Hungaroring facts for kids
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Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present)
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| Location | Mogyoród, Pest County, Hungary |
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| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) CEST (DST) |
| Coordinates | 47°34′56″N 19°15′04″E / 47.58222°N 19.25111°E |
| Capacity | 70,000 |
| FIA Grade | 1 |
| Operator | Hungaroring Sport Zrt |
| Broke ground | 1 October 1985 |
| Opened | 24 March 1986 |
| Architect | István Papp & Ferenc Gulácsi |
| Major events | Current: Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix (1986–present) International GT Open (2012, 2014, 2017–2018, 2020–present) Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux (2025) Former: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Hungarian motorcycle Grand Prix (1990, 1992) ELMS 4 Hours of Hungaroring (2010, 2013) TCR World Tour (2023) European Truck Racing Championship (1988–1990, 2015–2022) FIA WTCR Race of Hungary (2011–2022) GT World Challenge Europe (2016–2019) DTM (2014, 2016–2018) World SBK (1988–1990) FIA GT (1998–2001, 2006, 2009) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present) | |
| Length | 4.381 km (2.722 mi) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Race lap record | 1:16.627 ( Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W11, 2020, F1) |
| Modified Grand Prix Circuit (1989–2002) | |
| Length | 3.975 km (2.466 mi) |
| Turns | 13 |
| Race lap record | 1:16.207 ( Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2002, 2002, F1) |
| Original Grand Prix Circuit (1986–1988) | |
| Length | 4.014 km (2.494 mi) |
| Turns | 16 |
| Race lap record | 1:30.149 ( Nelson Piquet, Williams FW11B, 1987, F1) |
The Hungaroring is a famous motorsport racetrack located in Mogyoród, Hungary. It's about 4.381 kilometers (2.722 miles) long. This track is most famous for hosting the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix.
In 1986, the Hungaroring made history by becoming the first Formula One Grand Prix location behind the Iron Curtain. This was a big deal at the time! The idea for the track came from Bernie Ecclestone, who wanted a race in the region. A friend suggested Budapest, Hungary's capital.
They first thought about building a street circuit in Budapest's largest park. But the government decided to build a brand-new track just outside the city. Construction started on October 1, 1985, and it was built incredibly fast. It took only eight months, which is quicker than any other Formula One circuit. The very first race was held on March 24, 1986.
The Hungaroring is a popular spot for tourists in Hungary. It ranks third among destinations visited by people, after the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton. The circuit has a special FIA Grade 1 license, meaning it's approved for the highest level of racing.
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Discovering the Hungaroring Track
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The Hungarian Grand Prix usually takes place in the middle of summer. This means it's often very hot and dry. The track can get dusty because it's not used much during the rest of the year.
One cool thing about the Hungaroring is that you can see about 80 percent of the track from almost any spot. This is because it's built in a valley.
Usually, race tracks get faster as more cars drive on them. This is because rubber from the tires builds up on the surface. However, at Hungaroring, this doesn't always happen. The track can get dusty again very quickly. This often makes drivers try to set their fastest lap times as late as possible during qualifying.
Why Overtaking is Tricky at Hungaroring
The track is known for being twisty and bumpy. This makes it very hard for drivers to overtake each other in dry weather. Because of this, some people call it "Monaco without the barriers."
Even with the challenges, the Hungaroring has seen many exciting races. There have been famous battles between drivers like Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna. Nigel Mansell won from 12th place in 1989 after an amazing pass. Damon Hill almost won with a smaller team in 1997. Michael Schumacher used clever strategies to win in 1998.
More recently, Jenson Button won in the rain in 2006. Daniel Ricciardo drove through the field to win in 2014. Lewis Hamilton made a late overtake to win in 2019. Fernando Alonso showed incredible defensive driving in 2021. Some drivers even got their first-ever wins here, including Hill in 1993, Alonso in 2003, Button in 2006, Heikki Kovalainen in 2008, Esteban Ocon in 2021, and Oscar Piastri in 2024.
Changes to the Track Layout
The track has been changed a couple of times to make racing better. The first change happened in 1989. A tricky chicane (a sharp turn followed by another sharp turn) was removed. This was done by covering up a stream that was in the way.
In 2003, the main straight part of the track was made longer by about 200 meters (656 feet). The hairpin turn at the end of this straight was also made tighter. These changes were all made to help drivers have more chances to overtake. These updates increased the track's length from 3.975 km to 4.381 km.
Famous Drivers and Hungaroring History
The Hungaroring has been a special place for some drivers. Two drivers have won the World Championship title right here: Nigel Mansell in 1992 and Michael Schumacher in 2001. Also, two teams, WilliamsF1 and Scuderia Ferrari, have won the Constructors' Championship at this track. Williams won in 1996, and Ferrari won in 2001, 2002, and 2004.
The track also saw the first Formula One drivers from their countries make their debut. Hungary's Zsolt Baumgartner and Poland's Robert Kubica both started their F1 careers here.
The 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix was the first time it rained during a race at the Hungaroring. Many drivers had to stop, including rivals Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher. This race gave Jenson Button and the Honda F1 team their first victory. Fernando Alonso also got his first Grand Prix win at this track in 2003, and he even said it was his favorite circuit!
In 1990, Belgian driver Thierry Boutsen won a race even though his car ran out of fuel near the end. He got out and pushed his car across the finish line!
Drivers have different opinions about the track. Some, like Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Fernando Alonso, say they love it. Others find it too slow, hot, and demanding.
Named Turns and Driver Safety
Some turns on the track are named after famous drivers. Turn 4 is called "Nigel Mansell" because he lost a wheel there during the 1987 Hungarian Grand Prix. Turn 11 is named after Jean Alesi because he had a big crash there during qualifying in 1995.
In 2009, during a qualifying session, Ferrari driver Felipe Massa had an accident. A part from another car hit his helmet while he was driving fast. He was taken to the hospital in Budapest for treatment. His condition improved quickly, and he was able to return to racing later. This event highlighted the importance of safety in motorsport.
Fans and Future of Hungaroring
The Hungaroring attracts fans from all over Europe. Many foreign fans come from Germany, Austria, and Finland. When the Austrian Grand Prix was not held for a while, Hungaroring became the closest Formula One event for many Central European fans. The return of the Austrian Grand Prix in 2014 changed this a bit.
From 2006 to 2010, many Polish fans came to watch because of Robert Kubica's participation. Michael Schumacher's success in the 1990s and 2000s also brought tens of thousands of German fans each year. Schumacher won at Hungaroring in 1994, 1998, 2001, and 2004.
The contract for the Hungaroring to host Formula One races has been extended until 2032. This shows how important the track is for the sport.
Besides Formula One, the Hungaroring is home to many other Hungarian motorsport events. It has hosted races like the DTM and FIA GT Championship. Since 2011, it has also hosted the WTCC and WTCR races. There's even a public drag race event held every month.
Exciting Events at Hungaroring
The Hungaroring hosts many different types of races throughout the year.
Current Events
- July: International GT Open, Formula Regional European Championship, Euroformula Open Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux, GB3 Championship
- August: Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix, FIA Formula 2 Championship Budapest Formula 2 round, FIA Formula 3 Championship, Porsche Supercup
Past Events
The track has also hosted many other exciting races in the past, including:
- Grand Prix motorcycle racing Hungarian motorcycle Grand Prix (1990, 1992)
- European Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Hungaroring (2010, 2013)
- Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (2014, 2016–2018)
- European Truck Racing Championship (1988–1990, 2015–2022)
- Superbike World Championship (1988–1990)
- GP2 Series Hungaroring GP2 round (2005–2016)
- GP3 Series (2010–2018)
- World Touring Car Championship FIA WTCC Race of Hungary (2011–2017)
Fastest Laps at Hungaroring
Here are some of the fastest official race lap records at the Hungaroring:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event | Circuit Map |
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| Grand Prix Circuit: 4.381 km (2003–present) | |||||
| Formula One | 1:16.627 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes-AMG F1 W11 EQ Performance | 2020 Hungarian Grand Prix | |
| FIA F2 | 1:29.257 | Artem Markelov | Dallara GP2/11 | 2017 Hungaroring F2 round | |
| FIA F3 | 1:34.195 | Jake Hughes | Dallara F3 2019 | 2020 Hungaroring FIA F3 round | |
| DTM | 1:36.725 | Mattias Ekström | Audi RS5 DTM | 2017 Hungaroring DTM round | |
| TCR Touring Car | 1:53.163 | Mikel Azcona | Hyundai i30 N TCR | 2022 FIA WTCR Race of Hungary | |
| Grand Prix Circuit: 3.975 km (1989–2002) | |||||
| Formula One | 1:16.207 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari F2002 | 2002 Hungarian Grand Prix |  |
| 500cc | 1:44.390 | Mick Doohan | Honda NSR500 | 1990 Hungarian motorcycle Grand Prix | |
| Original Grand Prix Circuit: 4.014 km (1986–1988) | |||||
| Formula One | 1:30.149 | Nelson Piquet | Williams FW11B | 1987 Hungarian Grand Prix |  |
See also
In Spanish: Hungaroring para niños
