Humanity has never sat still. When the migrations on foot were tired, the wheel was invented, the first vehicles appeared. When tired of living on one continent, people learned to build boats and cross the ocean.
When it seemed few walking and waterways, mankind began to build airplanes. As the history of earthlings shows, they were always attracted by speed, unknown and the spirit of rivalry. No one is now surprised that as soon as the first cars appeared on the streets of cities, racing competitions were immediately organized.
Auto Racing History
Russian autodromes have become one of the links in a long chain of auto racing, the first of which took place in 1894 in France, although 1904 is considered the official date of birth of motorsport.
Thanks to the first auto racing, gasoline engines replaced the steam engines, and in our time, the ridiculous speed of 45 km / h at that time was considered the limit. By 1950, a separate branch appeared in the automotive industry, when famous companies, along with serial cars, produced racing cars.
Sports cars changed not only their appearance from year to year, but also the amount of horsepower under the hood, the width and quality of tires. The “golden" time is the period from 1950 to 1960, when the tracks were less equipped than today, the drivers did not have seat belts, and the number of accidents at the competitions was a record one.
In Russia, the first car race took place in 1900 on the Petersburg – Lugi highway, and in 1912 the first Russo-Balt S 2430 sports car took 9th place in international races in Monte Carlo and received a prize for having arrived without breakdowns from Northern capital to the place of competition.
Even during the formation of Soviet power, this sport was not abandoned. This suggests that the love of speed in people is in the blood. Today, autodromes in Russia are built taking into account Formula 1 racing standards.
Autodrom in Volokolamsk
From the moment of the first races, not only the traditions of rewarding the winners have developed, but also a system has been developed for constructing racing tracks, among which:
- Oval are the most common. Their length ranges from 200 to 4000 m or more. They are characterized by asphalt or cinder coating.
- Ring tracks are one of the most difficult because they have multiple sharp turns.
- For speed races, short straight tracks from 400 m are built.
Today, internationally known circuit in Russia. The track, built near Volokolamsk, has a length of 4070 m and 15 turns. It was designed by the famous architect Hermann Tilke, who accounted for half of the world's racing circuits. It can be safely attributed to the category "1T". The construction took place thanks to businessman Teregulov Rustem, who not only sponsored him, but also is an amateur rider.
In total, private investors spent $ 4 million on the construction of the Moscow Raceway, but the new route can accept cars of any category - from motorcycles to trucks. If you carry out some modernization and build a hotel at arm's length for accommodating athletes and fans, this route can host the Grand Prix. This is the first Russian circuit of this level. The track opened in July 2012, after which it was tested by Renault drivers, then the Superbike tournament and even the Grand Turismo world championship in car racing took place. For such a "young" track this is a great start in your career.
Today it is the largest circuit. Russia is unlikely to stop there.
"Smolensk ring"
The track near Smolensk was originally built for domestic competitions and training racers. It was also designed by Hermann Tilke. The length of the Smolensk Ring is 3357 m at 17 sharp turns. The track is located 80 km from Smolensk near the town of Dorogobuzh.
Opened in 2010, it was the first to receive accreditation and license from the International Auto Federation. Other autodromes of Russia received this honor later.
This route is distinguished not only by high-quality design, but also by infrastructure. Nearby are the hotel and hostel, which host guests during the competition. Although the Smolensk Ring was built for Russian riders, it has been part of the European Truck Racing Championship for 3 consecutive years .
This once again suggests that the autodromes of Russia are built according to international standards and fully comply with them.
Autodrom near Nizhny Novgorod
Only 22 km from the city is the NRing highway, the designer of which was architect Mikhail Gorbachev in collaboration with the RaceTrack Design Bureau.
A distinctive feature of this circuit is the presence of numerous configurations. So, here is:
- oval track;
- version for motorcycle racing;
- karting;
- 805 m lane for drag racing competitions.
This race track has the best sprint lane in the country. The track is used for the All-Russian championships and competitions for the Cup of Russia in motorcycle racing. Also, participants in the NLS series for domestic cars compete on it.
This is the only track in Russia where the stands for fans are made indoor, but the disadvantage is the lack of boxes for cars and a racing management building. The plans of the owners of the race track to change this, but for now, each team puts its own tent and equips service areas.
Kazan autodrome
Another track designed by Hermann Tilke can be visited just 1 km from Kazan. All autodromes of Russia (photo shows this) designed by the bureau of this master are easy to upgrade. It happened with the KazanRing highway, all 3476 m with 10 corners of which were intended for holding track days.
The modernization carried out by the owners in the form of the construction of boxes, the complex in which the race management, administrative buildings and VIP halls are located, brought this circuit to the level of the best tracks, according to the riders themselves.
The autodrome was built in a former quarry, so the difference in height of the road levels reaches 30 m. The types of turns available here can bring it to the international level if modernization works are continued. To do this, increase the number of boxes and equip the pit building.
The stands of the Kazan autodrome are the slopes of the quarry, from where a view of the entire highway opens from any point. Since the place is located in close proximity to the city, participants and guests of the competition can stay in local hotels.
Circuit near St. Petersburg
It is unlikely that this route can be considered appropriate for quality, since, with its length of 3073 m and 11 turns, there are no interesting height differences, and the condition of the drainage system is far from ideal. After every rain, the autodrome safety zones are flooded with water that does not dry out for a long time.
Most of all, this track is suitable for local car races and track days. The infrastructure is not developed, but if competitions happen, athletes and guests are “saved” by the fact that the circuit is 5 km from the ring road to St. Petersburg.
In addition to a fairly long start line, this racetrack does not have anything that could interest investors and race organizers in its use.
Moscow Ring
Not all Russian autodromes are licensed by the FIA. For example, the Moscow Ring, originally equipped at the former aerodrome in Myachkovo, does not have it. It is located 20 km from the capital, and the first races here started back in 2002, for which runways were partially used.
In 2005, the circuit was moved to a new place, the road was completely redone, administrative buildings, boxes and built stands. The result was a 3275-meter long track with 17 turns. The investor and owner of the track was Shota Abkhazava, designed by Eldar Marchenko, a Russian architect.
The Moscow Ring hosts exclusively national-level teams, it also hosts track days, amateur racers tournaments and test drives.
Racing tracks on ice
For drivers who lack adrenaline and are tired of riding on regular roads, the organizers of extreme races offer to visit the best ice racing tracks in Russia.
Indeed, for this, they try to organize similar rides on many reservoirs in Siberia, but the city administration does not issue permits for such dangerous events.
Among the ice racing circuits operating annually, one can mark the Promzona track, equipped near Yekaterinburg. Organizers of ice skating improve the track with each new season, making it more interesting, faster and more difficult. Their fantasy is limited only by the size of the technical reservoir on which the races take place.
Another regular ice track is located on Lake Baltym near the recreation center "Forest Fairy Tale". It works daily from 11.00 to 23.00. The water area of the lake allows you to immediately equip 2 full-fledged tracks equipped with signs, illuminators and snow barriers.
“Forest Fairy Tale” hospitably welcomes all guests, offering relaxation in the bar, sauna, gazebos with barbecue facilities and comfortable rooms.
Automobile and motorcycle club
The FSO Russia circuit, located near the town of Staraya Kupavna, was opened in 2008 with the aim of conducting both professional competitions and sports and entertainment events.
The club at the racetrack teaches driving and organizes sports teams to popularize motor sports.