Competition

A quick look at the Alahärmä track

In addition to being in the middle of a theme park, the Mika Salo Circuit at Alahärmä also has a very different layout from those visited most of the time by international drivers. The race which took place there two weeks before the FIA Karting World Championship – OK and OK-Junior raised controversy among the Italian participants, where it is difficult to know if safety was the real and only issue. Here are some images taken on Thursday, 5th September during the last unofficial test sessions, while the Finnish weather produced an admirable subtlety of shades of grey clouds and amount of raindrops falling before the blue sky makes a short appearance.

The circuit environment is absolutely unique. In the foreground, on the right, at the end of the start-finish straight, is the Hotel Power Park, which at other times hosts visitors to the theme park.

The first corner, from another angle, with the impressive left hairpin that offers several lines, even in the dry.

After the overpass, there is a large very high curve on the left, which deserves its parabolic name. Along with the wide track width, it offers overtaking possibilities.

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Safety seems to be ensured by high protective barriers under the bridge, it is however better not to approach two together, as at PFI.

Even faster, the last sector is taken at a brisk pace before finishing the 1200m lap. Alahärmä is certainly a demanding circuit and we can already be sure that the two new World Champions on Sunday night will have proved their talent before they can win.

Info Kartcom / © Photo Kartcom

Publié le 05/09/2019