Mar01

Gotland Ring steadily developing

Plan of the revised Gotland Ring layout

Progress on Sweden's newest road course is continuing at a steady pace, as this exclusive diagram of the latest circuit changes shows.

The revisions centre on the southern loop, which now incorporates a drag strip and a long main straight. So far the only portion of the ambitious 4.08 mile/6.55km circuit is the northern loop, although progress on the rest of the facility is gathering pace according to founder and CEO Alec Arho Havrén.

"Through private placement and some key sponsors we are now developing the facility at an increasing pace," he said. "At the same time we are not willing to take any financial risk.

We do not have a typical €300 million budget that modern circuits often have today, so we opt to go forward at a steady but secure pace.
Alec Arho Havrén

"Since we do not have a typical €300 million budget that modern circuits often have today, we opt to go forward at a steady but secure pace.

"Our new circuit profile shows the two main circuits, of which only the Northern loop is functional so far. Steel barriers are being installed as we speak and this spring FIA inspection will finally take place."

Activities held at the circuit so far include business-to-business events, racing school sessions, rally sprints, testing and product launches.

When complete, the Gotland Ring will be among the longest circuits in Europe - and the largest modern road course facility to open for several decades.

From the outset it has been designed to not only be suitable for both international and national-level racing, but also for corporate entertainment, as a design and research test centre for the motor industry and a traffic safety 'school'.

The multipurpose nature of the track extends beyond its ability to run up to three variants independently and simultaneously. An on-site technology park for research of wireless applications for the motor industry, mobile laboratories and a product development centre for low and zero-emmission vehicles and even a conference centre mean that the Gotland Ring will have applications way beyond racing.


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