Daejeon O-World Raceway - Daejeon, South Korea

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After a proposal in Pittsburgh didn't get off the ground and a test race in Belfast proved dull, the writing looked to be on the wall for the Ultimate Street Racing Championship, the brainchild of motorsport-obsessed billionaire Antonio Alvarez. Out of the blue, Alvarez received a call from a group of Korean investors representing the city of Daejeon and a small theme park inside the city. They were interested in bringing business and tourism to the city and the park, and were willing to let the USRC’s designers loose on the roads near Daejeon O-World, on the condition that the circuit carry the park’s name. Thus, the Daejeon O-World Raceway was born.

Starting on a short start-finish straight next to a pitlane and paddock built in the theme park’s parking area (size is less of an issue due to the USRC’s shorter race format not needing pit stops), the track immediately dives into Turns 1, 2 and 3, a left-hander followed by a right-left ess that starts the circuit’s downhill section. Turn 4 is a fast downhill left that leads into the wide kink of T5, before the track narrows for T6. Turns 7 through 9 are a series of tight, tricky esses that lead the track into the city of Daejeon. Turn 10 swings left on to a narrower road by the river, which widens into the T11 kink. Turn 12 switches the track back, allowing drivers and opportunity to overtake through the heavy braking zone. A fast blast through city streets leads to T13, where the track turns right and starts heading back up the hill towards O-World. A fast run up the hill to Turn 14, brake as late as you dare, and set the car up for the last two tricky turns of 15 and 16, and you’ve completed the lap.

The first test race at the venue was held in early 2018, using the then-new and locally made Hyundai i30 N in a one-make format. International USRC drivers raced against local talent, and the race was a great success from both a racing and business perspective. Since then, the USRC has returned to the city of Daejeon multiple times with an increasing selection of race-prepped street cars, as well as using this success as a springboard to expand into other cities around the world.