Official opening of the racetrack of "Formula-1"
On Saturday, on 20th of September, in Sochi the official opening of Russia Formula-1 Grand Prix took place. The Project had been started in August 2011 and on 19th of August 2014 FIA delegation headed by race director Charlie Whiting visited Sochi Autodrom with inspection purpose and reached a verdict: the race track is completely ready. On day of the Opening Ceremony the readiness of autodrom was checked by the real racing car driven by the first Russian pilot of Formula-1 Vitaliy Petrov along the track for royal races.
Final Ribbon
Red ribbon of Sochi Autodrom was cut by the Governor of Krasnodar region Mr. Alexander Tkachev and international expert of RASGAIRA Mr. Richard Creagan. "This track is a future icon. Believe me, it will be talked about as Monaco and Singapure tracks are talked", - commented Mr. Creagan. Originality of the track, in Mr. Creagan's opinion, lays in the fact that it is integrated into the Olympic Park. "Nowhere in the world one can find that", - the Governor, Mr. Tkachev added.
Sochi Autodrom consists of two laps. Bigger lap passes through the whole area of Olympic Park and is used exclusively for Formula-1 leg. Smaller lap of the track is feasible for the year round - it will host track days, test races and other events. The distance of the main track is 5,853 km. It consists of 18 turns. The longest straight part of the track is 650 m, which can ensure the speed up to 320 km/hr.
According to Mr. Creagan, Sochi Autodrom shall become a place, accessible to people, to accelerate the development of motosport in Russia. "Between races the racetrack shall be available for people, Sochi citizens, Russian drivers", - he said.
Three weeks before the race
Meantime before the very first and main race - first leg of Russia "Formula - 1" Grand Prix - there are only 3 weeks left. It will take place on 10-12 of October. Already on Monday, on 22nd of September, Formula-1 cargo will start to arrive at Sochi", Mr. Creagan told journalists.
