Balaton Park

Circuit History

Plans for a circuit near to Balaton Lake were first announced in the early 2010s, with investors keen to bring motorsport to the region, given its close proximity to Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, expanding its potential user base and taking advantage of the existing and well developed tourism industry.

The lake itself is among Hungary’s most popular holiday destinations and attracts visitors from all over the world, while the nearby town of Balatonfüred is famous for its beautiful promenade, parks, spas and thermal springs.

Balaton Park is in fact the second attempt to establish a motorsports facility in the region. A separate facility, known as the Balatonring, had gained approval and construction had in fact begun when it was announced that the circuit would feature on the 2009 MotoGP calendar. Sadly, that project experienced construction delays which postponed the race to 2010, before the after effects of the global financial crisis caused the whole project to collapse into financial ruin, never to be completed.

Happily, the backers behind Balaton Park had better financial acumen and, after a decade of planning, began constructing their €200m facility in 2015. Heading the organisation which has brought the project to fruition is former International Formula 3000 racer and one-time F1 practice entrant Chanoch Nissany, father of current Formula 2 racer, Roy Nissany.

Built to the highest standards

Construction took place over the following years, with completion in May 2023. The track was designed by Hungarian engineer Ferenc Gulacsi, who set three key principals for its design; safety, driver challenge and sustainability. It certainly meets the first criterion, being built in accordance with the highest standards laid down by the FIA and FIM. In theory, this means the track could be eligible to host Formula One races, though the circuit is currently only looking to initially homologate the track to FIA Grade 2. Given MotoGP’s previous interest in the region it would not be a surprise if the track was also certified at FIM Grade A standard.

The completed track boasts the latest in circuit infrastructure. The race control features a fully integrated solution to control all the action happening on the track, using real-time data (GPS location, vehicle data) and linked to the FIA/FIM standard LED marshalling panels. The track also boasts Tec-Pro barriers in all the major run-off areas, with no tyre barriers used on the site at all.

The facilities include 48 pit garages, spacious VIP areas and lounges including fine catering services, a large media centre, a medical centre, and two additional support paddock areas. A large main grandstand overlooks the start finish straight and pits, providing permanent seating for 10,000 fans, but this can be increased to 120,000 with the erection of temporary grandstands.

Meanwhile, accommodation needs for those visiting the circuit will be catered for by the 145-room 4-star hotel with a direct view over the circuit is set for completion, outside the final turn complex.

Layout wins praise from F1 winner

Time will tell if the 16-turn, 2.56 mile layout provides the sort of challenge that its designer hoped for, though former Grand Prix winner Giancarlo Fisichella was on hand at the track’s opening event in May 2023 and gave it initial praise.

“Driving Balaton Park Circuit for the first time, I was impressed by its character,” he said. “The track really has it all – a thrilling blend of high-speed corners, challenging hairpins and cool chicanes.

“It’s a track that flows nicely, giving you a great racing feeling.

“The first corner and the end of the back straight are prime spots for overtakes. All in all, Balaton Park is a treat to drive.”

First events include major manufacturer support

The circuit's first major event celebrated Porsche's 75th anniversary with a two-week driving programme entitled 'Porsche on Track', followed by a one-day 'Festival of Dreams' event on June 10, 2023. Competition motorsport began later in the year when Balaton Park hosted the final round of the ACCR Czech Formula 4 series that covers Central Europe on October 6-8.

Beyond these inaugural events, it was clear that the track had much higher aspirations, with numerous international championships watching the circuit's progress with interest.

By late 2024, Balaton Park's ambition to host world championship motorcycle racing had borne fruit – the circuit secured a place on both the 2025 MotoGP™ and World Superbike (WorldSBK) calendars. This success was years in the making; negotiations with MotoGP organiser Dorna Sports began back in 2019, culminating in a ten-year agreement with the Hungarian government's HUMDA agency to bring a Grand Prix to Hungary, with Balaton Park guaranteed to host at least the first three editions.

To achieve the required FIM homologation, circuit officials undertook significant track modifications and facility upgrades ahead of these events. Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta praised Balaton Park's "spectacular location" for fans and confirmed that "work is underway to get the venue ready for its historic debut on the calendar" – marking the return of top-tier motorcycle racing to Hungary after more than three decades (MotoGP's last Hungarian GP was in 1992, and WorldSBK's in 1990).

Motorcycle-specific layout modifications

The circuit revisions were designed with input from former GP star Loris Capirossi and the FIM safety commission. While the sweeping high-speed Sector 1 remains unchanged, the following sections saw new complexes added to curb speeds and improve racing. The fast Turn 7, previously a single sweeping right-hander, has been split into two tighter-radius bends to provide extra runoff for bikes. Next, a chicane was inserted roughly one-third of the way down the long back straight (after the original Turn 10 hairpin) to slow the bikes and create an additional braking zone for overtaking – a solution similar to the MotoGP-specific chicane added at Austria's Red Bull Ring.

In the final sector, the layout was re-routed to enhance safety: the existing Turns 12/13 chicane remains, but instead of continuing through the flat-out final corners, the bike course now detours inside that last loop and feeds directly onto the main straight. This prevents riders from exiting the last corner aimed at a barrier, while still allowing top speeds of around 300 km/h on the straight. Despite the additional bends, the overall lap length is virtually unchanged (the new motorcycle lap is only ~30 m shorter, at about 4.075 km).

Crucially, the upgrades brought Balaton Park up to FIM Grade A standards required for MotoGP, without compromising the circuit's flow and character. The car variant continues to use the original high-speed course – including the long back straight and the fast final turn complex – which remains ideal for Formula and GT racing.

Infrastructure investments for world championship racing

Alongside the track layout changes, significant investments were made in Balaton Park's infrastructure to ensure a top-class experience for competitors and spectators alike. The entire circuit was resurfaced with fresh tarmac in early 2025, and additional safety measures (such as TecPro barriers and extended run-off areas) were implemented where required. Spectator capacity is being expanded toward the venue's 120,000 maximum, using temporary grandstands to supplement the 10,000 permanent seats. New spectator amenities and services were added to cater for the large crowds expected at the Hungarian MotoGP and WSBK rounds.

Notably, the on-site 145-room hotel overlooking the final corners was completed, offering VIP hospitality terraces with views of almost the entire circuit. The paddock and pit facilities – already comprising 48 garages, a media centre, medical centre and multiple support paddock zones – were further upgraded and fine-tuned to meet FIM requirements.

By mid-2025, the facility was "almost ready to host Superbike", with all major works finished in time for the WorldSBK round in late July and the inaugural MotoGP Grand Prix of Hungary a month later. These efforts paid off, as Balaton Park successfully achieved FIM homologation and earned praise as a modern, well-prepared venue – setting the stage for a new chapter in the circuit's history as a home of world championship racing.

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