MOSCOW TO HOST ROUND OF FUTURE FIA GT1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FROM 2010
Stephane Ratel and Patricia Kiefer visited the site of the future Eurasia Autodrome Domodedovo, which will be located near the Domodedovo Airport, 35 km South of Moscow, with Pavel Volkov, Eurasia Project Manager, and Clive Bowen, Apex Circuit Design Managing Director, and Jolyon Price from Ridge & Partners.
The visit was followed by a press conference at the hotel Baltschug Kempinski in Moscow announcing the construction of the Eurasia Autodrome Domodedovo as well as the signature of an agreement to host a round of the future FIA GT1 World Championship from 2010 onwards.
Arthur Trofimov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Eurasia City, presented the project to the press, explaining that it is part of a unique and impressive innovation and high technology park in the city of Domodedovo. The circuit, which will be finalised in 2010, will host rounds of the FIA GT1 World Championship from 2010 onwards, and is also aimed at providing sportscar enthusiasts in Moscow a test track to use their cars in the best safety conditions.
The circuit will be located 37km South from Moscow, 10 km West from Domodedovo Airport and will be conveniently located between two motorways leading to Moscow, the M2 and the M4.
The circuit will be 3 km long and should benefit from a FIA Grade 2 license.
Stephane Ratel said that “Russia has become a key market for luxury brands and a race in Moscow is a major step in making the FIA GT1 World Championship an appealing project for all GT manufacturers worldwide. Eurasia and SRO will also work on the involvement of a Russian team with Russian drivers which will be one of the keys in the success of the event”.
Clive Bowen, Apex Circuit Design Managing Director, who will be working in cooperation with Ridge & Partners and Scott Wilson on the construction of the circuit, said : “The site for the circuit is very small but has the three key attributes I would always seek : first; it is well served by road access and provides two opportunities to arrive and depart, second; there is space enough for a decent main straight ; in this instance we have managed to engineer 700m with a key overtaking opportunity engineered at the end of that straight, and third; there is some really helpful natural topography which has allowed us to engineer three key sections of circuit which rise and fall at important racing locations and enhance the driving and racing experience. We wanted to avoid too many low speed corners, though on a site as compact as this it is impossible to have fewer than three; and we have one REALLY good section of flowing race circuit with speeds ever increasing all the way form Turn 1 to Turn 7.
As for the buildings, Ridge have come up with extremely interesting and innovative architecture. The principal circuit facilities include garages, a hospitality pod with a 360 degree view of the circuit, race and circuit administration and a commercial atrium.”
Mr Dimitry Gorodetsky, Head of Domodedovo, and Michael Bonch-Osmolovosky, Head of the RAF (Russian Automobile Federation) Circuit Commission, also attended the press conference and confirmed their support and involvement in the project.
Roman Rusinov, driver of the Spartak IPB Reiter Engineering Lamborghini Murcielago, was present as well and confirmed the team’s intention to enter the future FIA GT1 World Championship.
