There doesn't seem to be any pattern to the direction of racing. In US, almost all oval tracks [for any kind of racing; foot, bike, motor, roller skates...] seem to go counterclockwise. Motor "road" racing in the US is generally clockwise (tho' I remember Upper Marlboro, Md. was counter but it included part of a banked oval). European motor racing is usually clockwise including closed road circuits like Nurburgring, the old bankings at AVUS and Monza, and open road courses like the Mille Miglia. The banked Brooklands track in England ran counterclockwise. English and American horse racing seem to run counterclockwise generally, but Longchamps in Paris appears to be clockwise. I cannot deduce a rule.
David Bean
Arlington, MA
beandk at are-see-enn dot com