The Smolensk Ring is a circuit in western Russia near the town of Safonovo in the settlement of Verkhnedneprovsky. It is located 90-kilometre (56 mi) east of its namesake city of Smolensk and about 250-kilometre (160 mi) west of Moscow.[citation needed] The construction of the 3.362 km (2.089 mi) circuit started in 2007, and the inaugural international event was a round of the FIA European Truck Racing Championship in August 2010.[1]
The Smolensk Ring was initially supposed to host rounds of the FIA GT3 European Championship in 2011,[2][3] however this was later postponed to 2012 because the track didn't complete in time modifications required to garner the necessary FIA track license.[4][5]
History
The track was designed by Hermann Tilke and his design bureau using the features of the pre-existing landscape of the designated area, resulting in a 3.362 km (2.089 mi), 12–15 m (39–49 ft) wide track containing fast corners, straights and twisty sections.[6][7]
The race track, with the prerequisite modifications in place, will fulfill the International Automobile Federation (FIA) requirements for a Grade 2 race track, and the first category according to the classification of the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF). With the FIA Grade 2 license, the Smolensk Ring would be able to host motor racing for all classes except Formula One.[8] But it was lastly graded by Grade 4 until 24 May 2020.
August 2010 — 5 stage FIA European Truck Racing Championship (Truck Battle Russia 2010)
22 May 2011 — 1 stage RTCC (Russian Touring Car Championship)
30–31 July 2011 — 6 stageFIA European Truck Racing Championship (Truck Battle Russia 2011)
9 October 2011 — 7 stage RTCC (Russian Touring Car Championship)[citation needed]
Lap records
As of May 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the Smolensk Ring are listed as: