Formula One Coming to Dalmatia? Sibenik Wants In

Daniela Rogulj

November 29, 2019 – Is a Formula One racetrack in Dalmatia’s future? The mayor of Sibenik thinks so. 

According to the statement of Zeljko Buric, the mayor of Sibenik, the Sibenik city government has not given up on their plans for an adrenaline sports zone, including a Formula 1 race track in Konjevrate. This news was shared at the 11th Mayor and Entrepreneurs meeting at the Amadria Center, reports Slobodna Dalmacija.

When presenting the city’s potential for investors, Zeljko Buric recalled that by adopting a detailed development plan, the Sibenik City Council created the preconditions for the realization of this project several years ago. 

The area of about 103 hectares was also specified for the construction of a training center and a sports center for speed and adrenaline lovers, which would be a sort of counterpart to Grobnik.

“This idea, initiated by the Automotive Society of Sibenik, has not been abandoned. On the contrary, a detailed plan layout was created. Konjevrate is indeed the ideal location for such content, which would, among other things, valorize the deep hinterland of Sibenik. I find that we cannot have a strong county center if we do not have a strong hinterland, and high-octane sports are known to attract a specific clientele. There are many Formula 1 fans in Croatia and around the world, and fans of motorcycle racing and similar adrenaline sports, and among them are those with slightly deeper pockets, who personally like to follow their favorites on the track. I will also mention the possibilities that organized sports facilities of this type provide for recreational sports and its fans who would fill hotel capacities in our area outside the tourist season,” says the mayor of Sibenik.

Cedo Petrina, the current president of AMD in Sibenik, confirmed that the Automoto Society was still very interested in the realization of the project.

“Due to the fact that it is only a 10-minute drive from the center of Sibenik, and 40 kilometers from Split and Zadar, Konjevrate is an ideal position not only for arranging a certified Formula 1 track, but also for a sports-adrenaline park with all possible accompanying contents,” said Petrina.

Looking through the detailed layout of the Konjevrate training and sports center, it is evident that everything was considered – from the construction of a 3,100-meter-long track, the installation of fixed or prefabricated stands for spectators, the automotive and go-karting tracks, a racetrack, and even an open-air or drive-in cinema stage to training grounds, a heliport, children’s amusement park, and skateboarding grounds. The infrastructure includes parking spaces, and accompanying facilities for catering and other objects. 

Those who are more knowledgeable about the economic viability of such projects claim that similar sports centers generate respectable profits that are not circumvented by investors. If and when it happens to Sibenik, time will tell. The city government will, as promised by mayor Burić, be at their disposal for all the activities under the jurisdiction of the Sibenik city administration.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.

 

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