Test Track replaced the World of Motion ride, which closed three years earlier in 1996. Originally, guests rode in test vehicles in a GM testing facility through a series of assessments to illustrate how automobile prototype evaluations were conducted.

Test Track at Epcot officially replaced the World of Motion pavilion, which was one of the park's original opening-day attractions in 1982. World of Motion was a classic Disney "Omnimover" dark ride sponsored by General Motors that took guests on a whimsical, humorous journey through the history of transportation, from the invention of the wheel to futuristic "mag-lev" cities. The ride featured dozens of Audio-Animatronics and elaborate sets, ending with a "speed room" and a futuristic city model. In 1996, World of Motion closed as Disney and GM sought a more high-energy, "thrill-ride" experience to appeal to a younger demographic. The existing pavilion structure was gutted to house the original version of Test Track, which opened in 1999 (after significant delays) and shifted the focus from the history of travel to the testing of modern vehicles. Test Track has since undergone another major reimagining in 2012 to its current "TRON-like" aesthetic, and in 2026, it is currently undergoing a third major renovation inspired by the "World of Motion" aesthetic, bringing the history of the pavilion full circle by blending modern thrill technology with a nostalgic nod to its predecessor.