Automotodrom Grobnik

Summary

Automotodrom Grobnik is a 4.168 km (2.590 mi) motorsport race track located in Čavle, 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Rijeka, Croatia. The circuit was built in 15 months and was opened in 14 September 1978.[1] From 1978 to 1990, it hosted the Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix of MotoGP. The circuit was renovated between December 2017 and April 2018.[2]

Automotodrom Grobnik
LocationČavle, Croatia
Time zoneCET (UTC+1)
CEST (DST)
Coordinates45°22′54″N 14°30′31″E / 45.38167°N 14.50861°E / 45.38167; 14.50861
FIA Grade4
OwnerAutomotodrom Grobnik d.o.o.
OperatorAuto Moto Club Kvarner Rijeka
Broke groundJune 1977; 46 years ago (1977-06)
Opened14 September 1978; 45 years ago (1978-09-14)
Major eventsCurrent:
Porsche Sprint Challenge Central Europe (2023)
Former:
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix (1978–1990)
Sidecar World Championship (1980, 1990, 1997–1998, 2005–2019, 2021–2022)
NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (2020–2022)
TCR Eastern Europe Trophy (2019–2022)
Italian GT (1997, 2000)
FIA Central European Zone Formula 3
FIM Superbike European Championship (1990–1991)
Formula 750 (1979)
Grand Prix Circuit (1978–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length4.168 km (2.590 miles)
Turns18
Race lap record1:16.388 (Josef Neuhauser, Minardi M190, 2000, Interserie/F1)

Currently, among other competitions, the automotodrom hosts the Croatia Prix (Croatian: Nagrada Hrvatske), which is a valid race for the FIA CEZ Formula 3 and Circuit Championships.

In 2020, Rijeka also hosted NASCAR Whelen Euro Series rounds as a late replacement for Autodrom Most, whose round was cancelled late in the season due to COVID-19 restrictions.[3] It has featured on the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series calendar also in 2021 and 2022.

World Championship races edit

Period Competition Class No. of races
1978–1990
(13)
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
(Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix)
50cc 6
80cc 7
125cc 13
250cc 13
350cc 6
500cc 12
1980, 1990, 1997–1998,
2005–2019, 2021–2022
(21)
FIM Sidecar World Championship 21

Lap records edit

As of September 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the Automotodrom Grobnik are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Event
Grand Prix Circuit: 4.168 km (1978–present)
Interserie/F1 1:16.388[4] Josef Neuhauser Minardi M190 2000 Rijeka Interserie round
Formula 3 1:17.732[5] Paolo Brajnik Dallara F318 2020 Rijeka FIA CEZ F3 round
GT3 1:21.705[6] Marcin Jedlinski Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo 2018 Rijeka FIA CEZ Circuit Endurance Championship round
Porsche Carrera Cup 1:23.848[7] Florian Janits Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup 2023 Rijeka Porsche Sprint Challenge Central Europe round
Formula 4 1:24.039[8] Benjámin Berta [pl] Tatuus F4-T014 2021 Nagrada Hrvatske
CN 1:25.320[9] Jacek Zielonka Radical SR8 2021 Rijeka FIA CEZ Circuit Championship round
Superbike 1:26.772[10] Michal Filla Ducati Panigale V4 R 2021 2nd Rijeka Alpe Adria Superbike round
Supersport 1:28.031[11] Martin Vugrinec Yamaha YZF-R6 2021 1st Rijeka Alpe Adria Supersport round
Stock car racing 1:28.508[12] Alon Day Chevrolet Camaro NASCAR 2020 Rijeka NASCAR Whelen Euro Series round
500cc 1:29.220 Wayne Rainey Yamaha YZR500 1990 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix
TCR Touring Car 1:30.557[13] Dušan Borković Hyundai i30 N TCR 2020 Rijeka TCR Eastern Europe Trophy round
250cc 1:31.952 Reinhold Roth Honda NSR250 1990 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix
350cc 1:36.900 Anton Mang Kawasaki KR350 1981 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix
Supersport 300 1:37.869[14] Maxim Repak Kawasaki Ninja 400 2019 Rijeka Alpe Adria Supersport 300 round
125cc 1:38.076 Doriano Romboni Honda RS125R 1990 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix
GT2 1:38.131[15] Alex Dazzan Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8 1997 Rijeka Italian GT round
Renault Clio Cup 1:38.936[16] Michal Makes Renault Clio R.S. IV 2018 Rijeka FIA CEZ Circuit Championship round
Renault Clio Cup 5 1:39.787 Nik Štefančič Renault Clio R.S. Line 2023 Nagrada Hrvatske
Super 1600 1:44.329[16] Dušan Kouril Fiat Punto S1600 2018 Rijeka FIA CEZ Circuit Championship round
50cc 1:49.980 Ricardo Tormo Garelli 50cc GP 1983 Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix

See also edit

Notes edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Racing in Rijeka Area". formula1-dictionary.net. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  2. ^ "About Us". Automotodrom Grobnik. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  3. ^ "CROATIA REPLACES MOST AS THIRD EVENT OF THE 2020 NWES SEASON". euronascar.com. NASCAR Media Group, LLC. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Interserie Grobnik 2000". Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Nagrada Hrvatske 2020 Race - D2" (PDF). 25 July 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Croatia Prix 2018 Endurance Race" (PDF). 4 August 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  7. ^ "2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge Central Europe Round 5 Autodrom Grobnik PSCCE 100 Miles of Croatia Result of Race" (PDF). 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Nagrada Hrvatske 2021 Race 2 - Official Results" (PDF). 25 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Nagrada Hrvatske 2021 GT + TC-3500 + D5 Race 1 - Official Results" (PDF). 24 July 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  10. ^ "2023 Alpe Adria IMC 10/1091 - SBK - Race 2" (PDF). 22 August 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Automoto Show Grobnik 2021 - AA STK 600 - Race 1" (PDF). 26 June 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Fracasso NASCAR GP Croatia 2020 Race 1 - Final Results" (PDF). 14 November 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Nagrada Hrvatske 2020 1st Race TCR" (PDF). 26 July 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  14. ^ "2019 Alpe Adria International Motorcycle Championship Round 5 (Grobnik) - SSP 300 - Race 2" (PDF). 25 August 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Italia GT Grobnik 1997". Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Croatia Prix 2018 CEZ Group D-2000 2nd Race" (PDF). 5 August 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2023.

External links edit

  • Track information
  • Homepage