Frequently Asked Questions
The questions reviewers and the community ask most — drawn from the Project Background report. Select a question to expand the answer.
What is SBRC?
A master-planned motorsports community of roughly 4,300 acres in Santa Barbara County, combining a private club, international-standard circuits, a luxury residential program, hospitality, lifestyle amenities, an OEM performance center, a motorsports business park, and continued agriculture.
Where is it and how big is it?
It sits on a single ranch property in the Orcutt / Santa Maria area of Santa Barbara County, totaling about 4,300 acres. Motorsports, residential, and support uses occupy a portion of the site; roughly 3,000 acres remain farmable, with about 1,000-plus acres retained for agriculture or future phases.
Is Formula 1 coming to SBRC?
No. SBRC is not built around Formula 1. The model is a year-round private club, real estate, and programs, with the option to host up to two major international events a year — targeted at the FIA World Endurance Championship and MotoGP — each drawing on the order of 50,000 spectators.
What standard are the tracks built to?
The circuits are being designed to FIA Grade II standards, covering GT and sportscar racing, prototype and production cars, and motorcycle racing, and setting the safety, run-off, and homologation requirements for international competition.
Will the public have access?
Yes, in a managed way. Much of the access is through membership and the region's car and motorcycle clubs, with additional public access through organized track sessions, driving schools, karting, and community programs. The two annual international events are open, ticketed spectator events.
What kind of cars will use the track?
Most days, street-legal performance cars driven by members and program participants, alongside driver-training and karting activity. The FIA Grade II design also allows GT and sportscar competition during sanctioned events.
Will there be a karting facility?
Yes. SBRC includes both recreational and competitive karting on a dedicated FIA-CIK facility — a family activity and the traditional entry point into the sport.
How often are the big events?
The plan contemplates up to two major international spectator events per year. The rest of the calendar is member days, driver training, karting, corporate and community programs, and club events — year-round activity rather than a handful of race weekends.
How will noise be managed?
Noise management is a core part of the design and the entitlement process. Most activity involves street-legal and competition vehicles subject to noise limits, with the circuits sited within the property to buffer surrounding areas. A formal acoustic study will be commissioned as part of the county application.
What about traffic?
On typical days SBRC operates as a user venue, not a spectator venue, so daily traffic is modest. The two annual international events are managed through a special-event permit, satellite parking, shuttle service, and a transportation management plan developed with the county and state agencies.
Will it strain local water supply?
The design intent is on-site water collection, treatment, and reuse, with the goal of reducing net agricultural water demand on the property rather than adding to local demand. Water and wastewater servicing will be detailed in the county submittal.
What happens to the farmland?
Most of the land stays in agricultural production. The development footprint is concentrated on a portion of the site, and the project is structured to keep the balance farming, supported by the on-site water program.
What is the economic impact?
SBRC is a multi-hundred-million-dollar private investment supporting construction employment, year-round permanent jobs, a permanent resident community, recurring visitor spending, and property, sales, and lodging tax. The detailed estimates are in the economic-impact pages (D1– and Economic Impact).
What is the project status?
The site is under an executed purchase contract, with the county entitlement process to follow. Development and phasing proceed once the land is secured and approvals are in place.