CIRCLE // TOUR 2019 – The “by invitation only” sports-car experience
In 2019 we reported on the Circle Tour, a sports-car format for 15 invited guests traveling from Munich to Andermatt. Six years later, the format is still going strong-and bigger than ever. Here’s what it has become.
In early July 2019, 15 invited drivers and their sports cars lined up in Munich, bound for Andermatt, Switzerland. The Circle Tour wasn’t a race. No stopwatch pressure, no trophy at the finish-just a shared driving adventure along alpine passes, in handpicked hotels, on roads most never get to experience. Our partner InspiredBySports co-hosted the event. Six years on, the format is still thriving-and it’s expanded.
- Circle Tour 2019: 15 invited drivers, route from Munich to Andermatt, focus on experience over competition.
- Founded by three Munich entrepreneurs who saw a gap between track-day events and luxury travel.
- The concept: driving, hotels, networking. No fastest lap, no show.
- Today the tour continues, now including day trips, circuit days, and a business edition.
- Applications still via circle-tour.com; the guest list remains small and curated.
What Made the Circle Tour 2019 Different
There are plenty of sports-car events. Most revolve around a racetrack, a lap time, or a single brand. In 2019, the Circle Tour deliberately started from a different angle. The route itself took centre stage-from Munich over the Alps to Andermatt-and the question was how to turn the drive into an experience instead of a stage dash. Fifteen drivers were invited; there was no open registration. Those who joined brought a car that deserved the mountain passes and the time to savour every mile.
The manufacturer-neutral format was the whole point. It wasn’t about whether a Lamborghini, an Aston Martin or a Porsche finished first. The idea was the mix: modern sports cars, challenging roads, fine hotels, and a group of people who shared the same passion-simply the joy of driving. Networking happened naturally, in the evenings over dinner, at the petrol station before the next climb. That’s what sets a weekend like this apart from a track day where you barely cross paths with anyone.
No race, no trophy. The Circle Tour sells the route, not the lap time.
Who’s Behind It
The Circle Tour was created by three Munich entrepreneurs who spotted a gap in the market. On one side stood track days-fast and loud, yet offering little room for anything else. On the other, classic luxury trips without any real driving challenge. The Circle Tour positioned itself in between, promising to blend both without diluting either. The small field of participants is no accident. Fifteen cars can be shepherded over a pass; fifty cannot.
The 2019 route ended in Andermatt, a place already on the supercar map. The twisting Alpine roads, proximity to multiple passes, and the hotel scene made the canton of Uri a natural destination for a format like this. For clarity: the Circle Tour is not the same as the Supercar Owners Circle, also based in Andermatt. Two different organisers, similar backdrop, different concepts.
Six Years On: What Became of It
The question every 2019 attendee asks is: does it still run? For the Circle Tour, the answer is yes. The event continues annually, the core idea unchanged-around 15 invited guests, a meticulously planned driving experience, hand-picked hotels, and an exclusive supporting programme. Over the years, new elements have been added.
Besides the flagship annual tour, the organiser now offers day trips, racetrack days, and exclusive events for sports-car enthusiasts. Circle Tour For Business brings the concept into the corporate sphere. What began as a single tour has grown into a small platform, yet the original spirit remains: a curated group, an emphasis on experience, no mass audience.
If you’d like to join in 2025 or 2026, applications are still via circle-tour.com, either as a participant or a sponsor. The field stays small and hand-picked. That was the appeal in 2019, and it remains the essence six years later.
If this flavour of car fascination speaks to you-the act of driving as an experience rather than a contest-take a look at our First Drive in the Eccentrica V12. And if Munich, entrepreneurship, and sports cars in one sentence sound exciting, our sister site InspiredBySports has written up what founders can learn from motorsport. For the quieter side of such a route, see Silence as Luxury: Three Havens off the Beaten Track.
Quick Answers
▸Is the Circle Tour still running today?
Yes. The format continues annually, featuring around 15 invited guests, and has since expanded to include day trips, track days, and a business edition. Applications are open at circle-tour.com.
▸How do you get into the Circle Tour?
The field is small and curated-there’s no open registration. You can apply as a participant or sponsor via circle-tour.com, but final invitations are at the organiser’s discretion.
▸Is the Circle Tour a race?
No. It’s deliberately not about lap times or winning, but rather a shared driving experience on challenging routes, with handpicked hotels and networking opportunities along the way.
▸Is the Circle Tour the same as the Supercar Owners Circle?
No. Both have ties to Andermatt but are run by different organisers with distinct concepts. The Circle Tour was founded by three Munich entrepreneurs and focuses on a small, invited driving community.
