For over three decades, the Detroit Belle Isle circuit served as a cornerstone of American street racing. Nestled on a river island in the heart of the Motor City, it hosted some of the most dramatic and strategic battles in modern open-wheel and sports car racing.
With a legacy defined by gritty racing, a tight and technical layout, and a backdrop steeped in automotive history, Belle Isle was more than just a racetrack—it symbolised Detroit's resilience and racing passion. You can now drive this amazing circuit within the original Assetto Corsa, thanks to OverTake community member @Rainmaker_87.
The result was a temporary street circuit set within the park, enclosed by concrete walls and lined with unforgiving curbs. The course was immediately recognised for its narrow, bumpy nature and minimal margin for error—qualities that demanded technical mastery from even the most experienced drivers.
Throughout the 1990s, Belle Isle played host to the CART Championship, bringing with it powerhouse teams and racing legends. Names like Michael Andretti, Alex Zanardi, and Paul Tracy graced the podium, and the island echoed the sounds of turbocharged V8S each summer.
CART Indy Lights racing at the Belle Isle Grand Prix. Image: Mark Windecker
What followed was one of the most distinctive formats in IndyCar: a doubleheader weekend, introduced in 2013. Two full-length races, back-to-back, meant more racing, more strategy, and double the drama.
Indycar's practice for the Belle Isle Grand Prix. Kate Sumbler via CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The track itself also saw minor updates to improve flow and overtaking. Still, Belle Isle remained one of the most challenging circuits on the calendar—a high-speed chess match on concrete.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced a cancellation in 2020, but the race returned in 2021 and 2022. Despite the event's success, ongoing concerns about environmental impact, infrastructure stress, and public access to the park led organisers to consider alternatives.
IndyCar officially announced in 2022 that the Detroit Grand Prix would return to a new downtown circuit in 2023, ending the Belle Isle era.
The Detroit Belle Isle circuit is remembered as a track that rewarded precision, punished mistakes, and delivered high-stakes racing in one of America's most iconic automotive cities. Belle Isle represents the spirit of Detroit—tough, proud, and unrelenting. While the engines may no longer echo through its trees, its impact on American motorsport remains undeniable.
The mod is an excellent example of why Assetto Corsa is still the place to go for community-created content. Street circuits are always great fun, especially when they have such rich top-level motorsport heritage. The Belle Isle Circuit is precisely that, and Rainmaker_87 has done a fantastic job bringing that to life within Assetto Corsa.
Let us know in the comments below if you want to try this circuit and which series you want to go wheel-to-wheel with around the streets of Belle Isle!
Want more deep dives into iconic circuits? Keep your eyes here on OverTake.gg for all of the best mod highlights from our community!
With a legacy defined by gritty racing, a tight and technical layout, and a backdrop steeped in automotive history, Belle Isle was more than just a racetrack—it symbolised Detroit's resilience and racing passion. You can now drive this amazing circuit within the original Assetto Corsa, thanks to OverTake community member @Rainmaker_87.
From Downtown to the Island (1992–2001)
The story of Belle Isle racing begins in 1992, when Detroit's annual open-wheel event relocated from the gritty streets of downtown to the tree-lined avenues of Belle Isle Park—a 982-acre island in the Detroit River. After nearly a decade of downtown racing, logistical issues and a constrained fan experience prompted organisers to look elsewhere.The result was a temporary street circuit set within the park, enclosed by concrete walls and lined with unforgiving curbs. The course was immediately recognised for its narrow, bumpy nature and minimal margin for error—qualities that demanded technical mastery from even the most experienced drivers.
Throughout the 1990s, Belle Isle played host to the CART Championship, bringing with it powerhouse teams and racing legends. Names like Michael Andretti, Alex Zanardi, and Paul Tracy graced the podium, and the island echoed the sounds of turbocharged V8S each summer.
A Pause in the Action (2002–2006)
By the early 2000s, the event struggled with rising costs and declining sponsorship. The final CART race on Belle Isle ran in 2001. With no significant funding to support its continuation, the Grand Prix was shelved. For a time, it looked like Detroit's days as a major motorsports city might be over.CART Indy Lights racing at the Belle Isle Grand Prix. Image: Mark Windecker
The Penske-Powered Comeback (2007–2019)
But Detroit doesn't quit easily—and neither does Roger Penske. In 2007, Penske led a revival effort that brought the Grand Prix back to Belle Isle under the IndyCar Series banner, with strong support from Chevrolet and city leadership. Though the 2008–09 economic downturn forced another pause, the race returned for good in 2012.What followed was one of the most distinctive formats in IndyCar: a doubleheader weekend, introduced in 2013. Two full-length races, back-to-back, meant more racing, more strategy, and double the drama.
Indycar's practice for the Belle Isle Grand Prix. Kate Sumbler via CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The track itself also saw minor updates to improve flow and overtaking. Still, Belle Isle remained one of the most challenging circuits on the calendar—a high-speed chess match on concrete.
More Than Just IndyCar
Belle Isle weekends weren't just for open-wheel fans. The event grew into a whole motorsport festival, featuring rounds from the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Trans Am, and other support series. With everything from prototype endurance machines to V8-powered muscle cars roaring through the trees, the atmosphere was pure racing nirvana.The COVID-19 pandemic forced a cancellation in 2020, but the race returned in 2021 and 2022. Despite the event's success, ongoing concerns about environmental impact, infrastructure stress, and public access to the park led organisers to consider alternatives.
IndyCar officially announced in 2022 that the Detroit Grand Prix would return to a new downtown circuit in 2023, ending the Belle Isle era.
The Detroit Belle Isle circuit is remembered as a track that rewarded precision, punished mistakes, and delivered high-stakes racing in one of America's most iconic automotive cities. Belle Isle represents the spirit of Detroit—tough, proud, and unrelenting. While the engines may no longer echo through its trees, its impact on American motorsport remains undeniable.
Assetto Corsa Mod
As is tradition with these historical deep dives, there is a place for you to drive and experience the circuit, this time within Assetto Corsa! The circuit has been recently overhauled and brought to the public by mod creator @Rainmaker_87The mod is an excellent example of why Assetto Corsa is still the place to go for community-created content. Street circuits are always great fun, especially when they have such rich top-level motorsport heritage. The Belle Isle Circuit is precisely that, and Rainmaker_87 has done a fantastic job bringing that to life within Assetto Corsa.
Let us know in the comments below if you want to try this circuit and which series you want to go wheel-to-wheel with around the streets of Belle Isle!
Want more deep dives into iconic circuits? Keep your eyes here on OverTake.gg for all of the best mod highlights from our community!
