Imagine you could live at a country club, but the neighborhood is blessed with a private racetrack instead of a golf course.

This idea is not brand-new (places like Thermal Club and Concourse Club already exist), but developer turned CEO Paul Scarpello believes his new community will offer Central Floridians something unique that will significantly enhance their love of cars.

Circuit Florida is a private community in Auburndale, Florida, about halfway between Orlando and Tampa Bay. The community is currently under construction and will feature 75 townhome-style homes, a luxurious member lounge, and a 1.7-mile race track with 14 turns. CarBuzz got to tour the facility while it was still under construction, allowing us to see how the other half, with a passion for all things automotive, live.

Luxurious Circuit Condos

Unlike some other race track country clubs located in Florida and around the US, Circuit Florida is built on previously unzoned land, meaning Scarpello was able to obtain a residential designation for the 75 townhome units easily.

In other words, residents can live there full-time without any restrictions. There are five floor plans, each named after a famous track: Monza, Sebring, Sonoma, Daytona, and Le Mans. Monza is the smallest unit (838 to 852 square foot loft), while the Le Mans is the largest (2,688 square feet with up to two bedrooms and two bathrooms). The Le Mans also gets the best location in the community, with a second-floor deck that overlooks the track.

Every unit features a climate-controlled garage on the first floor and living space on the second floor. The garages range from a single car up to six cars, not including lifts which can double the vehicle storage space in any unit (up to 12 cars total).

Additional on-site car storage is available for residents with too many cars to fit in their private garage.

"We can even combine two adjoining units together if someone wants more bedrooms or garage space," Scarpello said. That means a client could create a four-bedroom, 24-car mega palace if they wished. "Our clients own everything from fancy street cars (like the Porsche 911 GT3 RS) to race cars, including a Daytona prototype."

Pricing starts at $474,650 for the smallest unit and goes up to $1.8 million for the Le Mans. All units are fully furnished with a designer kitchen and upgraded bathroom, and Circuit Florida has on-site designers to help residents style their homes. 22 of 75 units are eligible for short-term rental, meaning non-members can stay in one of the units and use the track. So far, 28 units are open for preorder, and half are reserved.

The Track

Circuit Florida's main attraction is the 1.7-mile road course. It features 14 corners with over 40 feet of elevation change, which is rare for Florida. This gives it an edge over similar tracks located in Miami and Tampa. The track wasn't paved during our visit, but we got an idea of the layout by driving it in our 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD press car.

Turn 1 is a substantial climb into a left-hander, followed by two quick rights onto a high-speed section. Digital modeling says drivers can hit triple-digit speeds on four parts of the track and get up to around 150 mph on the back straight. It looks like a fun track based on our first impression, but we can't wait to drive it again after it's paved towards the end of 2023.

The track was designed by Bob Barnard, a 35-year industry veteran who worked on SpeedVegas and the Porsche Experience Center in Atlanta. Much like the Concourse Club in Miami, the track does not require any flag workers, instead relying on an electronic flagging system using CCTV.

Top Notch Amenities

When owners aren't blasting around the track in expensive toys, the Florida Circuit offers plenty of luxury amenities.

There are two clubhouses, one of which will include a spa and a restaurant. Owners can also take advantage of racing simulators to improve their skills with special training rooms and on-site coaching. Mechanics will even be on-hand for tire or fluid changes, basic maintenance, or anything else an owner might request.

The paddock area is covered (much needed in Florida), and the pit lane offers convenient access to a break room, restrooms, and service garages.

Membership Cost

Members will have 160 days of access to the track per year, but Scarpello anticipates the average owner will use it for around 10 to 20 days. "Less than five percent will be here 50 to 100 days," he said. "These will be our diehards who probably just retired."

Circuit Florida will reserve 200 days for "other" events such as race team testing, manufacturer/dealer programs, exotic driving experiences, etc. Professional racing or public autocross days will not be offered. "We want to keep the track exclusive," Scarpello said. "Members will have private days with only five to ten cars on the track."

Membership to the Florida Circuit costs a one-time $80,000 fee, which is partially refundable and heavily reduced for the secondary owner of a condo. There are also club dues of $800 per month to pay for various amenities, upkeep, security, etc. If that sounds ridiculous, keep in mind the Concourse Club in Miami requires a $375,000 up-front fee plus a $35,000 annual fee, and there is a 200-person waiting list.

This is not a place for average car enthusiasts to live and work on their project cars; it's a luxury community for well-off folks who might want to use that expensive sports car rather than keep it locked up in a garage.

Assuming we hit the lottery tomorrow, we'd rush to buy two Le Mans units and adjoin them to fill with our dream cars. If you're a wealthy car lover who lives near Orlando or Tampa, the Florida Circuit will soon be open for your business.