Sokol International Circuit is a race track purpose-built to host the Kazakh motorcycle grand prix. For reasons, it hasn’t been able to do so in the last two years. It does remind of the KymiRing situation. However, some say it’s good no racing is going on there. At least lovers of obscure racing circuits needn’t worry, as digital representation already exists!
I Love Unknown Racing Circuits.
I’m sorry, I can’t do anything about this. I love the obscure and the could-have-beens. I adore the local circuits which aren’t heavily used in international racing. Lastly, I love the stories that develop around circuits, as long as they don’t end in disaster.
And that is why I’m sort of afraid for Sokol. MotoGP fans all around the globe should get a weird sense of déjà vu when witnessing the unfolding odyssey about this Kazakh circuit. That’s because it feels eerily similar to whatever happened to KymiRing, which, by the way, has recently been bought by a Hungarian consortium of motorsport business people. They plan to bring racing to the circuit, which otherwise lay waste in the Finnish countryside. The consortium, called TRP Hungary, has previously been the promoter for events in the FIA European Rally Championship and FIA European Truck Racing Championship, amongst others.
Sokol, much like KymiRing, has been promised to host a race for 2 years now, without it happening. KymiRing was promised from 2020 until 2022, while Sokol has been on the provisional calendars ever since 2023.
Personally, I find Sokol to have an interesting layout and, having tried the mod for Assetto Corsa, really hope international racing comes to the circuit.
There Are Reasons Why Sokol International Racetrack Shouldn’t Host Internationally
Of course, there are many people that are sort of happy with this grand prix of Kazakhstan not coming to fruition. The words on the street of social media are that infrastructure is definitely improvable. Especially when talking about “details” like how to get to the circuit, where to get accommodation and how to pay for that. People who work with MotoGP-relation for a living that don’t get their travel expanses paid are left with the bad end of the stick here. A prime example for this situation are the freelance journalists.
Additionally, I’ve heard people being worried that this event is only supposed to serve as propaganda for the domestic government. A government they don’t agree with. Staying objectively, an international event like this is definitely supportive of advertising travel to the hosts region, helping the local economy and, in extension, the local government. I’ll leave it you to decide your stance on the people in charge, though.
The biggest problem with it is, unfortunately, it’s location. Nested within the Kazakh countryside, it’s almost an hour away from Almaty city limits. Almaty being the largest city in this country known for being among the most sparingly populated countries in the world. It’s size may make Kazakhstan the 9th largest country in the world, it only has just shy of 20 million people, though. Combine this with the relatively low interest in high-end sportsbikes in the region and you may ask yourself how Kazakhstan is a good market.
Altogether, I just find it a bit of a shame that good circuits get hindered like this. Sokol could be such an interesting circuit for racing from all over. Even though it may be a dreaded Tilke circuit, it feels a bit different.
While We Wait, We Can Race
I know how it feels because I’ve driven it in Assetto Corsa. Muvz, who had previously modded the two Russian circuits of Igora Drive and T-Motors Ring, produced again with Sokol. This digital representation of the Kazakh circuit just feels nice to drive.
Personally, I have driven Sokol with GUERILLA Mods’ KTM GT2. This mod is available for purchase via GUERILLA’s Patreon.
This combination especially feels divine, making me wonder less about the aspirations of the circuit. Apparently, the original plan was to attract not only MotoGP, but also DTM. Yes, I reacted the same way. Considering that a flight from Frankfurt, Germany to Almaty, Kazakhstand takes about 7 hours, DTM at Sokol is ambitious. To be fair, those plans still stem from the circuit’s inception, ca. 2012-2014. Yet, I get it.
Driving Sokol in a GT-style car just feels nice. I don’t know whether the reason for this is that GT-style cars can race pretty much anywhere. This might very well be the case. However, it just works.
I can only recommend trying out Muvz’ digital recreation of Sokol International Racetrack on Assetto Corsa. Maybe, one day, we’ll see racing on the real circuit as well.
If you want to race it with us at tracc.eu one day, feel free to drop into our Discord server.