The Sokol International Circuit (also known as CTK Sokol - Kazakh: Сокол халықаралық автодром, romanized: "Sokol" halyqaralyq avtodromy, Russian: Международный автодром "Сокол", romanized: Mezhdunarodnyy avtodrom "Sokol") is a motorsport race track 76 km (47 mi) northwest of Almaty, Kazakhstan. The 4.495 km (2.793 mi) circuit was designed by Hermann Tilke and is marketed as an FIA Grade 2 track.[1][2][3]
 | |
| Location | Almaty, Kazakhstan |
|---|---|
| Time zone | UTC+05:00 |
| Coordinates | 43°35′5″N 76°34′14″E / 43.58472°N 76.57056°E |
| Capacity | 74,000 |
| Broke ground | 2014 |
| Opened | TBA |
| Architect | Hermann Tilke |
| Website | sokolracetrack |
| Big Ring | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 4.495 km (2.793 miles) |
| Turns | 13 |
| Big Ring with Chicane | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 4.548 km (2.826 miles) |
| Turns | 16 |
| Small Ring | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 3.535 km (2.197 miles) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Small Ring with Chicane | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 3.588 km (2.230 miles) |
| Turns | 14 |
History
editIn July 2012, Kazakh businessman Alijan Ibragimov announced plans to build a US$40 million (KZ₸19 billion) motorsport facility on the outskirts of Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, with construction scheduled to commence in September.[4] RacingLoop were brought in as consultants and Hermann Tilke was charged with the design of a circuit intended to draw in MotoGP and the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, however ground was not broken until 2014.[5]
By 2016 a go-kart track and a drag strip had been opened with Jorge Lorenzo in attendance, as circuit construction was well underway.[6] Construction had progressed as far as electronic and timing installation by early 2019 before it ground to a halt due to political issues.[7]
On 27 September 2022, it was announced that the circuit would host the Kazakhstan motorcycle Grand Prix until at least 2028 starting in 2023.[8] However, due to ongoing homologation works at the circuit, paired with global operational challenges, the inaugural event was expected to be pushed back to 2024.[9] However in 2024, the event was firstly postponed, then cancelled due to the on-going damages caused by Central Asian floods near to the circuit.[10][11] It was also not included in the 2025 calendar.
References
edit- ^ "Sokol - Racingcircuits". Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ "ТРАССЫ". Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ "Sokol Race Track: Presentation". Sokol Race Track on YouTube. 14 September 2022.
- ^ "Kazakhstan tycoon building motor-racing track near Almaty". Tengri News. 13 July 2012.
- ^ "SOKOL RACETRACK". RacingLoop.com. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- ^ "Lorenzo visits Sokol Racetrack". MotoGP. 13 June 2016.
- ^ "Al Kamel Systems will provide its technology to the new Sokol racetrack". Alkamel Systems. 11 February 2019.
- ^ "MotoGP™ lands in Kazakhstan in 2023". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ "MotoGP calendar: Kazakhstan GP 2023 canceled / MotoGP". Sasa Times. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ "New dates for 2024 Kazakhstan GP confirmed". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "Kazakhstan GP cancelled, Misano to host Emilia-Romagna GP". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
External links
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