Alastaro Circuit
Alastaro Circuit at a glance
- Location
- Virttaa, Loimaa, Southwest Finland
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 4.317 km (2.682 mi)
- Turns
- 18
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1990
- Owner
- Tero Tupala
- Address
- Jarnosaarisentie
- Website
- alastarocircuit.fi
Track map and layout
Alastaro is a multi-purpose motorsport park in the village of Virttaa near Loimaa in southwest Finland, combining a full road course with a quarter-mile FIA-sanctioned drag strip and a folkrace circuit on the same grounds. The road course was substantially lengthened in 2023, growing from the long-standing 2.721 km, 11-turn medium circuit to a 4.317 km, 18-turn full layout, alongside a separate 2.85 km, 12-turn motorcycle configuration and a 1.8 km folkrace loop. The venue's dual identity, serious circuit racing on one side and internationally recognised drag racing on the other, makes it one of the more varied motorsport facilities in the Nordic region.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Full circuit (2023-present) | 4.32 km | 4.317 km, 18 turns, the current full road-course layout |
| Medium circuit (1996-present) | 2.72 km | 2.721 km, 11 turns |
| Motorcycle circuit (1996-present) | 2.85 km | 2.85 km, 12 turns |
| Folkrace circuit | 1.80 km | 1.8 km, 10 turns |
| Drag strip | 0.40 km | quarter-mile (402 m) FIA-sanctioned drag racing strip |
Events and race weekends
Alastaro's drag strip is the more internationally prominent side of the venue, hosting the Nitro Nationals as part of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship each July, alongside Finnish national drag racing events in June and August. The road course has hosted major international series over the years, including the FIA European Truck Racing Championship (1999-2002 and 2004), the SMP Formula 4 Championship, and the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship, and continues to run Finnish national circuit racing (Rata SM) and superbike events.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitro Nationals | FIA European Drag Racing Championship | July | the venue's flagship international drag racing weekend |
| Rata SM round | Finnish national circuit racing championship | summer | run on the road course |
| Finnish Superbike Series round | Finnish national motorcycle racing | summer | run on the motorcycle circuit configuration |
Getting there and parking
Alastaro Circuit is in Virttaa, a rural area of Loimaa in southwest Finland, roughly 40-45 minutes from Turku and about an hour and a half from Helsinki by car. Turku is the nearest city with an airport and rail connections; there is no direct public transport to the circuit gates, so a hire car or taxi from Turku or Loimaa is the practical way in for most events.
- Turku Airport (TKU) · about 45 min drive
- Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) · about 100 min drive
Parking
On-site visitor parking is available on event days; entry and parking tickets are typically bought at the gate.
Turku is the best base for rail and air connections; from there it's a straightforward drive east to Virttaa via regional roads.
Hotels and camping near Alastaro Circuit
Turku, the nearest city, has the widest range of hotels and is a manageable drive from the circuit; Loimaa, closer to Virttaa, offers a smaller selection of local accommodation. There is no large dedicated trackside campground comparable to major continental circuits, though some event-day camping and caravan space is typically made available on the grounds for the bigger drag racing and circuit weekends.
Where to look
Turku for the widest choice of hotels and transport links; Loimaa for smaller, closer-to-track options.
Camping
Limited on-site camping/caravan space is generally offered for major event weekends such as the Nitro Nationals; capacity is modest compared to large European venues.
RV
RV and caravan parking is available on site for major events, on a first-come basis.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Alastaro is used for organised track days and club racing on both the road course and the drag strip, bookable through the circuit's own promoter and affiliated motorsport clubs; the drag strip in particular is a regular test-and-tune venue for street and race cars between championship events.
Who runs days here
Spectator guide
The venue has grandstand seating along the drag strip and circuit, with the flat, open site giving reasonable sightlines across both facilities. Crowds are largest for the Nitro Nationals drag racing weekend, drawing fans from across Finland and neighbouring countries.
Seating
Grandstands along the drag strip and at key points of the road circuit.
Weather
- June-August: Finnish summer racing season, typically 16-23°C
History of Alastaro Circuit
From forest to full motorsport park
Alastaro Circuit opened in 1990 in Virttaa, a rural part of what was then the municipality of Alastaro before it merged into Loimaa in 2009. The original 3.0 km, 11-turn road course was joined over the following years by a dedicated drag strip and a folkrace circuit, and by 1996 the venue had settled into the multi-configuration layout, road course, motorcycle circuit and folkrace loop, that largely defined it for the next quarter-century.
A dual identity takes shape
While the road course built a respectable résumé, hosting the FIA European Truck Racing Championship in the early 2000s, the SMP Formula 4 Championship and the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship, it was the quarter-mile drag strip that gave Alastaro its strongest international profile. The strip earned a place on the FIA European Drag Racing Championship calendar, and its Nitro Nationals event grew into one of the largest drag racing weekends in the Nordic region, drawing competitors and fans well beyond Finland's borders.
A modern expansion
Under owner Tero Tupala, who took over the circuit in 2007, Alastaro continued investing in the facility, culminating in a significant 2023 expansion of the road course from the long-standing 2.721 km medium layout to a 4.317 km, 18-turn full circuit. Today Alastaro operates as one of Finland's most versatile motorsport venues, running Finnish national circuit racing and superbike championships alongside its established role as the country's home of internationally sanctioned drag racing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alastaro a circuit or a drag strip?+
Both. Alastaro Circuit is a multi-purpose motorsport park in Virttaa, Loimaa, combining a full road course, a separate motorcycle circuit and folkrace loop, and a quarter-mile FIA-sanctioned drag strip on the same grounds.
How long is the Alastaro road course?+
Following a 2023 expansion, the full circuit is 4.317 km (2.682 miles) with 18 turns; a shorter 2.721 km medium layout and a separate 2.85 km motorcycle circuit also remain in use.
What is the Nitro Nationals?+
It is Alastaro's flagship drag racing event, held each July as a round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship on the venue's quarter-mile strip.
How do you get to Alastaro Circuit?+
The circuit is in Virttaa, about 40-45 minutes' drive from Turku and roughly 90 minutes from Helsinki; Turku is the nearest city with an airport and rail links.
Has Alastaro hosted international racing series?+
Yes. Its road course has hosted the FIA European Truck Racing Championship, the SMP Formula 4 Championship and the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship, alongside its long-running FIA European Drag Racing Championship events.
Other tracks nearby
- Ahvenisto Race Circuit · 95 km · road course
- Keimola Motor Stadium · 139 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Botniaring · 187 km · road course
- KymiRing · 207 km · road course
- Kemora Circuit · 280 km · road course
- Tierp Arena · 292 km · drag strip
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.