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The KymiRing is a motor racing circuit in Kausala of the Iitti municipality, Päijänne Tavastia, Finland, bordering the Kymenlaakso's regional capital Kouvola, and located 110-kilometre (68 mi) north-east of the capital Helsinki. It was planned that it would be the first circuit in Finland to hold an FIA Grade 1 license. While the circuit itself was built to meet both Formula 1 and MotoGP specifications, hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix would require substantial investment in both the track's facilities and in race hosting fees.[2]
 Main Circuit (2019–present) | |
| Location | Kausala, Iitti, Päijänne Tavastia, Finland |
|---|---|
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) EEST (DST) |
| Coordinates | 60°52′38″N 026°28′55″E / 60.87722°N 26.48194°E |
| Capacity | 35,000 seats[1] 100,000+ total |
| Owner | TRP Hungary (February 2024–present) |
| Broke ground | June 2016 |
| Opened | 19 August 2019 |
| Architect | Apex Circuit Design |
| Major events | Future: FIA World Rallycross Championship World RX of Finland (2025) |
| Website | www |
| Main Circuit (2019–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 4.650 km (2.889 miles) |
| Turns | 18 |
| East Circuit (2019–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 2.440 km (1.520 miles) |
| Turns | 5 |
| West Circuit (2019–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 2.220 km (1.38 miles) |
| Turns | 10 |
| Rallycross Circuit (2019–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt, gravel |
| Turns | 7 |
The track was officially opened on 19 August 2019 with a small MotoGP test.[3] In July 2022, the developer was reported as being in administration.
The name "Kymi" comes from the Kymi River (Kymijoki), in the valley of which the race track is located.
Facilities
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The main racetrack, designed by Pohjola and Apex Circuit Design Ltd is 4.650 km (2.889 mi) long. In addition, the complex will have a 1.56 km (0.97 mi) rallycross track with a 0.1-kilometre (0.062 mi) joker lap, diverting from the main circuit's finish line.
Driver training facilities for the use of local driving schools are located next to the main track, using parts of the track to provide various customisable training modules. A traffic safety theme park for families with children is also included in the plans.
Kymi Ring in its entirety covers an area of 1.8 km2 (0.69 sq mi). The infield of the track can be utilised as a venue for fairs, festivals and other mass events, with room for hospitality and dining services. Potential businesses, especially those of the automotive trade, have been designated a business park area at the circuit's outskirts, next to the main road 12.
Accommodation services at the circuit consist mainly of trackside cabins, called "toy barns" by the circuit management.[4]
As of September 2021, the track, paddock and offices have been completed, with the cost of 30 million Euro. The track has permits to build for 150,000m² of floor space, with 9,000m² currently being used.[2] No hotels or grandstands exist yet.
In June 2022, the developer was reported as being in administration, due to two construction companies filing for a non-payment total of €634,000.[5][6] In February 2024, the circuit was purchased by a Hungarian consortium.[7]
Competitions
editIn July 2017, Kymi Ring and Dorna Sports, the commercial rights holder of MotoGP, signed a five-year contract for organising the Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix. It would be the first time motorcycle racing's premier class would race in the country since 1981.
The event was initially supposed to be on the 2020 MotoGP calendar but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also on the 2021 MotoGP calendar but was later postponed to 2022. Concerns over the circuit were discussed by riders at a Safety Commission meeting at Le Mans.[8] On 25 May 2022, it was announced that the event would once again be removed from the 2022 World Championship season, due to incomplete homologation works together with the risks caused by the ongoing geopolitical situation in the region by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[9]
Ongoing financial troubles and incomplete construction resulted in the FIM Motocross World Championship and Nitro Rallycross cancelling their August 2022 races at the track. The former moved the event to Hyvinkää, while the latter opted not to replace the date with a different location.[10][11]
In September 2024, it was announced that the circuit will host FIA World Rallycross Championship races for three years starting from 2025.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Kuvat: Tällainen Suomeen rakennettava F1-rata olisi – valmis kesällä 2018". Iltalehti (in Finnish). 3 February 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ a b "Moottoriurheilu | Kymiringin toimitusjohtaja Riku Rönnholm toivottaa F1-kisat tervetulleiksi: "Emme pistäisi hanttiin"". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
- ^ "Test riders sample "very different" Kymi Ring track". Motorsport.com. 20 August 2019.
- ^ "Toy Barns » KymiRing". KymiRing. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ Kaksi urakoitsijaa hakee ratayhtiö Kymiringiä konkurssiin (Two contractors are filing for bankruptcy of the course company Kymiring) yle.fi, 29 June 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022 (in Finnish)
- ^ KymiRing project unravels with bankruptcy, major series exits thecheckeredflag.co.uk, 12 July 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022
- ^ "Consortium led by TRP Hungary acquired KymiRing". Kymi Ring. 15 February 2024.
- ^ MotoGP riders concerned by Finland, contracts, pay.. crash.net, 24 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022
- ^ "Grand Prix of Finland postponed to 2023". motogp.com. 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
- ^ "New Venue Announced for the MXGP of Finland!". Infront Moto Racing. FIM Motocross World Championship. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ Kelekian, Austen (11 July 2022). "Nitro Rallycross forced to cancel Finland event due to venue shortfalls". Nitro Rallycross. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ "FIA World Rallycross set for 2025 Finnish return". fiaworldrallycross.com. FIA World Rallycross Championship. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
External links
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Media related to KymiRing at Wikimedia Commons- Kymi Ring's official website
- Apex Circuit Design Ltd
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