Imatra Circuit
 The layouts of the Imatra circuit | |
| Location | Imatra, Finland |
|---|---|
| Time zone | UTC+2/UTC+3 |
| Coordinates | 61°11′N 028°48′E / 61.183°N 28.800°ECoordinates: 61°11′N 028°48′E / 61.183°N 28.800°E |
| Opened | 1962 |
| Closed | 1986 |
| Major events | Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix (1964-1982) Sidecar World Championship (1967-1973, 1980-1982) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1979-1986) | |
| Length | 4.950 km (3.076 mi) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1964-1978) | |
| Length | 6.030 km (3.747 mi) |
The Imatra Circuit is a motorsport street circuit in Imatra, Finland. The circuit has existed in two versions, and has been exclusively used for the "Imatranajo" motorcycle road race. From 1962 to 1978 a 6.030 km (3.747 mi) clockwise street circuit in the east of the town of Imatra was used. The circuit ran along the Vuoksi river and a railway line that had to be crossed. From 1979 to 1986 a shorter circuit was used. This was only 4.950 km (3.076 mi) long and consisted mostly of the western part of the original circuit.
From the 1964 season until the 1982 season the Grand Prix of Finland was run 19 times in Imatra. From the 1983 season the "Imatranajo" lost its World Championship status due to the dangerous nature of the circuit and the death of sidecar driver Jock Taylor in 1982.
The last road race on the Imatra Circuit for many years was held in 1986 when a six-year-old boy died after falling under a running wheel, but classic races still took place. Road racing returned to Imatra in 2016[1] with a round of the , and another round was held in 2017.[2]In the "Imatranajo" on June 15, 2019, a death case occurred when a Swiss driver Mathias Gnägi with a Superbike class dropped off the track in the rain and then he died.
Finnish Grand Prix results[]
From 1964 to 1972[]
| Year | Class | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Fastest Lap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 50 cc |  Hugh Anderson (Suzuki)
|
 Hans-Georg Anscheidt (Kreidler)
|
 Luigi Taveri (Kreidler)
|
Hugh Anderson (Suzuki)
| |
| 125 cc | Luigi Taveri ()
|
 Ralph Bryans ()
|
 Jim Redman ()
|
Jim Redman ()
| ||
| 350 cc | Jim Redman ()
|
Bruce Beale ()
|
 ()
|
Jim Redman ()
| ||
| 500 cc |  Jack Ahearn (Norton)
|
 Mike Duff (Matchless)
|
Gyula Marsovszky (Matchless)
|
Mike Duff (Matchless)
| ||
| 1965 | 125 cc | Hugh Anderson (Suzuki)
|
 Frank Perris (Suzuki)
|
 ()
|
Hugh Anderson (Suzuki)
| |
| 250 cc | Mike Duff (Yamaha)
|
Heinz Rosner ()
|
Ralph Bryans ()
|
Mike Duff (Yamaha)
| ||
| 350 cc |  Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
|
Bruce Beale ()
|
 ()
|
Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
| ||
| 500 cc | Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
|
 Paddy Driver (Matchless)
|
 Fred Stevens (Matchless)
|
Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
| ||
| 1966 | 125 cc | Phil Read (Yamaha)
|
Luigi Taveri ()
|
Ralph Bryans ()
|
Luigi Taveri ()
| |
| 250 cc | Mike Hailwood ()
|
Stuart Graham ()
|
František Šťastný ()
|
Mike Hailwood ()
| ||
| 350 cc | Mike Hailwood ()
|
Heinz Rosner ()
|
Jack Ahearn (Norton)
|
Mike Hailwood ()
| ||
| 500 cc | Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
|
Mike Hailwood ()
|
Jack Findlay (McIntyre-Matchless)
|
Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
| ||
| 1967 | 125 cc | Stuart Graham (Suzuki)
|
Bill Ivy (Yamaha)
|
Dave Simmonds ()
|
Bill Ivy (Yamaha)
| |
| 250 cc | Mike Hailwood ()
|
Bill Ivy (Yamaha)
|
Derek Woodman ()
|
Mike Hailwood ()
| ||
| 500 cc | Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
|
John Hartle (-Matchless)
|
Billie Nelson (Norton)
|
Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
| ||
| Sidecars | Klaus Enders/ (BMW)
|
/ (BMW)
|
/ (BMW)
|
Klaus Enders/ (BMW)
| ||
| 1968 | 125 cc | Phil Read (Yamaha)
|
Bill Ivy (Yamaha)
|
Heinz Rosner ()
|
Bill Ivy (Yamaha)
| |
| 250 cc | Phil Read (Yamaha)
|
Heinz Rosner ()
|
Rodney Gould (Bultaco-Yamaha)
|
Phil Read (Yamaha)
| ||
| 500 cc | Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
|
Jack Findlay (McIntyre-Matchless)
|
Derek Woodman ()
|
Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
| ||
| Sidecars | Helmut Fath/ ()
|
/ Geoff Hughes (BMW)
|
/ (BMW)
|
Helmut Fath/ ()
| ||
| 1969 | 125 cc | Dave Simmonds ()
|
Günter Bartusch ()
|
 Cees van Dongen (Suzuki)
|
Dave Simmonds ()
| |
| 250 cc |  Kent Andersson (Yamaha)
|
Günter Bartusch ()
|
Börje Jansson (Yamaha)
|
Kent Andersson (Yamaha)
| ||
| 350 cc | Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
|
Rodney Gould (Yamaha)
|
Giuseppe Visenzi (Yamaha)
|
Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
| ||
| 500 cc | Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
|
Billie Nelson ()
|
Godfrey Nash (Norton)
|
Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
| ||
| Sidecars | Klaus Enders/ (BMW)
|
/ (BMW)
|
/ Geoff Hughes (BMW)
|
Helmut Fath/ ()
| ||
| 1970 | 125 cc | Dave Simmonds ()
|
()
|
()
|
 Ángel Nieto (Derbi)
| |
| 250 cc | Rodney Gould (Yamaha)
|
Kent Andersson (Yamaha)
|
Paul Smart (Yamaha)
|
Rodney Gould (Yamaha)
| ||
| 350 cc | Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
|
Kent Andersson (Yamaha)
|
Rodney Gould (Yamaha)
|
Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
| ||
| 500 cc | Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
|
Ginger Molloy ()
|
Alberto Pagani (Linto)
|
Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
| ||
| Sidecars | Klaus Enders/ (BMW)
|
/ (BMW)
|
/ (BMW)
|
Klaus Enders/ (BMW)
| ||
| 1971 | 125 cc | Barry Sheene (Suzuki)
|
Dieter Braun (Maico)
|
Gert Bender (Maico)
|
Barry Sheene (Suzuki)
| |
| 250 cc | Rodney Gould (Yamaha)
|
John Dodds (Yamaha)
|
Dieter Braun (Yamaha)
|
 Jarno Saarinen (Yamaha)
| ||
| 350 cc | Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
|
Jarno Saarinen (Yamaha)
|
Billie Nelson (Yamaha)
|
Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
| ||
| 500 cc | Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
|
Dave Simmonds ()
|
Rob Bron (Suzuki)
|
Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
| ||
| Sidecars | / (Münch-)
|
/ (BMW)
|
/ (BMW)
|
/ (BMW)
| ||
| 1972 | 125 cc | Kent Andersson (Yamaha)
|
Ángel Nieto (Derbi)
|
Dieter Braun (Maico)
|
Kent Andersson (Yamaha)
| |
| 250 cc | Jarno Saarinen (Yamaha)
|
Silvio Grassetti ()
|
Kent Andersson (Yamaha)
|
Jarno Saarinen (Yamaha)
| ||
| 350 cc | Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
|
Jarno Saarinen (Yamaha)
|
Renzo Pasolini (Aermacchi)
|
Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
| ||
| 500 cc | Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
|
Alberto Pagani (MV Agusta)
|
Rodney Gould (Yamaha)
|
Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
| ||
| Sidecars | Chris Vincent/ (Münch-)
|
Klaus Enders/ (Busch-BMW)
|
/ (BMW)
|
Chris Vincent/ (Münch-)
| ||
From 1973 to 1982[]
(Coloured background = the race was boycotted by international competitors)
References and notes[]
- ^ "Imatra – Round up – Road Racing News".
- ^ "Imatra Added to Duke Road Race Rankings Schedule – Road Racing News".
- ^ The Sidecar Riders had had enough of the low starting money in Finland, and therefore the only competitors were six Finnish and one unknown German team. Of these, there were only three finishers, so the race was also rather boring. It delivered the first victory in the Sidecar Class for because and won with their , followed by the BMW sidecars of / and /
- Translated from the Dutch version of this page
External links[]
- Imatranajo website (in English)
- Motorsport venues in Finland
- Grand Prix motorcycle circuits
- Defunct motorsport venues in Finland