Battle of Backbone Mountain

The Sokol International Circuit (also known as CTK Sokol - Kazakh: Сокол халықаралық автодром, romanized: "Sokol" halyqaralyq avtodromy, Russian: Международный автодром "Сокол", romanizedMezhdunarodnyy 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]

History

In 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]

References

  1. ^ "Sokol - Racingcircuits". Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  2. ^ "ТРАССЫ". Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  3. ^ "Sokol Race Track: Presentation". Sokol Race Track on YouTube. 14 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Kazakhstan tycoon building motor-racing track near Almaty". Tengri News. 13 July 2012.
  5. ^ "SOKOL RACETRACK". RacingLoop.com. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Lorenzo visits Sokol Racetrack". MotoGP. 13 June 2016.
  7. ^ "Al Kamel Systems will provide its technology to the new Sokol racetrack". Alkamel Systems. 11 February 2019.
  8. ^ "MotoGP™ lands in Kazakhstan in 2023". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  9. ^ "MotoGP calendar: Kazakhstan GP 2023 canceled / MotoGP". Sasa Times. Retrieved 27 April 2023.

External links