Balaton Park Circuit gets the green light

A dream became reality today with the launch of the highest FIA standard race track to be built in Central Europe for over 15 years. Welcomed to Balaton Park Circuit in Hungary, the main phase construction having taken four years to build, were a host of national and local dignitaries along with VIP guests, national and international media.

Over the last decade a carefully chosen site in the beautiful Balaton Lake region, known for its tourist attractions, has become a multi-faceted motorsport facility following an investment of over €200 million.

Balaton Park Circuit Board Member, Gianpaolo Matteucci, commented on the project: “We are very proud to be celebrating today the official opening of Balaton Park Circuit, a unique project that began as a dream and is now a reality thanks to the unwavering commitment of Balaton Park Group. The main phase of construction began four years ago and was executed with particular attention to safety, innovation and with special care for the environment. As we are ready to host international motorsport events, Balaton Park Circuit has been built in accordance to the highest standards as required by FIA and FIM regulations.”

The track was designed by Hungarian Ferenc Gulácsi who explained what he wanted to achieve with his layout: “I designed the course with three aspects in mind: safety, challenge for the competitors and sustainability. I am glad we arrived at this point today, that the track is ready for use. The first flag can be waved.”

Former Formula 1 race winner, Giancarlo Fisichella, was there to explain the characteristics of this 4.115 km circuit from the driving seat. The Italian driver, who had an illustrious 14-year career in Formula 1 when he competed in 231 races, was more than impressed with the track after driving it and said: “Driving Balaton Park Circuit for the first time, I was impressed by its character. The track really has it all – a thrilling blend of high-speed corners, challenging hairpins and cool chicanes. It’s a track that flows nicely, giving you a great racing feeling. The first corner and the end of the back straight are prime spots for overtakes. All in all, Balaton Park is a treat to drive.”

The anticlockwise track, which has six right and ten left hand corners, is between 12 and 15 metres wide. There are 48 garages, three separate paddocks adjacent to each other, along with state-of- the-art facilities for fans, media and VIP guests.

There is permanent seating for 10,000 fans, but this can be increased to 120,000 with the erection of temporary grandstands. A luxury 4-star hotel with a full view of the circuit is about to be completed for next season. For the second phase of the project there will be a car museum and further attractions for the fans. The track has been built in accordance with the FIA Grade 1 specification (initially a Grade 2 licence has been applied for as the track will host international race events).

The Press event also marked the start of the race and event calendar, which is a very special day. The first brand the circuit is pleased to host is Porsche. For its 75th anniversary celebrations it will hold a two-week driving programme “Porsche on Track”, followed by a one-day event “Festival of Dreams” on the 10th June.

The track is perfectly placed in Central Europe adjacent to the M7 motorway, 87 kilometres from Budapest, 150 kilometres from Austria, 120 kilometres from Slovakia, 150 kilometres from Croatia and 480 kilometres from Italy.