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According to Formula 1 officials, construction of the Sochi, Russia track is progressing nicely.
The circuit, located in the same city that will host the next Winter Olympics, is set to host the first ever Russian Grand Prix in 2014. The track is located right next to the newly constructed Olympic Park in Sochi, and is reportedly planning to use portions of public roads as part of the circuit. The track is set to be 5.8 km long, and will be yet another jewel in the Black Sea resort city’s crown.
Russia has been taking a more active role in Formula 1 over the past several seasons. Former Caterham F1 Team and Renault driver Vitaly Petrov was the first ever Russian driver in the sport. Petrov has not signed with any team as of yet for the 2013 season.
Marussia F1 Team, pictured above taking laps at the 2012 US Grand Prix, is another Russian link to F1. Despite being headquartered in the UK, the majority owner of the team is Russian car manufacturer Marussia.
In a lot of ways Russia is similar to the United States in terms of its recent rise in prominence in the Formula One world. America took a reverse approach to Russia’s in that it constructed a purpose built track prior to putting a driver in a seat. However, the US has a leg up in a way since there have been several Americans in the sport, as well as multiple Grand Prix in the US, in the past. Having both countries active in the sport will only benefit Formula 1.
I think that the fact that the popularity of Formula 1 in Russia soared with Petrov’s entry into the sport speaks volumes as to how important it is for the future of F1 in the US for an American driver to get into a seat in the next season or two.
Teams and drivers always love traveling to new tracks and breaking out of the grind that can develop when you hit the same circuits in the same order year after year, so hopefully the Russian track will be completed in time for a 2014 debut.
Follow Spenser Walters on Twitter @SpenserWalters
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