Autodrome Chaika
Chaika Automotive Sport Complex (Ukrainian: Автомобільний спортивний комплекс «Чайка», romanized: Avtomobilnyi sportyvnyi kompleks «Chaika»), also known as Autodrome Chaika (Ukrainian: Автодром «Чайка», romanized: Avtodrom «Chaika»), is a motorsport racetrack in Ukraine, situated in Chaiky village, near the capital city Kiev. The circuit was built in 1975.[1], when the country was a part of Soviet Union, since the foundation of Fédération Automobile de l'Ukraine (FAU) in 1993, it hosts various regional racing series, such as Ukrainian Touring Championship and Superbike Ukraine.
| Autodrome Chaika, Chaika Ring | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Chaiky, Kiev Oblast, Ukraine |
| Coordinates | 50.4379°N 30.2983°E |
| Capacity | 3000 |
| Owner | Society of Assistance to Defense of Ukraine |
| Broke ground | 1973 |
| Opened | June 27, 1975 |
| Major events | UTC SBK UA Chaika Rally |
| Bigger track (auto racing) | |
| Surface | asphalt |
| Length | 2.8 km (1.7 mi) |
| Turns | 7 |
| Smaller track (karting) | |
| Surface | asphalt |
| Length | 1.16 km (0.7 mi) |
| Turns | 9 |
| Drag racing strip | |
| Surface | asphalt |
| Length | 0.75 km (0.4 mi) |
| Off-road track | |
| Surface | dirt |
| Length | 0.9 km (0.5 mi) |
| Motorcycling track | |
| Surface | asphalt |
| Length | 0.003 km (0.001 mi) |
| Website | kievring |
History
Soviet era
The development of the circuit began in 60's by Soviet DOSAAF, a society for cooperation with army, aviation and navy, which also built an airport next to the track, carrying the same name. The configuration was based on various similar autodromes of that time, the project was finished in 1971. The construction began in 1973, and when it was finished, it became the best circuit in USSR.
Chaika was very popular due to very fast sectors of the 'big ring' and corners 2-4, that were known as so-called 'ears'. The track was pretty difficult and dangerous, there was no runoffs, very close Armco barriers, poor quality asphalt and bad landscaping.
June 27, 1975 circuit saw its first races in different classes, which were touring car racing and Soviet Formula One, after that the dirt speedway was added to complex as a second construction phase[2]. In late seventies the track started hosting the prestigious series, called Socialist Nations Friendship Cup, but after Polish driver Christian Grokhovsky's fatal crash it was decided being unsafe and the series moved to Biķernieki Complex Sports Base in Riga.
Without the famous championship racing organization quality fell, there were a rare races with usually small amount of spectators. There were several attempts to change the bad asphalt, but they've made the situation even worse.
Independent Ukraine
After the dissolution of the USSR Defense Assistance Society of Ukraine became the circuit's owner. They've had no money to take a good care of it and started to sell all the equipment to private owners. The safety standarts of the track were very low, so in 1998 it was decided no longer to use the big loop configuration of the track, the start/finish lane was moved and the circuit was left without pitlane.
Ukrainian racer Leonid Protasov was chosen as a new head of the circuit. He didn't want a complete circuit redesign, saying "FIA launches the new safety standarts for racing circuits every year, but the tracks aren't rebuilding each year! Therefore Chaika doesen't need rebuilding as well.". He just wanted to add a runoff areas and to change asphalt area, but it haven't been done yet.
In 2000's the new pitlane was added, as well as the final corner with an entrance to it, also the bleachers for spectators, cafe and hotel were built there. Chaika became an epicenter of the Ukrainian motorsport with its own racing school and to this day hosts national championships.