European Grand Prix affirms 2016 calendar
By Nigar Orujova
Baku will host the world’s major race - Formula One World Championship- on June 19, the International Automobile Federation decided at its latest World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris.
The World Motor Sport Council approved a number of changes to the F1 Sporting Regulations and confirmed the calendar for the 2016 Formula One race.
For the first time, the maximum number of Championship events in a season has been increased from 20 to 21. The expanded calendar features new race – the inaugural Grand Prix of Europe in Baku.
The Baku race will be 8th among 21 races. The 2016 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar will start in March in Melbourne and end in Abu Dhabi in November.
The Baku race start to be scheduled to avoid conflict with the conclusion of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Tickets for the brightest event of 2016 in Azerbaijan are going on sale from December 19. The event expects about 30,000 spectaculars to enjoy the fastest race in Europe. In Azerbaijan’s capital, Formula 1 enthusiasts will be able to choose between 19,500 seats or 10,000 standing places to watch the race.
The competitions will be organized in the central streets of the capital. The race will start and finish at the Government House.
The total length of the route will be 6 km, which will make the Baku route the second longest in the world, and the first in speed. The bolides will ride across the Baku Boulevard with the speed of 340 km per hour.
The Baku route has a number of challenges, including an extremely narrow uphill section along the old town walls that will require pinpoint accuracy, and includes an acceleration section of almost 2.2 kilometers along the seaside promenade, which will see the racecars running flat out at very high speeds – creating a thrilling show for race fans.
The specially constructed street track will see F1 cars race around the stunning downtown area of Baku, incorporating its UNESCO-protected old city – Icheri Sheher – as well as its modern skyline and beautiful Caspian Sea vista.
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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews’s staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar
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