I have been writing many times about the Hungarian Formula1 racetrack. Today I wanted to write an article about this place history. I think many of you seen this race track on the Television broadcast.
The lines of the track and the seating:
*image source
To find the location:
*image source
Now let's start with its history.
Bernie Ecclestone, the chairman of the International Automotive Federation (FIA), wanted to organize a race behind the iron curtain. Initially, he had interest in China, Soviet Union, or Yugoslavia, but finally his friends Tamás Rohonyi, and Tamás Frank invited him to Hungary.
They talked about the possibility to organize a race at Hungary in 1983. The potential places were the Városliget and the Népliget. Finally, before the signing of the contract, the decision made to build a new racetrack at Mogyoród city, near Budapest. The planning at the Aszfaltútépítő vállalat made by their engineers István Papp and Ferenc Gulácsi. This planning was one of the first times when some used computers for making plans.
The construction of the racetrack started on October 1st in 1985 and finished in record time (8 months).
The opening ceremony was on March 24th of 1986.
The race track rebuilt two times. First in 1989 when they removed number 3 chicane, then again in 2003 when they moved bend number 1 and 13 and created a more extended straight line. Because of the reconstructions, the length of the racetrack decreased from 4014m to 3975, but in 2003 it has its final range which is now 4381m.
The racetrack used by many races which different from the Formula1:
- Le Mans Series (Most ELMS)
- European Le Mans Series
- European Touring Car Championship
- FIA GT Series
- International GT Open
- DTM
- MotoGP
- World Series by Renault
- 24H Series (12h race)
- Ferrari Racing Days or Ferrari Challenge
- Superstars Series
- Formula-3
- WTCC
- Lotus Ladies Cup
- Formula BMW Talent Cup
- Volkswagen Castrol Cup
- ETRC (Truck Europe challenge)
- Drift
The current chairman of the racetrack is Zsolt Gyulai.
The racetrack called hot and dusty from the pilots. This fraise originated from the Formula 1 pilots because of every year the Formula 1 race organized in August, when the chance of rain is meager.
The racetrack compared many times to the Monaco racetrack, because it has many narrow fields, and has slow bends. The track differentiates the pilots. Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton say this is the best track, while the others say it is too slow and doesn't have fast arches.
Many times when the track unoccupied, civilians can rent it for amateur races. These times we can collect experiences on this racetrack where most of the people only have wishes to drive.
If you are interested in more pictures from the track, check my previous posts, or search for hashtag: #hungaroring