Biķernieki Complex Sports Base
{{Short description|Sport venue in Riga, Latvia}}
{{Infobox motorsport venue
| Name = Biķernieki Complex Sports Base
| Location = Riga, Latvia
| Coordinates = {{coord|56|57|59.04|N|24|13|17.4|E|type:landmark_source:kolossus-nnwiki|display=inline,title}}
| Time = EET (UTC+2)
EEST (DST)
| Logo = Logo of the Biķernieki Trase Circuit.svg
| logo_caption = Logo of the Biķernieki Trase Circuit
| Image = Bikernieku trases shema.svg
| Image_caption = High Speed Ring - Ātruma Aplis (1968–present)
| Events = Current:
FIA World Rallycross
World RX of Latvia (2016–2022)
FIA European Rallycross
Euro RX of Latvia (2016–2022)
BaTCC (2000–present)
Former:
Cup of Peace and Friendship (1968, 1984–1986, 1988–1990)
| Owner =
| Operator =
| Capacity =
| Architect =
| Broke_ground = January 1966
| Opened = July 1966
| Construction_cost =
| Layout1 = Large Combined Ring - Lielais Apvienotais Aplis (1968–present)
| Length_km = 5.949
| Length_mi = 3.694
| Turns = 28
| Record_time =
| Record_driver =
| Record_car =
| Record_year =
| Record_class =
| Layout2 = High Speed Ring - Ātruma Aplis
(1968–present)
| Length_km2 = 3.662
| Length_mi2 = 2.275
| Turns2 = 14
| Record_time2 =
| Record_driver2=
| Record_car2 =
| Record_year2 =
| Record_class2 =
| Layout3 = Ring of Skill - Meistarības Aplis
(1966–present)
| Length_km3 = 3.580
| Length_mi3 = 2.225
| Turns3 = 21
| Record_time3 =
| Record_driver3=
| Record_car3 =
| Record_year3 =
| Record_class3 =
| Layout4 = Short Oval Circuit (1966–present)
| Length_km4 = 1.700
| Length_mi4 = 1.056
| Turns4 = 7
| Record_time4 =
| Record_driver4=
| Record_car4 =
| Record_year4 =
| Record_class4 =
}}
Biķernieki Complex Sports Base is a racing circuit and cross-country skiing course in the Biķernieki Forest in Riga. Adjacent to the racing circuit is the Riga Speedway Stadium.
History
In 1962, the design of the track was started. Eduards Kiope was appointed director of the sports complex, and the project manager was Gunars Binde. A group of specialists were also invited: Pēteris Dzenis, Jānis Roops, Kārlis Rība and Vilnis Vasulis. During the first phase of the project, it was planned to create two circles which initially were to be used for motorcycle racing and kart racing.[https://www.bksb.lv/trase/vesture/ Trases vēsture] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927184517/http://www.bksb.lv/trase/vesture/ |date=2013-09-27 }} bksb.lv
In January 1966 the construction of the circuit began. The first difficulties appeared as there were swamps and underground springs at the start line for the karts, so in places, constructors had to dig up to seven metres deep and fill it with several tens of thousands of cubic metres of sand. Because of the difficulty of building the track, many local volunteers were involved in the project. In July of the same year, the first races were held there, with motorcycle races in six different classes taking place.
Fifty years later, a Rallycross circuit was created after Latvia won a contract to host a round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship. This circuit also hosts rounds of the FIA European Rallycross Championship and the FIA NEZ Rallycross Championship. The rallycross rounds were held until 2022, the circuit was dropped from the 2023 season.
File:Biķernieki Complex Sports Base.svg
In the {{cvt|3.580|km|mi|abbr=on}} Ring of Skill layout, Andrejs Grīnbergs broke the lap record with a time of 1:38.480 in superbike.{{cite web |title=2014.Gada Sezonā Biķernieku Trasē Laboti Vairāki Apļa Rekordi |url=http://www.bksb.lv/index.php/games/122-2014-gada-sezona-bikernieku-trase-laboti-vairaki-apla-rekordi |access-date=25 December 2022}}
The track record is 1:12.725, set on 17 June 2024 by Tõnis Vanaselja with Estonian supercar Oldbac Kalana.{{Cite web |date=18 June 2024 |title=VIDEO: Eesti inseneride loodud superauto püstitas Bikernieki ringraja rekordi |url=https://sport.delfi.ee/artikkel/120301469/video-eesti-inseneride-loodud-superauto-pustitas-bikernieki-ringraja-rekordi |website=Delfi |language=et}}{{Cite web |date=17 June 2024 |title=Biķerniekos jauns trases rekords, uzvaras Batrakam un Šubeckim |trans-title=New track record, wins for Batrak and Shubeckim |url=http://www.bksb.lv/index.php/games/762-bikerniekos-jauns-trases-rekords-uzvaras-batrakam-un-subeckim |website=bksb.lv}}
Layouts
| class='wikitable' |
| Track
! Length ! Maximum width ! Minimum width ! Surface ! Maximum cars on track |
|---|
| Main[https://www.bksb.lv/trase/trases-apraksts-un-plans/ Trases apraksts un konfigurācijas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927185221/http://www.bksb.lv/trase/trases-apraksts-un-plans/ |date=2013-09-27 }} bksb.lv{{cite web |title=Biķernieki - Racing Circuits |url=https://www.racingcircuits.info/europe/latvia/bikernieki.html |access-date=25 December 2022}}
| {{cvt|3.662|km|mi|abbr=on}} | {{cvt|16|m|abbr=on}} | {{cvt|10|m|abbr=on}} | asphalt | 38 |
| Rallycross
| {{cvt|1.295|km|mi|abbr=on}} | | | asphalt (60%), dirt (40%) | |
| Karting
| {{cvt|1.227|km|mi|abbr=on}} | {{cvt|10|m|abbr=on}} | {{cvt|8|m|abbr=on}} | asphalt | 17 (25 karts) |
| Small (ovāls)
| {{cvt|1.700|km|mi|abbr=on}} | {{cvt|16|m|abbr=on}} | {{cvt|10|m|abbr=on}} | asphalt | 17 |
| Big Circle
| {{cvt|5.949|km|mi|abbr=on}} | {{cvt|16|m|abbr=on}} | {{cvt|10|m|abbr=on}} | asphalt | 49 |
| Forest Circuit
| {{cvt|2.375|km|mi|abbr=on}} | {{cvt|10|m|abbr=on}} | {{cvt|8|m|abbr=on}} | asphalt | 23 |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.bksb.lv Official website]
{{World RX circuits}}
Category:World Rallycross circuits