The MotoGP World Championship will add Finland to its schedule from 2019, after bosses of the under-construction KymiRing agreed a five-year deal with Dorna Sports.
The KymiRing has long sought a deal to host MotoGP since construction of the 2.8-mile circuit, with an agreement signed between circuit bosses and Dorna last year which initially had a 2018 start date.
The country first hosted a round of the world championship back in 1962 at Tampere, the event switching to Imatra in 1964 where it remained through to the last Finnish Grand Prix to date in 1982.
“It’s a big pleasure to announce the agreement we have with KymiRing and the works are now underway,” said Dorna CEO Carmelo Expeleta, speaking at a press conference in Helsinki on Wednesday.
“We will propose to the FIM to have Finland in the MotoGP calendar for 2019.
“This is a great day as it’s so many years since the Imatra GP here in Finland and we are very proud to announce this new venue.
“Finland has been a traditional place for motorsport. It has had a number of fantastic riders in MotoGP in the past.
“I remember Jarno Saarinen and recently Mika Kallio, and many other people have raced.
“Finnish people understand motorsport very well and I think KymiRing will be hosting incredible events in the future.
“The layout of the circuit is very nice, it’s fast and it’s safe, and we’re happy to announce this today.”
The circuits is the only one of its kind in Northern Europe, and boasts FIM Grade A and FIA Grade 1 classification. The track will feature 15 corners, with circuit bosses anticipating crowds somewhere in the region of 100,000.
“This is something we’ve wanted for many years and now it’s true,” added KymiRing project manager, Timo Pohjola.
“I think the layout is based on Finnish racing experience – Finns loves motorsport and that’s why we want to make a special layout and track for MotoGP, something new.
“We are the only international circuit in northern Europe and that’s why so many other countries are interested in KymiRing.
“The first Finnish champion was Jarno Saarinen, then in Formula 1 we had Keke Rosberg and Mika Hakkinen and so on, but motorcycling has always been very popular in Finland.”
The addition of Finland to the calendar could see the number of races by 2019 swell to 20, with the Chang International Circuit in Thailand set to join the schedule next season.
Comments.
Loading comments…