Lara Racing Circuit
{{Short description|Motor racing circuit i}}
{{Infobox motorsport venue
| Name = Lara Racing Circuit
| Location = Samokov, Bulgaria
| Time = EET (UTC+2)
EEST (DST)
| Coordinates = {{coord|42|20|N|23|33|E|region:BG|display=inline,title}}
| FIAGrade = 3 (planned)
| FIMGrade = B (planned)
| Broke_ground = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2025|4}}
| Opened = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2026|3}} (planned)
| capacity = 20,000 (projected)
| Image =
| Image_caption =
| Events =
| Architect = Tsvetan Petrov (IPA Arch) [https://www.ip-arch.com/en/projects/lara-racing-circuit-samokov LARA Racing Circuit project]
| Layout1 =
| Length_km = 3.91
| Length_mi = 2.429
| Turns = 15
| Record_time =
| Record_driver =
| Record_car =
| Record_year =
| Record_class =
}}
Lara Racing Circuit is a planned {{cvt|3.91|km|mi|abbr=on}} motor racing circuit in Samokov, Sofia Province in Bulgaria. It is under construction as of 2025 and expected to be completed by 2026.
History
The project construction begun on 10 March 2025 near Samokov, Bulgaria by a private investments.[https://fakti.bg/en/avto/955748-construction-of-a-new-motor-racing-track-near-samokov-has-begun Construction of a new motor racing track near Samokov has begun][https://www.economic.bg/bg/a/view/pista-lara-kraj-samokov-otvarja-nova-stranica-za-motornite-sportove-u-nas Писта Lara край Самоков отваря нова страница за моторните спортове у нас] The track is planned to be 3,91 kilometers long, have 15 turns, 8 left and 7 right, and will be driven counterclockwise. The main straight will be 900 meters long. The capacity for spectators will be up to 20,000 people.[https://dizzyriders.bg/post/16716/pokazaha-konfiguratsiite-na-pista-lara Показаха конфигурациите на писта Lara] According to FIA standards, the Lara track will be Category 3, which means it will be suitable for Formula 3 races, and according to FIM standards - Category BA, which means all races except MotoGP races.[https://sportal.bg/news-2025070117113678551 Първите стартове на писта „Лара“ ще са още през есента]
Nikola Tsolov became the advertising face of the track, having the track logo on his Formula 3 car in the 2025 season.[https://dizzyriders.bg/post/16796/nikola-tsolov-stana-reklamno-litse-na-pistata-kray-samokov Никола Цолов стана рекламно лице на пистата край Самоков]
Facilities
= Main circuit =
The park's main feature is a 3.91 km (2.43 mi) race track designed to meet:
- FIA Grade III specifications, allowing it to host series such as Formula 3, GT3, and endurance races.[https://btvsport.bg/drugi/parvata-pista-za-formula-3-na-balkanite-shte-bade-v-balgarija-video.html Първата писта за Формула 3 на Балканите ще е в България]
- FIM Grade B certification for international motorcycle events.
= Additional motorsport tracks =
The route will be configurable in 21 different ways – with a length from 1.09 km to 3.91 km.