Opatija Circuit

Opatija Circuit, also known as Preluk Circuit, or alternatively the "Circuito di Abbazia" (transl. Opatija Circuit), and the "Circuito di Carnaro" (transl. Kvarner Circuit), was a motorsport street circuit in Opatija, Istria, Croatia, which from 1969 to 1977 hosted the Yugoslavian Grand Prix of the motorcycle racing world championship. The circuit used the city streets of the seaside resort situated on the Istria's peninsula in the Kvarner Gulf, and was active between 1931 and 1977. It was known as the "Monaco" of the motorcycle racing.

Opatija Circuit
LocationOpatija, Croatia
Time zoneGMT +1 (DST: GMT +2)
Coordinates45°21′08″N 14°20′00″E
Major eventsGrand Prix motorcycle racing
Length6.000 km (3.728 mi)

Circuit history

Opatija Circuit or Preluk Circuit has alternately been known as the "Circuito di Abbazia" and the "Circuito di Carnaro".[1] The circuit in Opatija was one of two circuits in former Yugoslavia which hosted the Yugoslavian Grand Prix as part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championship, other being Grobnik near Rijeka.[2][3][1]

The track was set against a backdrop of the Adriatic sea and a seaside resort situated in the Kvarner Gulf on the Istria peninsula, and used the Opatija city streets, thus becoming a street circuit with a dramatic views of the Adriatic, which gained it a nickname the "Monaco" of the motorcycle racing.[1][4][5] Also, its layout was comparable to that of the Monaco Grand Prix course but faster and longer at 6 kilometers in length and with 85 meters of elevation changes.[3][1] The race course presented an impressive challenge for competitors, starting on the beachfront corniche and winding up a steep hill with a rock face on one side and a sheer drop to the sea, protected by a stone wall, on the other. Then came a fast downhill straight, a hairpin turn, another straight followed by a series of downhill S Curves and back to the pits on the waterfront.[3][1]

The circuit first hosted local auto races beginning in 1931 when Opatija was known as Abbazia and was a part of Italy.[1] The venue gained its first international prominence when it hosted the 1939 Adriatic Grand Prix won by Luigi Villoresi driving a Maserati 4CL.[3][1] The area became part of Yugoslavia after the Second World War. Racing resumed after the war with local motorcycle races being held at the circuit in 1946.[3] The following year, the circuit hosted a round of the Yugoslavian motorcycle national championship.[3] By 1950 car racing also returned with sportscar races between 1950 and 1959, Formula Junior races in 1960, 1961 and 1963, and Formula 3 races between 1964 and 1968.[1][6]

In 1961, the 50cc race formed the fifth round of the FIM European Championships, won by German rider Hans-Georg Anscheidt on a Kreidler.[3] From 1969 to 1977, the venue hosted

When Godfrey Nash rode a Norton Manx to victory at the 1969 Yugoslavian Grand Prix at Opatija, it marked the last victory for a single-cylinder machine in a 500cc Grand Prix.[7]

Despite the circuit's scenic setting, it was an unsafe race track due to high speeds on narrow roads coupled with numerous unmovable roadside obstacles, such as trees, stone walls, lampposts, electric poles, embankments, houses, and the Adriatic Sea.[3] In this regard, the circuit gained a reputation similar to that of the Isle of Man TT circuit.[3] The safety situation became untenable for cars and the last auto race held on the circuit was the 1968 Formula 3 Gran Premio Adriatico won by Manfred Mohr driving a Tecno 68.[1][8] Despite the risks, motorcycle races continued to be held.[3]

During the 1973 motorcycle racing season, in the aftermath of the deaths of Jarno Saarinen and Renzo Pasolini at the Nations Grand Prix, several racing teams including Yamaha, Harley Davidson and MV Agusta, boycotted the Yugoslavian Grand Prix due to unsafe track conditions.[3] Other riders chose to compete, but with less than their full efforts.[9] In 1974, British rider Billie Nelson crashed into the crowd during the 250cc race, injuring several spectators.[3] He died later that night at a hospital.[10]

Final days of venue

The Yugoslavian Grand Prix promoters had received an ultimatum from the FIM before the 1977 Yugoslavian Grand Prix race that, if they did not improve the safety of the circuit, the event would be canceled.[11] The event was a disaster with Italian rider, Giovanni Ziggiotto, crashing during practice for the 250cc race when his motorcycle's engine seized and he was hit from behind by Per-Edward Carlson.[3] He died four days later in a hospital.[12] During the 50 cc race, Ulrich Graf crashed when his bike developed a rear tire puncture and he was thrown into a rock wall.[3] He suffered serious head injuries and died later in a hospital.[11][12] The tragedy forced the venue off the Grand Prix schedule and the Yugoslavian Grand Prix was moved to the Rijeka Circuit for the 1978 season.[11]

Racing activity was not to return to Opatija although the old circuit is occasionally used as a special stage during Croatian national rallies and for historic motorsport events.[3]

World Championship races
PeriodCompetition ClassNo. of races
1969–70
1972–77
(8)		Grand Prix motorcycle racing
(Yugoslavian motorcycle Grand Prix)		 50cc8
125cc8
250cc8
350cc8
500cc4?
Sidecars 500cc?

See also

References
  1. "Racing in Rijeka area". formula1-dictionary.net. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  2. "Opatija Circuit". etracksonline.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 November 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  3. "Preluk - Opatija". racingcircuits.info. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  4. Robinson, James (2001), Santiago Herrero - Spanish Flyer, Mortons Motorcycle Media Ltd, ISSN 0959-7123
  5. "Preluk". gdecarli.it. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  6. "Opatija Track Information". silhouet.com. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  7. "MotoGP Milestones". crash.net. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  8. "1968 Gran Premio Adriatico". formula2.net. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  9. Noyes, Dennis; Scott, Michael (1999), Motocourse: 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix, Hazleton Publishing Ltd, ISBN 1-874557-83-7
  10. "Billie Nelson at Motorsport Memorial". motorsportmemorial.org. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  11. "Ulrich Graf at Motorsport Memorial". motorsportmemorial.org. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  12. Carter, Chris (ed.). Motocourse 1977-1978. Hazleton Securities Ltd. p. 86. ISBN 0-905138-04-X.
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