The organizers of the Hungarian Grand Prix spoke about prospects for the development of the Hungaroring, where a phased reconstruction has already begun but will not be completed until 2026. In general, we have already written about these plans, but now some details have appeared.
The Hungarian stage appeared on the World Cup calendar in 1986 and has been run regularly ever since. The current contract in Formula 1 runs until 2027, but an additional five-year option is provided. The promoter hopes that the race will remain at the Hungaroring until at least 2032, but this will require bringing the infrastructure up to modern standards and, above all, reconstructing the paddock and box complex.
“The infrastructure is in such a state that it no longer meets the requirements of the FIA. Everything needs to be upgraded and revamped – from the size of the garages to the width of the paddock and the main building,” Hungaroring CEO Zsolt Gyulai told a press conference yesterday. contract extension With the arrival of new American races on the calendar, interest in Formula 1 has increased, if there is room to grow at all.
We are planning to build a new circuit entrance, a new Race Directorate building and a 10,000 seat grandstand. We expect the reconstruction of the paddock complex to be completed by the 2026 race. We are negotiating an extension of the contract until 2032 with an additional five-year option, in which case we will have the longest contract of any European circuit.”
The reconstruction has already begun and will take place in three phases, including the possibility of making the necessary changes to allow the Hungaroring to host MotoGP events in the future.
In particular, Gyulai said that the pedestrian bridge over the highway will be demolished, as it is difficult to see, and two tunnels will be built instead.
He also emphasized that in 2010, when he headed the company Hungaroring Sport Zrt., it had large debts, but was able to pay off gradually, and now the circuit is generating income. Tickets for the 2023 race were completely sold out a few months ago, so it was decided to install an additional grandstand for 2,000 seats, but these tickets quickly sold out.
“At the moment we have the cheapest tickets, but in the future we want to catch up with other circuits and sell for the same price as on other circuits,” said Hungaroring director.
According to him, the capacity of the grandstands can be increased to 150,000 seats, but this will require a reconstruction of the network of access roads.
At the same time, Gyulai acknowledged that the level of costs required to carry out a large-scale reconstruction project has not yet been determined.
“Experts will calculate everything until we can give concrete figures. We will be ready to share this information in May, but there is simply no upper limit on the costs that would limit the implementation of the autodrome reconstruction project,” added Adam Schmidt, the Hungarian Minister of Sport, who also took part in the press conference .
The contract with the construction company that will be entrusted with the work must be signed in January, the second phase of the reconstruction will begin after the 2024 Grand Prix, but everything must be ready for the 2026 race.
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
