Google Earth uncovers secret race track hidden for 20 years - and there’s another track inside it

Google Earth continues to astonish with the sheer amount of information it brings into focus. Its latest update has exposed a structure that went unnoticed for nearly two decades despite being perfectly visible from above: a full-scale race circuit in South Africa’s Northern Cape, one of the country’s most remote and sparsely populated regions. You can see the track on Google Maps too.

The location is extremely isolated, far from any urban center and shielded by the region’s stark, arid landscape — factors that likely helped keep it hidden for so long. But documents show that in 2022, Mercedes-Benz appears to have commissioned the German firm Ingenaix to study the site and oversee the permitting process, suggesting someone had already taken interest in the mysterious track.

A concealed test circuit built for endurance trials

The track features two straightaways of about 2.5 miles each, roughly 42 feet wide, connected by completely flat curves — an unusual design that gives the circuit its own identity.

What’s more, the circuit has a mini circuit just underneath it, likely for other types of testing.

Local conditions make the site ideal for endurance testing. Daily highs typically fall between 88 and 97 degrees Fahrenheit, with hot, dry and dusty weather that simulates extreme environments. It’s another reminder of what modern technology can reveal: remote places hidden for decades until someone stumbles across them.

There’s another circuit inside the outer track

What’s more, on the western end of the circuit there’s another section of track, with curves and switchbacks, likely allowing for even more types of testing of race vehicles.

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