Autodrome Chayka
Autodrome Chayka at a glance
- Location
- Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 2.8 km (1.74 mi)
- Turns
- 10
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1975
- Owner
- Society of Assistance to Defense of Ukraine
- Capacity
- 3,000
- Address
- Chaiky village, Bucha Raion
- Website
- chayka.co.uk
Track map and layout
Autodrome Chayka lies in Chaiky village on the western edge of Kyiv, using a shorter 2.80 km, 10-turn configuration since a 2005 reconstruction replaced the original two layouts used from 1975: a 2.57 km, 8-turn short course and a 4.49 km, 14-turn long course. In its Soviet era the circuit was renowned across the USSR for the fast sequence of corners 2-4 near the finish line, nicknamed the 'ears', though it was also known as a demanding and unforgiving track with little run-off and close barriers. The facility today also hosts karting, drag racing and rallycross alongside circuit racing.
Named corners and sections
- The Ears (corners 2-4). A fast sequence near the finish line that made Chayka famous across the Soviet Union for its speed and difficulty.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Current circuit | 2.80 km | 2.80 km, 10-turn layout used since the 2005 reconstruction |
| Original short course (1975-2005) | 2.57 km | 2.57 km, 8-turn layout used before reconstruction |
| Original long course (1975-2005) | 4.49 km | 4.49 km, 14-turn layout used before reconstruction |
Events and race weekends
Autodrome Chayka has been the base of the Superbike.ua motorcycle championship since 2000, a series that ran until 2021 and resumed in 2023 despite Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. In the Soviet era the circuit hosted the USSR Circuit Racing Championship and the international Cup of Peace and Friendship from 1976 to 1986, and since Ukrainian independence it has run the Ukrainian Touring Championship and other national series. The circuit's near-Kyiv location was struck during the 2022 invasion, with the speedway stadium and karting pit building severely damaged, though motorsport activity has since resumed.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superbike.ua round | Superbike.ua | varies | national motorcycle championship, running 2000-2021 and resumed 2023 |
| Ukrainian Touring Championship round | Ukrainian Touring Championship | varies | national touring car series |
Getting there and parking
The circuit sits in Chaiky village on the western outskirts of Kyiv, a short drive from the capital. Kyiv Boryspil International Airport is the main gateway for international travel, though flight availability and travel conditions to Ukraine have been significantly affected since Russia's invasion began in February 2022, and prospective visitors should check current government travel advisories before planning a trip.
- Boryspil International Airport (Kyiv) (KBP) · about 60 min drive
Parking
General on-site parking has historically been available for race and event days.
Hotels and camping near Autodrome Chayka
Kyiv, a short drive from the circuit, has the country's widest range of hotels; travel conditions and accommodation availability in the wider Kyiv region have been affected by the ongoing war since 2022.
Where to look
Central Kyiv for the widest choice of hotels within easy reach of the circuit.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
The circuit has historically hosted club and amateur track days alongside its national racing calendar, though current public track day availability depends on the circuit's operating status amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, and is not something this guide can verify at present.
Spectator guide
Autodrome Chayka has permanent grandstands and viewing areas built up over its decades as the USSR's and later Ukraine's leading circuit, concentrated near the start-finish straight and the famous 'ears' sequence of corners.
Seating
Grandstands along the start-finish straight, with additional viewing along the fast corners 2-4 sequence.
Best places to watch
The 'ears' sequence, corners 2-4, has long been the signature viewing point on the lap for its speed and difficulty.
Weather
- May-September: warm continental summer, typically 22-28°C
History of Autodrome Chayka
A Soviet-era proving ground
Autodrome Chayka was developed from the late 1960s by DOSAAF, the Soviet society for cooperation with the army, aviation and navy, with the project finalised in 1971 and construction starting in 1973 in Chaiky village on the western edge of Kyiv. The circuit opened on 27 June 1975 with touring car races that doubled as Ukraine's first national motorsport championship, and later that year it began hosting the USSR Circuit Racing Championship, including formula racing.
Reputation and danger
Chayka quickly became known as the best circuit in the Soviet Union, prized for a fast sequence of corners near the finish line, corners 2-4, nicknamed the 'ears', that rewarded commitment and skill. The circuit hosted the international Cup of Peace and Friendship from 1976 to 1983 and again in 1986, drawing competitors from across the Eastern Bloc. But Chayka's speed came with real danger: minimal run-off, close barriers and inconsistent asphalt quality made it one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar, and it has been the site of several fatal accidents over the decades, including drivers Christian Grochowski in 1983 and Sergey Ledovskoy in 1984.
Reconstruction and the war
After Ukrainian independence, the Fédération Automobile de l'Ukraine took over sanctioning motorsport at Chayka from 1993, and the circuit hosted series including the Ukrainian Touring Championship and, from 2000, the Superbike.ua motorcycle championship. A 2005 reconstruction shortened the layout to the current 2.80 km, 10-turn configuration, retiring the longer original courses as resources for maintaining the full-length layouts to modern safety standards dwindled. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 brought fighting to the Kyiv region, and Chayka's speedway stadium and karting pit building were severely damaged during the occupation of the area. Despite the destruction, Ukrainian motorsport organisers restarted racing at the circuit, with Superbike.ua resuming competition there in 2023.
Frequently asked questions
Is Autodrome Chayka still operating?+
The circuit was damaged during the 2022 Russian invasion of the Kyiv region, but Ukrainian motorsport, including the Superbike.ua championship, has since resumed racing there from 2023.
How long is the Autodrome Chayka circuit?+
The current layout, used since a 2005 reconstruction, is 2.80 km (1.74 miles) with 10 turns; the original 1975 circuit had separate 2.57 km and 4.49 km configurations.
Why is Autodrome Chayka historically significant?+
Built by Soviet DOSAAF and opened in 1975, it was regarded as the best circuit in the USSR and hosted the USSR Circuit Racing Championship and the international Cup of Peace and Friendship through the 1970s and 1980s.
What are the 'ears' at Autodrome Chayka?+
They are the fast sequence of corners 2-4 near the finish line, a section that made the circuit famous across the Soviet Union for its speed and difficulty.
Where is Autodrome Chayka located?+
The circuit is in Chaiky village on the western outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, about an hour's drive from Boryspil International Airport.
Other tracks nearby
- Smolensk Ring (Смоленское кольцо) · 546 km · road course
- Transilvania Motor Ring · 620 km · road course
- Tor Kielce · 689 km · road course
- MotorPark Romania · 691 km · road course
- Moscow Raceway (Московский автодром) · 734 km · road course
- Moscow Street Circuit (Московская уличная трасса) · 766 km · historic circuit (defunct)
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.