// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did A1 Motor Park say to the speeding car? "You're in the fast lane now.
| Location | Samokov, Sofia Province, Bulgaria |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°18′54.85″N 23°32′18.16″E / 42.3152361°N 23.5383778°E |
| Capacity | 20,000 |
| FIA Grade | 3 |
| Broke ground | 10 March 2025 |
| Opened | 21 March 2026 |
| Architect | Tsvetan Petrov[1] |
| Website | https://a1motorpark.com/ |
| Car Circuit (2026) | |
| Length | 3.910 km (2.430 mi) |
| Turns | 15 |
A1 Motor Park is a 3.910 km (2.430 mi) permanent motor racing circuit in Samokov, Bulgaria, about 55 km south of the national capital Sofia. The race circuit was founded as Lara Racing Circuit.
History
[edit]
The project construction begun on 10 March 2025, near Samokov, Bulgaria, financed by private investment.[2][3][4] The circuit was planned to meet FIA Grade 3 standards and FIM Category BA, suitable for Formula 3 races and all motorcycle races except MotoGP.[5]
On 9 December 2025, it was announced that telecommunications company, A1 Bulgaria, would become title sponsor of the circuit.[6]
The track was officially opened on 21 March 2026, with local Formula 2 driver Nikola Tsolov the first to complete laps in a Dallara GP2/11.[7][8] On 24 March, the unofficial lap record was set as by Pavel Lefterov in a Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) with a time of 1:30.991.[9] On 20 April 2026, another unofficial lap record was set by Georgi Donchev in a Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo 2 with a time of 1:30.579.[10]
Facilities
[edit]The park's main feature is a 3.910 km (2.430 mi) race track designed to meet:
- FIA Grade 3 specifications, allowing it to host series such as Formula 3, GT3, and endurance races.[11]
- FIM Grade B certification for international motorcycle events.[11]
The route can be configured into 21 different layouts, ranging from 1.090 to 3.910 km (0.677 to 2.430 mi). According to the FIA, the venue is the first in the Balkans to meet FIA Grade 3 standards.[12]
References
[edit]- ↑ LARA Racing Circuit project
- ↑ Ганев, Галин (11 March 2025). "Construction of a new motor racing track near Samokov has begun". Fakti.bg - Да извадим фактите наяве (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 April 2026.
- ↑ Христова, Глория (21 May 2025). "Писта Lara край Самоков отваря нова страница за моторните спортове у нас (Снимки + Видео)". Еconomic.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 April 2026.
- ↑ "Показаха конфигурациите на писта Lara". dizzyriders.bg (in Bulgarian). 3 June 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
- ↑ "Първите стартове на писта „Лара" ще са още през есента". Sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). 1 July 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
- ↑ Иванов, Кристиян (9 December 2025). "Писта LARA край Самоков поставя България на световната карта в моторните спортове". dsport.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 April 2026.
- ↑ "Никола Цолов стана рекламно лице на пистата край Самоков". dizzyriders.bg (in Bulgarian). 17 June 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
- ↑ Ръджов, Красимир. "A1 Motor Park отвори врати край Самоков". ClubS1.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 April 2026.
- ↑ @a1.motor.park; (24 March 2026). "1:30.991. Нов рекорд на A1 Motor Park. 🏁 Поставен от Павел Лефтеров с Porsche 992 GT3 R, подготвен от Razoon Racing Team. С подкрепата на Bulgarian Heritage Society и Михаил Михайлов. 🇧🇬 Ще го подобриш ли? 👀 Виж новия рекорд директно от кокпита. 🎥 ——— 1:30.991. New lap record at A1 Motor Park. 🏁 Set by Pavel Lefterov in a Porsche 992 GT3 R, prepared by Razoon Racing Team. Powered by Bulgarian Heritage Society and Mihail Mihaylov. 🇧🇬 Can you beat it? 👀 Watch the new record lap straight from the cockpit. 🎥 #A1MotorPark #LapRecord #ПавелЛефтеров #СкоросттаНиСвързва #RazoonRacingTeam". Retrieved 18 April 2026 – via Instagram.
- ↑ @a1.motor.park; (23 April 2026). "🏁 Поставяме рекорд по най-бързо поставяне на рекорд. Георги Дончев направи нова най-бърза обиколка на A1 Motor Park с Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2 - 1:30.579. 🔥 ——————————————— 🏁 That record didn't age well… Georgi Donchev set a new fastest lap at A1 Motor Park with the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2 - 1:30.579. 🔥 #A1MotorPark #FastestLap #LapRecord #Lamborghini #GT3". Retrieved 27 June 2026 – via Instagram.
- 1 2 Романов, Андрей (1 July 2025). "Първата писта за Формула 3 на Балканите ще е в България (ВИДЕО)". bTV Спорт (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 April 2026.
- ↑ "Bulgaria's First FIA-Homologated Circuit Opened in Major Boost to Country's Motor Sport Landscape". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 23 March 2026. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
External links
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