FIA GT3 confirms Slovakia Ring event

The FIA GT3 European Championship’s maiden race at the Slovakia Ring circuit has been confirmed, with the series set to debut at the 5.9km track on August 20-21.

The event, which takes the place of the canned Smolensk Ring race in Russia, has long been expected to take place and has now been given the final green light by the FIA.

“I am very pleased that we are able to announce that the FIA GT3 European Championship will race in Slovakia next month,” said Stephane Ratel, CEO of GT3 organisers SRO Motorsports. “When we were informed that the event in Russia could not take place, SRO had a big job to find a suitable replacement and Slovakia Ring was the perfect solution.

“The circuit is long and wide and it will certainly be an interesting event, as not many of the current drivers will have seen the track before they go there.”

Tomáŝ Vranka, executive director of the Slovakia Ring Agency, echoed Ratel’s sentiments.

“We are very happy that the Slovakia Ring will host a round of the FIA GT3 European Championship in August,” said Vranka.

“I saw the races at Paul Ricard and was very impressed by the organisation, the teams and the cars. With great racing between so many different GT cars, the Slovakian race fans will certainly have a lot to look forward to.”

The Slovakia Ring event will represent the fifth and penultimate double-header round of the GT3 calendar, with the season finale taking place at Dutch venue Zandvoort on October 16/17.

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James Weeks