The layout for the Baku European Grand Prix in Azerbaijan has been unveiled by Bernie Ecclestone and Azad Rahimov, the country’s Minister of Youth and Sport.

The Baku European Grand Prix will join the Formula One race calendar in 2016 and will see Formula One cars racing around on the streets of Azerbaijan’s capital city, Baku. The Hermann Tilke-designed anti-clockwise street circuit features sharp right-angled bends, a long high-speed section and a tight and twisty section through the town.

“Azerbaijan is the latest addition to the Formula One calendar and I am pleased to see they have designed an innovative new street circuit that will definitely help to create a world class event when we race there in 2016,” said Bernie Ecclestone

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Youth and Sport Azad Rahimov says the country is looking forward to becoming one of the most exciting venues on the Formula One Calendar. “We have been working very closely on the circuit layout with Hermann Tilke and his team since early 2013. Our brief to Tilke Engineering was simple – create a circuit that is unique, one that will help the Grand Prix in Baku quickly establish itself as one of the most exciting, thrilling venues on the F1 calendar, and one that the fans and teams alike are excited about. Most importantly, we wanted a track that would showcase the best of Baku, our capital city, and I am delighted that the circuit the F1 teams will race on in 2016 has achieved exactly that aim.”

Hermann Tilke told the official F1 website that the design incorporates a number of unique features.

“Obviously street circuits present a number of challenges, in terms of circuit design, but we have been able to incorporate some unique features that will provide the teams and fans with fascinating racing. For example, there will be an extremely narrow uphill section at the old town wall that will reward pinpoint accuracy and courage, and we have an acceleration section of almost 2.2 kilometres along the promenade which will see the cars running flat out at very high top speeds – something that will create an incredible spectacle for the race fans on track and the viewers at home.”

Image Credits:

Baku streets – Creative Commons – Public domain

Street circuit layout – F1.com