Automotodrom Grobnik - Rijeka
Tradition
Motor racing in Kvarner area have long tradition that goes as far as beginning of last century. Yet there are two locations that have special place in that field. Preluk and Grobnik are symbols of past and present. Preluk, by many characteristics unique in the world when motorcycles are concerned, can even be compared to Monte Carlo in that line. For three decades Preluk has been a host of numerous competitions, national and international, that have developed from Adriatic Prix to Adriatic Grand Prix and on September 14, 1969 for the first time the race counted toward the world championship. This lasted till the end of 1977 when, long expected and announced, suspension of all road Grand Prix races was confirmed. This decision was legitimate considering speed and safety of drivers and audience. From this year on races could be held only on motordrome. Grobnik field started to be a big construction site and in only few spring and summer months of 1978. the race-track was built on this field by strict international standards that was immediately named «Grobnik beauty».
Races
Last Grand Prix race of world championship in 1978. was scheduled in FIM calendar to take place on September 17 in Grobnik. Many have doubted but it was held indeed! Nevertheless, everyone came even those that have already had the title. It is registered that the winners of Grobnik race-track were: Ricardo Tormo (50 ccm, Spain, Bultaco), Angel Nieto (125 ccm, Spain, Minarelli) and double winner Greg Hansford (250 and 350 ccm, Austria, Kawasaki) who had the first overall record on that race track which was 153,110 km/h. Years have gone by and «Grobnik beauty» has not changed, infrastructure was too slow and it could not keep up the pace with other race-tracks in the world any more. Some great world aces kept coming back to Grobnik year after year. Aces like Lazzarini, Dorfilinger, Nieto, Cadalore, Managa, Lavada, Spencer, Kocinsky, Roberts, Lawson, Rainey raced on 25 year old asphalt. By 1990. 13 races for world championship took place and the last one on June 17, 1990. Last big international race before brutal aggression on Croatia took place on May 12, 1991. and it was called Opatija Prix.
Today
From the year 1978. when it was built until now, the race-track meets strict world standards of auto moto federation (FIA and FIM). Every year more and more race-car drivers, even world-known, visit Automotodrom Grobnik. We are happy to point out that track is used daily for training practices, testing and various events and demonstrations. Year 2018 is particularly significant for AUTOMOTODROM GROBNIK because at the end of 2017, or more precisely on 04th of December 2017, construction works on the track officially started. The new date and time that will be recorded in the history of Grobnik racetrack is April 9, 2018, at 12.48h, when last meters of new asphalt was finished. 5,200 tons of mass covered 55,000 square feet of the track. There are a total of 2500 meters of new kerbs, according to track standards, guardrails are replaced, zones are widened and straightened. During first rides on new track the result of 01: 28.618 is the best proof that excellent work has been done.
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