Igora Drive Circuit Extension - Russian Track Now Meets All MotoGP Requirements
Just a month ago news broke about the bankruptcy of the KymiRing in Finland. Now there’s news about another track in the area. The Igora Drive Circuit in Russia has been extended.
Since the current motorsport centre of Russia, Sochi, is supposed to be turned into a Russian Silicon Valley, the Igora Drive Circuit near St. Petersburg has been rumored to be Russia’s next motorsport capitol.
Just this Wednesday, the track designed by Herrmann Tilke, debuted a new track layout. With more height differences, elongated curbs and wider gravel pits the track is now ready even for the biggest motorcycle series.
“The new configuration meets all the requirements of the leading Russian and international federations,” the website of the Russian motorcycle federation MFR states.
Building the Russian track costed 192 million US-Dollar and features several different track variants, a Motocross track, a rallycross course, an SUV off-road park, a center for driver safety training and a go-kart track.
Never heard of the Igora Drive circuit, well here it is. Designed by Hermann Tilke, it’s located 54km from Saint Petersburg.
— Michael Hill (@mhillofficial) November 6, 2020
Whether it gets to host a #MotoGP round next year will depend on many factors but it looks pretty cool. pic.twitter.com/WPOCoJdusC
For 2021, there were plans for the Russian track to be added as a reserve GP to the provisional MotoGP calendar. However, after the Russian Federation’s attack on Ukraine, Russia is no longer an option as a venue for international sporting events in the medium term.
The infrastructure previously available in St. Petersburg would not have been sufficient for the needs of Formula 1 and/or MotoGP.
The Russian race track was planned and built by the German company “Tilke Engineers & Architects”. Ex-sports car racer Hermann Tilke has already planned and designed 21 Formula 1 race tracks and 90 other race tracks and test tracks.
Igora Drive visitors come to the conclusion that the race track has certain similarities with MotorLand Aragón, which was also built by Tilke.
