Laguna Seca, in the United States, is one of the historic circuits in motorsports, closely associated with MotoGP and the World Superbike Championship, having hosted both championships for several years with memorable races and maneuvers. Now, it faces challenging times.
According to the SFGate website, a group of local residents filed a lawsuit against the circuit in December, aiming for it to be used less due to the negative impacts on the area. The legal action argues: ‘These increases include but are not limited to more racetrack event days, higher permitted noise levels, additional track rental days with intensified noise in excess of 100 dB, increased traffic, inadequate water supply and water quality, inadequate sewage disposal and expansion of the camping grounds’.
Noise levels are the primary concern for this group of residents, known as the Highway 68 Coalition. The lawsuit was filed against the owners of Laguna Seca – the County of Monterey – and the Board of Supervisors of the County of Monterey, as well as the nonprofit organization Friends of Laguna Seca.
The reduction of noise will naturally not be an easy task since motorsports involve such noise. Hosting fewer events may compromise the financial viability of Laguna Seca. Therefore, if the discontented residents are given reason, the American circuit could face serious challenges for its future.