull of Steel” stands in the middle of the RedBull Ring and serves as a landmark of the race track. The design for the gigantic sculpture comes from the artists Clemens Neugebauer and Martin Kölldorfer.
- 5 Schloss Spielberg - Castle Spielberg (historic building)
Do
[edit]Red Bull Ring
[edit]The Red Bull Ring was opened in 1969 as the Österreichring, and was known as the GP Austria in Zeltweg in the 1970s. It was only from 1997 to 2003 that the circuit became the A1-Ring. After lengthy renovations, it was reopened on May 15, 2011. The venue itself is also often refererred to simply as "Spielberg", as this is a clever joke with the German word Spiel meaning "play" or "game" and Berg meaning "mountain".
What started as simple race track has meanwhile developed into a year-round attraction providing a wide set of activities mainly focused on motorsports.
- 1 GoKart track - a karting track is placed behind the Red Bull Grandstand. During large events like the F1, the go-kart track may be relocated into the infield.
- 2 Driving Center - driving safety and race driving trainings are held on this facility in the infield.
- 3 4WD Test Track - here four-wheel-drive experience can be made on a specifically rough landscape with steep grades.
- 4 Area 24 - dirt bike area with many routes
The next F1 is 27-29 June 2025. During the races the ring is defined in 3 sectors surrounding the circuit. Within the circuit the pit building and drivers village are located.
Yellow Tickets: These areas are on the eastern side of the track and are to be accessed from either the valley or from Schönberg side.
Blue Ticktes: Blue areas are in the west. The access is only possible via the valley.
- 6 Red Bull Grandstand
- 7 Grandstand T3 - Access is only possible by walking along the "old" other track. Passing behind the Red Bull Grandstand is not permitted and may result in you being turned back close to the top.
Green Tickets:
- 8 Grandstand Schönberg
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]1 Landhotel Schönberghof (Schönberghof), Höhenstraße 1, ☏ +43 3577 22630, [email protected].
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]1 Landhotel Schönberghof (Schönberghof), Höhenstraße 1, ☏ +43 3577 22630, [email protected].
2 Gästehaus Schönberghof (Enzingerhof), Red Bull Ring Straße 18, ☏ +43 3577 22630, [email protected].
Go next
[edit]