The KymiRing is a

motor racing An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy. Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power gene ...

circuit in

Kausala Kausala is a village and administrative center in Iitti municipality in Päijänne Tavastia, Finland. Kausala has a population of 3,775, which makes it the largest village of the municipality in terms of population. The significance of Kausala for ...

of the

Iitti Iitti (; ) is a municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Päijänne Tavastia region. The municipality has a population of () and covers an area of of which is water. The population density ...

municipality, Päijänne Tavastia,

Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...

, bordering the

Kymenlaakso Kymenlaakso (; ; "Kymi River, Kymi/Kymmene Valley") is a Regions of Finland, region in Finland. It borders the regions of Uusimaa, Päijät-Häme, Southern Savonia, South Savo and South Karelia and Russia (Leningrad Oblast). Its name means lit ...

's regional capital

Kouvola Kouvola () is a city in Finland and the administrative capital of Kymenlaakso. It is located in the southeastern interior of the country. The population of Kouvola is approximately . It is the most populous municipality in Finland, and the 17th m ...

, and located north-east of the capital Helsinki. It was planned that it would be the first circuit in Finland to hold an FIA Grade 1 license. While the circuit itself was built to meet both

Formula 1 Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...

and MotoGP specifications, hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix would require substantial investment in both the track's facilities and in race hosting fees. The track was officially opened on 19 August 2019 with a small

MotoGP Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the highest class of motorcycle road racing events held on Road racing, road circuits sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Independent motorcycle racing events have been held sin ...

test. In July 2022, the developer was reported as being in administration. The name "Kymi" comes from the

Kymi River The Kymi (, ) is a river in Finland. It begins at Lake Päijänne, flows through the provinces of Päijänne Tavastia, Uusimaa and Kymenlaakso, and discharges into the Gulf of Finland. The river passes the towns of Heinola and Kouvola. The town ...

(''Kymijoki''), in the valley of which the race track is located.

Facilities

The main racetrack, designed by Pohjola and Apex Circuit Design Ltd is long. In addition, the complex will have a rallycross track with a joker lap, diverting from the main circuit's finish line. Driver training facilities for the use of local driving schools are located next to the main track, using parts of the track to provide various customisable training modules. A traffic safety theme park for families with children is also included in the plans. Kymi Ring in its entirety covers an area of . The infield of the track can be utilised as a venue for fairs, festivals and other mass events, with room for hospitality and dining services. Potential businesses, especially those of the automotive trade, have been designated a business park area at the circuit's outskirts, next to the main road 12. Accommodation services at the circuit consist mainly of trackside cabins, called "toy barns" by the circuit management. As of September 2021, the track, paddock and offices have been completed, with the cost of 30 million Euro. The track has permits to build for 150,000m² of floor space, with 9,000m² currently being used. No hotels or grandstands exist yet. In June 2022, the developer was reported as being in administration, due to two construction companies filing for a non-payment total of €634,000. In February 2024, the circuit was purchased by a Hungarian consortium.

Competitions

In July 2017, Kymi Ring and

Dorna Sports Dorna Sports, S.L. is the commercial rights' holder for the motorcycle, motorcycling sport of Grand Prix motorcycle racing, Grand Prix racing. Established in 1988 as an international sports management and marketing company, it is headquartered ...

, the commercial rights holder of MotoGP, signed a five-year contract for organising the

Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix The Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix was part of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship from 1962 to 1982. It was held at the Tampere Circuit in 1962 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season, 1962 a ...

. It would be the first time motorcycle racing's premier class would race in the country since

1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 6 – A funeral service is held in West Germany for Nazi Grand Admiral ...

. The event was initially supposed to be on the 2020 MotoGP calendar but was cancelled due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. It was also on the 2021 MotoGP calendar but was later postponed to 2022. Concerns over the circuit were discussed by riders at a Safety Commission meeting at Le Mans. On 25 May 2022, it was announced that the event would once again be removed from the 2022 World Championship season, due to incomplete homologation works together with the risks caused by the ongoing geopolitical situation in the region by the

Russian invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, , starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, conflict between the two countries which began in 2014. The fighting has caused hundreds of thou ...

. Ongoing financial troubles and incomplete construction resulted in the

FIM Motocross World Championship The FIM Motocross World Championship is the premier championship of motocross racing, organized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), divided into two distinct classes: MXGP and MX2. Race duration is 30 minutes plus two laps ...

and

Nitro Rallycross Nitrocross is an American rallycross racing series. Created by rallycross driver Travis Pastrana and the ''Nitro Circus'' production in 2018, its inaugural season began in 2021. The championship is sanctioned by the United States Auto Club. Hist ...

cancelling their August 2022 races at the track. The former moved the event to

Hyvinkää Hyvinkää (; , ) is a town in Finland, located in the southern interior of the country. Hyvinkää is situated in the northern part of the Uusimaa region. The population of Hyvinkää is approximately . It is the most populous municipality in ...

, while the latter opted not to replace the date with a different location. In September 2024, it was announced that the circuit will host

FIA World Rallycross Championship The FIA World Rallycross Championship (official abbreviation is World RX) is a rallycross series organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, FIA in conjunction with series promoter Rallycross Promoter GmbH (founded by Red Bull G ...

races for three years starting from 2025.

References

External links

*
Kymi Ring's official website

Apex Circuit Design Ltd
Iitti Kouvola Motorsport venues in Finland Sport in Kymenlaakso Buildings and structures in Kymenlaakso World Rallycross circuits {{finland-sports-venue-stub