Amid a desert of street circuits, a rare oasis of a newly built traditional circuit appears – all 4.1km/2.5 miles and 16 corners of it. Four years in the making, Balaton Park Circuit is a proper, old-school track, nestled close to its namesake Lake Balaton, the largest in Central Europe.
Constructed by a group led by one-time Formula 1 practice runner Chanoch Nissany, the circuit and surrounding complex has received a €200 million investment in a bid to draw both motorsport and tourism to the area. Built to FIA Grade 1 specification (though it will initially apply for Grade 2), the track hopes to host international racing from the 2024 season, and will initially focus its attention on sportscar com …