The Smolensk Ring is a circuit in western Russia near the town of Safonovo in the settlement of Verkhnedneprovsky. It is located 90-kilometre (56 mi) east of its namesake city of Smolensk and about 250-kilometre (160 mi) west of Moscow.[citation needed] The construction of the 3.362 km (2.089 mi) circuit started in 2007, and the inaugural international event was a round of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship in August 2010.[1]
 | |
| Location | Safonovo, Safonovsky District, Smolensk Oblast |
|---|---|
| Time zone | MSK+00 (UTC+04) |
| Coordinates | 54°59′19.5″N 33°22′5.4″E / 54.988750°N 33.368167°E |
| Broke ground | 2007 |
| Opened | July 3, 2010 |
| Architect | Hermann Tilke |
| Major events | Current: Russian Circuit Racing Series (2011–present) Former: TCR Europe (2016) FIA European Truck Racing Championship (2010–2013) SMP F4 (2017–2019) Formula Russia (2012–2014) |
| Full Circuit (2010–present) | |
| Length | 3.362 km (2.089 miles) |
| Turns | 13 |
| Race lap record | 1:25.408 ( Konstantin Tereshchenko, Tatuus FA010, 2012, Formula Abarth) |
The Smolensk Ring was initially supposed to host rounds of the FIA GT3 European Championship in 2011,[2][3] however this was later postponed to 2012 because the track didn't complete in time modifications required to garner the necessary FIA track license.[4][5]
History
The track was designed by Hermann Tilke and his design bureau using the features of the pre-existing landscape of the designated area, resulting in a 3.362 km (2.089 mi), 12–15 m (39–49 ft) wide track containing fast corners, straights and twisty sections.[6][7]
The race track, with the prerequisite modifications in place, will fulfill the International Automobile Federation (FIA) requirements for a Grade 2 race track, and the first category according to the classification of the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF). With the FIA Grade 2 license, the Smolensk Ring would be able to host motor racing for all classes except Formula One.[8] But it was lastly graded by Grade 4 until 24 May 2020.
Russian Touring Car Championship driver Yuri Semenchev was killed in an accident at the circuit in August 2012.[9]
Action sports
August 2010 — 5 stage FIA European Truck Racing Championship (Truck Battle Russia 2010)
22 May 2011 — 1 stage RTCC (Russian Touring Car Championship)
30–31 July 2011 — 6 stageFIA European Truck Racing Championship (Truck Battle Russia 2011)
9 October 2011 — 7 stage RTCC (Russian Touring Car Championship)[citation needed]
Lap records
As of May 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the Smolensk Ring are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Circuit: 3.362 km (2010–present) | ||||
| Formula Abarth | 1:25.408[10] | Konstantin Tereshchenko | Tatuus FA010 | 2012 Smolensk Formula Russia round |
| Formula 4 | 1:27.257[11] | Christian Lundgaard | Tatuus F4-T014 | 2017 Smolensk SMP F4 round |
| TCR Touring Car | 1:31.618[12] | Dmitry Bragin | CUPRA León Competición TCR | 2023 Smolensk RCRS round |
| GT4 | 1:32.401[13] | Marat Khairov | BMW M4 GT4 | 2021 Smolensk RCRS round |