Hungaroring facts for kids
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| Location | Mogyoród, Hungary |
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| Time zone | GMT +1 |
| Major events | FIA Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix FIA GT Championship, World Series by Renault |
| Length | 4.381 km (2.722 mi) |
| Turns | 16 |
| Race lap record | 1:19.071 ( Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004) |
The Hungaroring is a famous Formula One racing track located in Mogyoród, a town close to Budapest, Hungary. It's where the exciting Hungarian Grand Prix race takes place every year.
In 1986, the Hungaroring made history. It was the very first time a Formula One Grand Prix was held in a country behind the "Iron Curtain." This term referred to the invisible border that separated the Soviet Union and its allied countries from Western Europe during the Cold War.
The head of Formula One, Bernie Ecclestone, originally wanted a race in the Soviet Union. But when that didn't work out, a friend from Hungary suggested Budapest. Formula One first thought about building a street track in a big park in Budapest, similar to the one in Monaco. However, the Hungarian government decided to build a brand new track just outside the city, near a main highway. Construction began on October 1, 1985. The Hungaroring was built in just eight months, which is faster than any other Formula One track! The first race held here was on March 24, 1986, in memory of János Drapál, a Hungarian who was the first from his country to win a Grand Prix motorcycle race. Today, the Hungaroring is a popular spot for tourists visiting Hungary.
About the Track
The Hungaroring is a regular part of the Formula One racing calendar. The F1 race usually happens in the middle of summer in Central Europe. The track can be quite dusty, which makes it harder for the cars to grip the road. This happens because the track isn't used very often throughout the year, and it's built on sandy ground.
The track is built in a natural valley. This is cool because you can see about 80 percent of the racetrack from almost any spot where you are watching! The Hungaroring is known for being a very twisty track, which means it has many turns. This makes it quite challenging for drivers to overtake other cars during a race.
The Hungaroring is also the main place for Hungarian motorsport. Besides Formula One, it has hosted other big races like DTM and FIA GT Championship events. There's even a public drag race event held here every month!
Fans and the Grand Prix
Many fans who come to the Hungaroring for the races are from countries like Germany and Austria. A lot of Finnish fans also traditionally visit. Since the Austrian Grand Prix is no longer held, the Hungarian Grand Prix is the closest Formula One event for many fans from other Central European countries. For example, the 2006 race saw many spectators from Poland because it was the first time a Polish Formula One driver, Robert Kubica, made his debut.
The Hungarian Grand Prix has always been seen as a way to promote Hungary and Formula One, rather than just making a lot of money. The agreement for Formula One to race here was extended until 2016.
Images for kids
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Satellite view of the Hungaroring in April 2018
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The differences between the 1989-2002 layout and current layout
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Hungaroring – gate
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See also
In Spanish: Hungaroring para niños
