MOTOGP: New Finnish track targets race date

Negotiations for a MotoGP race in Finland for the first time in more than three decades in 2017 or '18 are ongoing, with construction about to start on the KymiRing circuit.

Final planning approval has now come through for the venue, which is located approximately 100 miles north-east of Helsinki, near Kouvola. The KymiRing would include a 2.9-mile, internationally-certified racetrack, with the track management looking  to install a MotoGP round as its flagship event.

"We have a good understanding with [MotoGP organizer] Dorna," said project manager Timo Pohjola. "We are going to have a meeting in February, they are visiting in Finland once again and we will discuss the timetable. We are really pleased with everything they have done so far."

Finland hosted world motorcycle grands prix between 1962 and '82, initially with two at the Tampere circuit before moving to Imatra.

Pohjola indicated it was "too early at the moment to say", whether the circuit would be ready to host MotoGP in 2017 or '18, should an agreement be struck.

The circuit plan received final approval last week, paving the way for construction to begin. However, meaningful work is likely to be a couple of months away, due to the harsh Finnish winter.

"We have a preliminary time schedule from our constructor and he says it is about 12 to 13 months," Pohjola explained. "At the moment, the first thing we can continue is the forest cutting, so that is going to be the next stage, and then also we are starting some earthworks.

"The earth is frozen at the moment, the depth is about two meters that it is frozen. We have to wait a little so it melts, then it is a lot easier and cheaper to work on. We have about five months every year when it is not very wise to start earthworks."

Winter will again be a factor later in the circuit's construction, based on the first layer of the racing surface needing a winter to cure, before a second can be applied.

"We don't know what is going to be the timetable at the end of this year," Pohjola said. "It is a little bit too early to tell. We only want to speak facts, because this winter is much, much harder than we expected, much."

FOUR WHEEL RACING ALSO ON THE AGENDA

When complete, the KymiRing's FIM Grade A certification will be accompanied by Grade 2 on the FIA's motorsport scale. Car racing, including championships such as the DTM and World Touring Cars, is also on the venue's radar.

"The [Finnish] car federation has had some serious talks with the FIA and to other promoters," Pohjola confirmed. "So there are a lot of things under negotiation. I can tell you that we can expect some results or statements before summer."

Originally on Autosport.com