Imatra Circuit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Re-opened: 19 August 2016
 The layouts of the Imatra circuit | |
| Location | Imatra, Finland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 61°10′40.2″N 28°47′28.5″E / 61.177833°N 28.791250°E |
| Opened | 1962 Re-opened: 19 August 2016 |
| Closed | 3 August 1986 |
| Former names | Imatra Circuit (1964–1986) |
| Major events | Former: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix (1964–1982) International Road Racing Championship Imatranajo (2016–2019, 2022–2025) Sidecar World Championship (1967–1973, 1980–1982) Formula TT (1986) |
| Jarno Saarinen Imatranajo Circuit (1979–1986, 2016–present) | |
| Length | 4.950 km (3.076 mi) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:48.743 ( Erno Kostamo, BMW M1000RR, 2025, SBK) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1964–1978) | |
| Length | 6.030 km (3.747 mi) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Race lap record | 2:05.900 ( Johnny Cecotto, Yamaha YZR500, 1977, 500cc) |
The Jarno Saarinen Imatra Circuit is a motorsport street circuit in Imatra, Finland. Since 2022 the circuit name was additionally given Jarno Saarinen's name as a memorial homage to the 50th Anniversary of his World Championship.[1] The circuit has existed in two versions, and has been exclusively used for the "Imatranajo" motorcycle road race. From 1962 to 1978 a 6.030 km (3.747 mi) clockwise street circuit in the east of the town of Imatra was used. The circuit ran along the Vuoksi river and a railway line that had to be crossed. From 1979 to 1986 a shorter circuit was used. This was only 4.950 km (3.076 mi) long and consisted mostly of the western part of the original circuit.
From the 1964 season until the 1982 season the Grand Prix of Finland was run 19 times in Imatra. From the 1983 season the "Imatranajo" lost its World Championship status due to the dangerous nature of the circuit and the death of sidecar driver Jock Taylor in 1982.[2]
The last road race on the Imatra Circuit for many years was held in 1986 when a six-year-old boy died after falling under a running wheel, but classic races still took place. Road racing returned to Imatra in August 2016[3] with a round of the International Road Racing Championship, and another round was held in 2017.[4] In the "Imatranajo" on June 15, 2019, a fatal crash occurred when a Swiss rider Mathias Gnägi with a Superbike dropped off the track in the rain and was killed. Another fatal accident occurred on the 2nd of July 2023, when former IRRC Supersport Champion Joey den Besten from the Netherlands, came off the track in a IRRC Superbike Round in the wet on a warm-up lap and struck a lighting pole.[5]
As of July 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Jarno Saarinen Imatranajo Circuit are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jarno Saarinen Imatranajo Circuit (1979–1986, 2016–present): 4.950 km (3.076 mi) | ||||
| Superbike | 1:48.743[6] | Erno Kostamo | BMW M1000RR | 2025 Imatranajo IRRC SBK round |
| Supersport | 1:53.429[7] | Richard Cooper | Yamaha YZF-R6 | 2025 Imatranajo IRRC SSP round |
| 500cc | 1:54.000[8] | Marco Lucchinelli | Suzuki RG 500 gamma | 1981 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 250cc | 2:10.300 | Gregg Hansford | Kawasaki KR250 | 1979 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 125cc | 2:26.800 | Ricardo Tormo | Bultaco 125 | 1979 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1964–1978): 6.030 km (3.747 mi) | ||||
| 500cc | 2:05.900[8] | Johnny Cecotto | Yamaha YZR500 | 1977 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 350cc | 2:13.800 | Takazumi Katayama | Yamaha TZ 350 | 1978 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 250cc | 2:16.600 | Walter Villa | Harley-Davidson RR250 | 1977 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 125cc | 2:23.500 | Pier Paolo Bianchi | Morbidelli 125 | 1977 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 50cc | 2:59.900 | Julien Vanzeebroeck | Kreidler 50 GP | 1976 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix |
