Botniaring
Botniaring at a glance
- Location
- Jurva, Kurikka, Southern Ostrobothnia
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 4.014 km (2.494 mi)
- Turns
- 16
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1989
- Website
- botniaring.fi/en
Track map and layout
Botniaring is billed as the longest and fastest racing circuit in Finland, opened in 1989 in the village of Jurva, part of the Kurikka municipality in Southern Ostrobothnia. The original 2.618 km, 9-turn layout was extended in 2013 into the current 4.014 km, 16-turn Long Circuit, which added a high-speed chicane said to be the only one of its kind in Finland. The circuit's open, flowing layout across flat Ostrobothnian farmland favours high average speeds, and the site doubles as a winter driving-training venue on ice and snow when the racing season is over.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Long Circuit (2013-present) | 4.01 km | 4.014 km, 16 turns, the current main configuration |
| Original Circuit (1989-present) | 2.62 km | 2.618 km, 9 turns, still used for some events |
Events and race weekends
Botniaring is one of Finland's five major motorsport centres and hosts a wide range of national and NEZ (North European Zone) international events across cars and motorcycles, including Formula Three, Formula Ford, TCR touring cars, Porsche Carrera Cup and Superbike and smaller-capacity motorcycle classes. The circuit's biggest international moment came in 2017, when it hosted the Legends Road Course World Finals, bringing together leading Legend Cars drivers from around the world. The track runs its motorsport season from April to October and remains open through autumn and winter for driving training, including specialist ice and snow instruction.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEZ (North European Zone) championship round | Formula Three / TCR / Porsche Carrera Cup | varies, April-October | regional international series |
| Finnish national racing rounds | cars and motorcycles | April-October |
Getting there and parking
Botniaring is in Jurva, part of Kurikka in Southern Ostrobothnia, roughly midway between Seinäjoki and Vaasa on Finland's west coast. Vaasa Airport is the nearest airport with regular flights; there is no rail station directly at the circuit, so a hire car or taxi from Vaasa or Seinäjoki is the practical route in.
- Vaasa Airport (VAA) · about 45 min drive
Parking
On-site event-day parking is available; specifics vary by event promoter.
Seinäjoki railway station, on the Helsinki-Vaasa/Oulu line, is a further option for visitors arriving by train, with a taxi or hire car for the final stretch.
Hotels and camping near Botniaring
Vaasa and Seinäjoki are the region's main towns for hotels, both within an hour's drive of the circuit; smaller guesthouses exist closer to Kurikka and Jurva itself. There is no large dedicated trackside campground, so overnight stays are typically arranged in one of the nearby towns.
Where to look
Vaasa and Seinäjoki for the widest choice of hotels; Kurikka for smaller options closer to the circuit.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Botniaring is available for hire for organised motorsport events and public track days, and its winter driving-training programme on ice and snow is a distinctive part of its year-round operation once the road-racing season ends in October.
Who runs days here
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outright (Formula Three, Long Circuit) | 1:30.171 | Jussi Kuivakangas | Formula Three | 2022 |
| Outright (Formula Three, Original Circuit) | 1:04.227 | Teemu Tanninen | Formula Three | 2003 |
Spectator guide
The circuit's flat, open layout across Ostrobothnian farmland gives spectators clear sightlines across much of the lap from natural viewing areas, with the high-speed chicane a notable vantage point for overtaking action.
Seating
Mostly natural viewing areas along the perimeter; capacity and grandstand details are not published.
Best places to watch
The high-speed chicane section is a distinctive overtaking and viewing point, being the only feature of its kind on a Finnish circuit.
Weather
- April-October: Finnish racing season; summer highs around 18-22°C, cooler at the shoulders
History of Botniaring
A fast, flat Ostrobothnian circuit
Botniaring opened in 1989 in Jurva, a village that later merged into the municipality of Kurikka, on the flat farmland of Southern Ostrobothnia on Finland's west coast. The original layout ran 2.618 km with 9 turns, and the circuit's open, sweeping geography quickly earned it a reputation for high average speeds relative to Finland's other, more hillside-constrained tracks.
Growth into Finland's longest circuit
In 2013 Botniaring was substantially extended into a 4.014 km, 16-turn Long Circuit, adding a high-speed chicane described as unique among Finnish racetracks, and cementing its billing as the longest and fastest permanent racing circuit in the country. The expanded layout broadened the venue's appeal to a wider range of national and regional international series, from single-seaters and touring cars to production-based sports car categories.
A national motorsport hub with a winter programme
As one of Finland's five major motorsport centres, Botniaring today hosts a busy calendar of national championship rounds and NEZ (North European Zone) international events spanning Formula Three, Formula Ford, TCR touring cars, Porsche Carrera Cup and multiple motorcycle classes. Its 2017 hosting of the Legends Road Course World Finals brought international Legend Cars competitors to the venue, one of its highest-profile events to date. Beyond the April-to-October racing season, the circuit stays active through the colder months with dedicated driving-training programmes on ice and snow, making it a year-round operation rather than a purely seasonal venue.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Botniaring circuit?+
The current Long Circuit, built in 2013, is 4.014 km (2.494 miles) with 16 turns; the original 1989 layout of 2.618 km with 9 turns is also still used for some events.
Is Botniaring the fastest circuit in Finland?+
It is commonly billed as Finland's longest and fastest permanent racing circuit, thanks to its flat, open layout on Ostrobothnian farmland.
Can you drive at Botniaring in winter?+
Yes. Once the April-to-October racing season ends, the circuit runs driving-training programmes on ice and snow through the colder months.
What events has Botniaring hosted?+
Alongside Finnish national and NEZ regional championship rounds across cars and motorcycles, its highest-profile event was the 2017 Legends Road Course World Finals.
How do you get to Botniaring?+
The circuit is in Jurva, part of Kurikka in Southern Ostrobothnia, roughly midway between Vaasa and Seinäjoki; Vaasa Airport is the nearest airport, with a hire car or taxi needed for the final leg.
Other tracks nearby
- Kemora Circuit · 133 km · road course
- Alastaro Circuit · 187 km · road course
- Ahvenisto Race Circuit · 220 km · road course
- Drivecenter Arena (Skellefteå Drive Center) · 283 km · road course
- Keimola Motor Stadium · 297 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- KymiRing · 305 km · road course
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.