In the desert of the street circuit, there is a rare oasis of a new-built traditional circuit – 4.1 km/2.5 miles long and 16 corners. After four years of construction, the Balatonpark Circuit is a proper old-fashioned circuit close to Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe of the same name.

Built by a team led by former Formula 1 practice driver Chanoch Nissany, the track and surrounding complex have seen a €200 million investment to attract motorsport and tourism to the region. Built to FIA Class 1 specifications (although it will initially apply for Class 2), the circuit hopes to host international competitions from the 2024 season, initially focusing on sports car racing and junior single-seaters. There is also hope of creating an international racing academy for young drivers.

It’s a grand complex, its concrete structure looming over the Hungarian countryside, and it has a permanent seating capacity for 10,000 fans, which can be increased to 120,000 with temporary stands. A luxury hotel has also been built nearby, and there are already many others nearby, given how attractive the area is to Budapest residents in summer.

Its closest competitor is Hungaroring, just over an hour away on the other side of the capital. An F1 mainstay, it has hosted the Hungarian Grand Prix since its construction in 1986, and its current venue contract runs until 2027. Organizers are thought to be considering another long-term extension after that.

While board member Gianpaolo Matteucci was coy about hosting F1 at Balaton Park, insisting it was not its “main aim”, he stressed that it was ready to host “any kind of international event, which is what we want to create the infrastructure for.” The main reason is for Formula 1, which is FIA Grade 1″.

He continued: “Everything is done under the highest safety regulations of the FIA ​​and FIM. Formula 1 has been held at the Hungaroring for many, many years and will be there in the future. On our side we are prepared Good for any kind of racing event.”

Having said that, let’s take a look at the circuit itself. After enjoying a few excursions in Porsches (718 Spyder, Panamera and a very tidy 911 Turbo S), Autosport had its first chance to get a quick taste of the track thanks to a familiar face – three-time GP winner Gyan Giancarlo Fisichella.

Having gone out for a drive the day before, Fisichella said he was “impressed with the character (of the track)”, adding that it “really has it all” and was “a joy to drive”.

Fisichella approves of new circuit, also gives Autosport a chance

Photography: Balaton Park

“It’s always a pleasure to discover a new track and I’m honored to be the first on this very beautiful track,” he said. “If you ask me if there is a particular favorite place, I can’t tell you, because I like every corner.”

While the anti-clockwise circuit wasn’t exactly dry, the man who was a teammate with Fernando Alonso during Renault’s glory days had nothing but good things to say as he swept through every corner – six right-handers and 10 left bends – hands. Italians naturally drive Ferraris.

Entering the No. 1 hairpin turn is a good opportunity for overtaking. There’s another bobby pin shortly after, though a more open bobby pin needs a smooth exit. Fisichella said Turn 4 required a bit more tact, with some tricky braking on the way into the corner while also fighting oversteer. Turn 4 leads to the back straight and the ex-Ferrari test driver had hit 220 km/h (around 135 mph) the day before, adding that “maybe even 300 km/h can be achieved in Formula 1”.

Balatonpark is a dream circuit that marks a new departure from the street circuits that have become commonplace on the modern F1 calendar

Before the difficult high-speed Turn 7 there is another hairpin and chicane, and then another chicane. Approaching Turn 10, it was important to follow the V-line before Turn 11, and Fisichella said it was “impossible” to go all out in wet conditions – although he seemed to be trying!

Approaching the last part of the track, there is another hairpin ahead, before the left-hand corners of turns 13 and 14, and finally the most important corners of turns 15 and 16. We then cut into the pit lane before reaching the start/finish straight. It was a thrilling ride alongside the two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, who insists he does better in dry conditions.

Bookings for the 2024 season are already open at Balatonpark, with the track hoping to attract both two-wheelers and four-wheelers, with the likes of the ACCR Czech Formula 4 already looking to tour there. With tracks in continental Europe in short supply, new facilities like this are crucial for smaller championships facing skyrocketing costs.

The Balatonpark circuit is a dream circuit that marks a new departure from the street circuits that have become commonplace on the modern F1 calendar. Of course, inner-city twists and turns sometimes crop up, but they should be the exception, not the rule – especially as F1 cars get bigger and bigger.

While the board insists F1 is not its goal, the series could fare worse than considering Balaton Park as a future schedule.

F1 could do worse than mess up its schedule and add a new permanent venue at Balaton Park, not the recent tradition of identikit street circuits

Photography: Balaton Park