The representation of Finland is a bit of an odd case: The country has produced a high number of world-class drivers both in circuit and rally racing, but it is not known for its racing tracks. Keimolan Moottoristadion used to host international racing in the 1960s and 70s, but was closed in 1978 due to financial reasons. However, a circuit of similar age is still around, and it is spectacular: Meet the Ahvenisto Race Circuit, also know as Ahveniston Moottorirata in Finnish.
Ahvenisto was the second permanent race track in Finland, opened just a year after Keimola in 1967, making it the oldest racing circuit in the country today. As if Finnish racing tracks were not enough of an outlier, Ahvenisto also features a crossover with a bridge, much like Suzuka.
Image credit: racingcircuits.info
The track also hosted motorcycle races of the FIM Formula 750 championship. Additionally, the European Rallycross Championship also visited Ahvenisto between 1980 and 1999, and today, the circuit is mostly used for track days, club racing and historic meetings.
The Finnish circuit is one of the relatively few in the world that features a crossover point with a bridge in its layout.
Luckily, we do not have to rely on reports of people who raced at the track back in the day, as a superb version of the circuit as it was in the 1960s is available for Assetto Corsa. Running towards the enormous hillside outside of turn one, all while being surrounded by period-correct advertising boards (this being Finland, there is a Nokia advert on the tunnel entrance on the track's infield, of course), is quite the experience.
Ahvenisto offers quite the impressive scenery, and not just due to the hillside that holds turn one.
Ahvenisto is not really a track to race the high-powered brutes of yesteryear at, but somewhat slower cars like the Lotus 25 or even a Shelby Cobra 427 S/C - which was not exactly lacking in the power department, but is far from the madness that is a Porsche 917K, for example - make for a great amound of rear-sliding fun in the Finnish woods - all without having to go onto gravel roads and pull off jumps of 50 meters or more like in the Finnish WRC round.
Ahvenisto was the second permanent race track in Finland, opened just a year after Keimola in 1967, making it the oldest racing circuit in the country today. As if Finnish racing tracks were not enough of an outlier, Ahvenisto also features a crossover with a bridge, much like Suzuka.
Image credit: racingcircuits.info
Star-Studded Podium at the First Event
Being rather short at just 2.840 kilometers per lap, the track only hosted racing with relatively powerful cars in its early years, such as the Formula 2 race that marked the venue's very first event in July of 1967. The 20-lap race saw three past or future Formula 1 World Champions on the podium, with Jochen Rindt (who would posthumously take the title in 1970) finishing ahead of Jack Brabham (1959, 1960, 1966) and Jim Clark (1963, 1965).The track also hosted motorcycle races of the FIM Formula 750 championship. Additionally, the European Rallycross Championship also visited Ahvenisto between 1980 and 1999, and today, the circuit is mostly used for track days, club racing and historic meetings.
The Finnish circuit is one of the relatively few in the world that features a crossover point with a bridge in its layout.
Up and Down Through the Finnish Countryside
The circuit's layout could be a reason for this: Not having been altered since 1967, it proves to be just as challenging as it was when the venue initially opened, with almost every corner being either banked or running over a crest or into a dip - sometimes even all all of them combined. Being fast at Ahvenisto requires great car control over the numerous rises.Luckily, we do not have to rely on reports of people who raced at the track back in the day, as a superb version of the circuit as it was in the 1960s is available for Assetto Corsa. Running towards the enormous hillside outside of turn one, all while being surrounded by period-correct advertising boards (this being Finland, there is a Nokia advert on the tunnel entrance on the track's infield, of course), is quite the experience.
Ahvenisto offers quite the impressive scenery, and not just due to the hillside that holds turn one.
Ahvenisto is not really a track to race the high-powered brutes of yesteryear at, but somewhat slower cars like the Lotus 25 or even a Shelby Cobra 427 S/C - which was not exactly lacking in the power department, but is far from the madness that is a Porsche 917K, for example - make for a great amound of rear-sliding fun in the Finnish woods - all without having to go onto gravel roads and pull off jumps of 50 meters or more like in the Finnish WRC round.
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