Igora Drive
Motor racing venue, close to St. Petersburg, Russia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Igora Drive (Russian: Игора Драйв, romanized: Igora Drayv) is a 5.183 km (3.221 mi) motorsport complex in the resort of Igora near[vague] Novozhilovo, Leningrad Oblast, Russia.[2] It is located approximately 54 km (34 mi) north of Saint Petersburg.[3]
Grand Prix Circuit (2022–present) | |
 Original Circuit (2019–present) | |
| Location | Novozhilovo, Leningrad Oblast, Russia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 60°30′48″N 30°11′51″E |
| Capacity | 50,000 |
| FIA Grade | 1 (both layouts) |
| Broke ground | 2016 |
| Opened | September 2019 |
| Architect | Hermann Tilke[1] |
| Major events | Current: Russian Circuit Racing Series (2020–present) SMP F4 Championship (2025–present) |
| Website | http://drive-igora.ru/ |
| Grand Prix Circuit (2022–present) | |
| Length | 5.183 km (3.221 mi) |
| Turns | 20 |
| Race lap record | 1:50.184 ( Konstantin Tereshchenko, Ligier JS53 Evo 2, 2024, CN) |
| Original Circuit (2019–present) | |
| Length | 4.086 km (2.539 mi) |
| Turns | 15 |
| Race lap record | 1:39.327 ( Renat Ibragimov, Porsche 911 (991 I) GT3 Cup, 2020, Carrera Cup) |
On 26 June 2021, a contract was announced with the intention of moving the Russian Grand Prix from Sochi Autodrom to Igora starting on 2023 onwards.[3][4] Due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the contract for the Grand Prix was terminated on 3 March.[5]
Characteristics
The complex includes ten professional tracks for oval track racing, drifting, rally-cross and motocross, and karting, as well a center for emergency management.[6] The largest grandstand of the main circuit racing will accommodate five thousand people, and the total capacity of the circuit is fifty thousand people. The circuit itself was 4.086 km (2.539 mi) long and 12–15 metres (39–49 ft) wide. In 2022, the circuit length was increased to 5.183 km (3.221 mi) by featuring 20.5 metres (67 ft) of elevation changes instead of 17 metres (56 ft).[7]
Competition
In 2019, the complex signed an agreement with the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters series. The contract runs for three years, with the option of a two-year extension. The first race was to be held from 29 to 31 May 2020 with W Series in support, but both races were cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia.[8][9][10] An agreement was also signed with organisers of the FIA World Rallycross Championship to host the World RX of Russia in 2020.[11] However, it was later removed from the schedule due to contractual issues.[12] Igora Drive hosted the second round of the 2020 Russian Circuit Racing Series on 25 and 26 July.
From 2023, the Formula One Russian Grand Prix was initially set to be held at this track.[13] For the Formula One race, the circuit was extended from 4.086 km (2.539 mi) to 5.183 km (3.221 mi) at the end of lap, resulting in 20 turns overall from the current 15, with both of the straights extended and a significant uphill section.[14] However, in the wake of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Grand Prix contract was terminated and all future races cancelled.[15]
Events
- Current
- July: Russian Endurance Challenge
- August: Russian Circuit Racing Series, SMP F4 Championship, SMP RSKG Endurance
Lap records
As of July 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Igora Drive are listed as:
