Here’s The Story Of A Promising Race Track That Was Never Finished

Heard of the Balatonring? No, didn’t think so. This race track had the potential to be very quick and pretty challenging, but it was never completed
Here’s The Story Of A Promising Race Track That Was Never Finished

Modern-day race tracks are all quite similar – characterless, with 90-degree corners and long straights. The Balatonring in Hungary wasn’t really like that. The proposed layout looked like a real mix of quick corners, slow hairpins and straights. It looked like quite a challenge.

Well, from the mock-ups anyway. The planned circuit, located close to the Balaton lake in Sávoly, was set to cost €80 million to construct and would have housed between 110,000 and 140,000 people.

Image source: marotvolgye
Image source: marotvolgye

In fact, before work had even started, the Balatonring secured the rights to host the MotoGP Hungarian Grand Prix in 2009. The first stone was put down on the 6 November 2008, 10 months prior to the scheduled MotoGP round, and Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta said after his visit that the project was “very important for both them [the Hungarian government] and us”. He added that he was “sure” the track would be finished in time for the race.

By August construction work had tentatively been started, although only clearing and levelling the (already pretty flat) land. The financial crisis then hit, with economic problems, as well as a harsh winter, delaying construction of the circuit. The Hungarian MotoGP race was postponed to 2010, with organisers and circuit owners confident the layout would be done in time.

Image source: Speedweek
Image source: Speedweek

The project took another major hit when a loan to complete the work from the Hungarian Development Bank was refused, as they thought it was too risky. It was reported that the government was happy to cover the costs of the MotoGP round but not the building of the track.

On March 18 2010 the Hungarian Grand Prix MotoGP race was officially cancelled by FIM and replaced by Motorland Aragon in Spain. It was the last straw and construction work had hardly even got going, despite starting in November 2008. In total it racked up $16,000,000 worth of debt and by 2012 the track outline couldn’t even be seen due to weeds and grass.

Here’s The Story Of A Promising Race Track That Was Never Finished

Above is a Google Maps view of the track from 2016, where the track can now be seen once again. However, little progress looks to have been made. The land was even put up for auction, but to no success. The grounds are kept clean (which is good considering reports that it has also become an illegal landfill), in the optimistic hope that a new investor can be found.

It was in the middle of nowhere, but the track looked promising, the layout could have been very quick and produced some good racing. We may never find out its potential!

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Comments

RD675

Carthrottle should buy it!! TRACK DAY BRUW!

02/20/2016 - 11:58 |
380 | 0
Dinosbacsi

In reply to by RD675

Official CarThrottle racetrack in my country? I’d support the idea.

02/20/2016 - 12:27 |
152 | 0
Nissan 420sx

In reply to by RD675

I would donate money for it!

02/20/2016 - 13:02 |
12 | 0
Dutchdirtbiker

In reply to by RD675

Yessss please!!!! They should start a kickstarter page for it

02/20/2016 - 13:10 |
28 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by RD675

Exactly what I was thinking. Like the top gear track but for CT to test cars on.

02/20/2016 - 13:36 |
16 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by RD675

Make it like just like it was. A great autocross, huh?

02/20/2016 - 13:42 |
6 | 0
RodriguezRacer456 (Aventador SV) (Lambo Squad)

Maybe could be a Gran Turismo or Forza track.

02/20/2016 - 12:05 |
14 | 0

looks like deep forest racing

02/22/2016 - 20:18 |
0 | 0
-Æsh-

Perfect track for a little bit of rallycross´ish racing I would say ( in the current state ) :)

02/20/2016 - 12:11 |
32 | 0
Nikoxio

Nice article, interesting to read.
Too bad about the track though =/

02/20/2016 - 12:13 |
12 | 0

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it

02/20/2016 - 17:35 |
10 | 0
Samniss Arandeen

Another Flatlander race track? I’ll pass. We need more height variation in racing, dammit!

02/20/2016 - 13:31 |
14 | 0
Bunga-bunga Stig

CTring?

02/20/2016 - 13:52 |
72 | 0

I like the sound of that

02/20/2016 - 17:28 |
2 | 0

Yes pls

02/20/2016 - 17:35 |
20 | 0
Anonymous

Who wants to start a kickstarter?

02/20/2016 - 14:20 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I’m game for that

02/20/2016 - 17:38 |
0 | 0
Camilo Re

Here in Argentina we have Velociudad in Zarate, a city about 60KM from Buenos Aires

02/20/2016 - 14:37 |
0 | 0

Nunca empezaron las obras, es mas, ni siquiera hay algun tipo de pavimento

02/20/2016 - 19:23 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

The designer must have had a touch of ocd. Good thing.

02/20/2016 - 14:38 |
0 | 0
Car interested person

Car Throttle racetrack?

02/20/2016 - 15:26 |
0 | 0