Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

With only 16 days left to the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe, Baku is more than ready to host the royal race.

Nigar Arpadarai, Head of Marketing and Communications at Baku City Circuit, speaking about the readiness state of the track, said preparations run in accordance with the schedule.

"We have 16 days. Naturally, we are very excited now. This week we have already installed a countdown clock – the clock that ticks the time before the start of the race," Azertac quotes Arpadarai as saying.

The main work will be completed on June 14-16 when some Baku roads will be closed, according to her.

She emphasized that during many years Azerbaijan hosts a variety of activities including sports events, conferences, and more.

"We organized the Eurovision Song Contest, the First European Games. We built stadiums, hotels, restaurants, roads in Baku. That is why the city is ready. We have created all infrastructure that is why we do not see any problems with the accommodation of foreign tourists and offer them a wide range of rooms: 3-star and 4-star, and 5-star hotels," she said.

Arpadarai emphasized that a media center will work at the Hilton Hotel, and very comfortable conditions will be created there.

"Now we have accredited 160 representatives of local media, including journalists and photographers," she said, stressing that the organizers seek to create the most comfortable environment for all who attend the race, including teams, media and fans.

Recently, a public transportation plan to ensure an access of spectators to the track, grand stands and F1 village during the Grand Prix of Europe has been revealed.

The plan has taken into account transportation requirements of spectators to reach key locations around Baku City Circuit, including the F1 Village on the Boulevard and spectator grandstands.

In accordance with the Traffic Management Plan which is designed to ensure uninterrupted traffic flows in the affected central streets of Baku, buses and designated metro stations will operate for 20 hours each day, from 6:00 AM to 2:00 AM. During race, buses #65, #5 and #53 will operate at 5, 3, and 6 minute interval respectively.

Ticket holders are encouraged to exit at the stop across the Palace of Hand Games, and proceed to the relevant grand stands by foot. The bus will make stops at: Bayil (the 20th area) – National Flag Square – Funicular stops.

The event venue is also accessible by metro. Ticket holders can exit at 28th May, Sahil or Icherisheher metro stations and walk to the track.

In addition to the underground pedestrian crossings which will be open throughout the day, temporary over ground pedestrian crossings will ensure safe movement of residents during the race week.

Temporary over ground pedestrian crossings will be located at the crossing of Azerbaijan Avenue and Istiglaliyyat Street, as well as at the Khagani - Rashid Behbudov street intersections.

From 2:00 PM June 16 onwards only ticket holders will have access to the Seaside Boulevard.

With a length measuring at slightly over six kilometers, the 20-corner track will be lapped 51 times, with cars reaching potential speeds of up to 340km per hour, marking the circuit out as the fastest street circuit on the existing F1 calendar.

The circuit offers a number of challenges for drivers, including an extremely narrow uphill section along the old town walls that will require pinpoint accuracy, and it has an acceleration section of almost 2.2 kilometres along the seaside promenade, which will see the cars running flat out at very high speed - something that will create an incredible show for race fans.

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