Imatra Circuit

The Imatra Circuit is a motorsport street circuit in Imatra, Finland. The circuit has existed in two versions, and has been exclusively used for the "Imatranajo [fi]" motorcycle road race. From 1962 to 1978 a 6.030 km (3.747 mi) clockwise street circuit in the east of the town of Imatra was used. The circuit ran along the Vuoksi river and a railway line that had to be crossed. From 1979 to 1986 a shorter circuit was used. This was only 4.950 km (3.076 mi) long and consisted mostly of the western part of the original circuit.

Jarno Saarinen Imatranajo Circuit

The layouts of the Imatra circuit
Location	Imatra, Finland
Time zone	EET (UTC+2) EEST (DST)
Coordinates	61°10′40.2″N 28°47′28.5″E
Opened	1962 Re-opened: 19 August 2016; 8 years ago (2016-08-19)
Closed	3 August 1986; 38 years ago (1986-08-03)
Former names	Imatra Circuit (1964–1986)
Major events	Current: International Road Racing Championship Imatranajo [fi] (2016–2019, 2022–present) Former: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix (1964–1982) Sidecar World Championship (1967–1973, 1980–1982) Formula TT (1986)
Jarno Saarinen Imatranajo Circuit (1979–1986, 2016–present)
Length	4.950 km (3.076 miles)
Turns	11
Race lap record	1:50.616 ( Danny Webb, BMW S1000RR, 2018, SBK)
Grand Prix Circuit (1964–1978)
Length	6.030 km (3.747 miles)
Turns	14
Race lap record	2:05.900 ( Johnny Cecotto, Yamaha YZR500, 1977, 500cc)

From the 1964 season until the 1982 season the Grand Prix of Finland was run 19 times in Imatra. From the 1983 season the "Imatranajo" lost its World Championship status due to the dangerous nature of the circuit and the death of sidecar driver Jock Taylor in 1982.^[1]

The last road race on the Imatra Circuit for many years was held in 1986 when a six-year-old boy died after falling under a running wheel, but classic races still took place. Road racing returned to Imatra in August 2016^[2] with a round of the International Road Racing Championship, and another round was held in 2017.^[3] In the "Imatranajo" on June 15, 2019, a fatal crash occurred when a Swiss driver Mathias Gnägi with a Superbike class dropped off the track in the rain and was killed.

Lap records

As of July 2018, the fastest official race lap records at the Jarno Saarinen Imatranajo Circuit are listed as:

Category	Time	Driver	Vehicle	Event
Jarno Saarinen Imatranajo Circuit: 4.950 km (1979–1986, 2016–present)
Superbike	1:50.3[4][5]	Côme Geenen	BMW M1000RR	2024 Imatranajo IRRC SBK round
500cc	1:54.000[4]	Marco Lucchinelli	Suzuki RG 500 gamma	1981 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix
Supersport	1:55.856[6]	Pauli Pekkanen	MV Agusta F3 675	2018 Imatranajo IRRC SSP round
250cc	2:10.300	Gregg Hansford	Kawasaki KR250	1979 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix
125cc	2:26.800	Ricardo Tormo	Bultaco 125	1979 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix
Grand Prix Circuit: 6.030 km (1964–1978)
500cc	2:05.900[4]	Johnny Cecotto	Yamaha YZR500	1977 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix
350cc	2:13.800	Takazumi Katayama	Yamaha TZ 350	1978 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix
250cc	2:16.600	Walter Villa	Harley-Davidson RR250	1977 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix
125cc	2:23.500	Pier Paolo Bianchi	Morbidelli 125	1977 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix
50cc	2:59.900	Julien Vanzeebroeck	Kreidler 50 GP	1976 Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix

Finnish Grand Prix results

From 1964 to 1972

Year	Class	1st	2nd	3rd	Fastest Lap
1964	50 cc	Hugh Anderson (Suzuki)	Hans-Georg Anscheidt (Kreidler)	Luigi Taveri (Kreidler)	Hugh Anderson (Suzuki)
	125 cc	Luigi Taveri (Honda)	Ralph Bryans (Honda)	Jim Redman (Honda)	Jim Redman (Honda)
	350 cc	Jim Redman (Honda)	Bruce Beale (Honda)	Endel Kiisa (CKEB)	Jim Redman (Honda)
	500 cc	Jack Ahearn (Norton)	Mike Duff (Matchless)	Gyula Marsovszky (Matchless)	Mike Duff (Matchless)
1965	125 cc	Hugh Anderson (Suzuki)	Frank Perris (Suzuki)	Jochen Leitert (MZ)	Hugh Anderson (Suzuki)
	250 cc	Mike Duff (Yamaha)	Heinz Rosner (MZ)	Ralph Bryans (Honda)	Mike Duff (Yamaha)
	350 cc	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)	Bruce Beale (Honda)	František Boček (Jawa)	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
	500 cc	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)	Paddy Driver (Matchless)	Fred Stevens (Matchless)	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
1966	125 cc	Phil Read (Yamaha)	Luigi Taveri (Honda)	Ralph Bryans (Honda)	Luigi Taveri (Honda)
	250 cc	Mike Hailwood (Honda)	Stuart Graham (Honda)	František Šťastný (Jawa)	Mike Hailwood (Honda)
	350 cc	Mike Hailwood (Honda)	Heinz Rosner (MZ)	Jack Ahearn (Norton)	Mike Hailwood (Honda)
	500 cc	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)	Mike Hailwood (Honda)	Jack Findlay (McIntyre-Matchless)	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
1967	125 cc	Stuart Graham (Suzuki)	Bill Ivy (Yamaha)	Dave Simmonds (Kawasaki)	Bill Ivy (Yamaha)
	250 cc	Mike Hailwood (Honda)	Bill Ivy (Yamaha)	Derek Woodman (MZ)	Mike Hailwood (Honda)
	500 cc	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)	John Hartle (Métisse-Matchless)	Billie Nelson (Norton)	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
	Sidecars	Klaus Enders/ Ralf Engelhardt (BMW)	Johann Attenberger/ Josef Schillinger (BMW)	Georg Auerbacher/ Eduard Dein (BMW)	Klaus Enders/ Ralf Engelhardt (BMW)
1968	125 cc	Phil Read (Yamaha)	Bill Ivy (Yamaha)	Heinz Rosner (MZ)	Bill Ivy (Yamaha)
	250 cc	Phil Read (Yamaha)	Heinz Rosner (MZ)	Rodney Gould (Bultaco-Yamaha)	Phil Read (Yamaha)
	500 cc	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)	Jack Findlay (McIntyre-Matchless)	Derek Woodman (Seeley)	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
	Sidecars	Helmut Fath/ Wolfgang Kalauch (URS)	Heinz Luthringshauser/ Geoff Hughes (BMW)	Georg Auerbacher/ Hermann Hahn (BMW)	Helmut Fath/ Wolfgang Kalauch (URS)
1969	125 cc	Dave Simmonds (Kawasaki)	Günter Bartusch (MZ)	Cees van Dongen (Suzuki)	Dave Simmonds (Kawasaki)
	250 cc	Kent Andersson (Yamaha)	Günter Bartusch (MZ)	Börje Jansson (Yamaha)	Kent Andersson (Yamaha)
	350 cc	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)	Rodney Gould (Yamaha)	Giuseppe Visenzi (Yamaha)	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
	500 cc	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)	Billie Nelson (Paton)	Godfrey Nash (Norton)	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
	Sidecars	Klaus Enders/ Ralf Engelhardt (BMW)	Helmut Lünemann/ Johnny Bengtsson (BMW)	Heinz Luthringshauser/ Geoff Hughes (BMW)	Helmut Fath/ Wolfgang Kalauch (URS)
1970	125 cc	Dave Simmonds (Kawasaki)	Thomas Heuschkel (MZ)	Hartmut Bischoff (MZ)	Ángel Nieto (Derbi)
	250 cc	Rodney Gould (Yamaha)	Kent Andersson (Yamaha)	Paul Smart (Yamaha)	Rodney Gould (Yamaha)
	350 cc	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)	Kent Andersson (Yamaha)	Rodney Gould (Yamaha)	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
	500 cc	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)	Ginger Molloy (Kawasaki)	Alberto Pagani (Linto)	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
	Sidecars	Klaus Enders/ Ralf Engelhardt (BMW)	Siegfried Schauzu/ Peter Rutterford (BMW)	Arsenius Butscher/ Josef Huber (BMW)	Klaus Enders/ Ralf Engelhardt (BMW)
1971	125 cc	Barry Sheene (Suzuki)	Dieter Braun (Maico)	Gert Bender (Maico)	Barry Sheene (Suzuki)
	250 cc	Rodney Gould (Yamaha)	John Dodds (Yamaha)	Dieter Braun (Yamaha)	Jarno Saarinen (Yamaha)
	350 cc	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)	Jarno Saarinen (Yamaha)	Billie Nelson (Yamaha)	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
	500 cc	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)	Dave Simmonds (Kawasaki)	Rob Bron (Suzuki)	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
	Sidecars	Horst Owesle/ Peter Rutterford (Münch-URS)	Richard Wegener/ Adi Heinrichs (BMW)	Jean-Claude Castella/ Albert Castella (BMW)	Siegfried Schauzu/ Wolfgang Kalauch (BMW)
1972	125 cc	Kent Andersson (Yamaha)	Ángel Nieto (Derbi)	Dieter Braun (Maico)	Kent Andersson (Yamaha)
	250 cc	Jarno Saarinen (Yamaha)	Silvio Grassetti (MZ)	Kent Andersson (Yamaha)	Jarno Saarinen (Yamaha)
	350 cc	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)	Jarno Saarinen (Yamaha)	Renzo Pasolini (Aermacchi)	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
	500 cc	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)	Alberto Pagani (MV Agusta)	Rodney Gould (Yamaha)	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
	Sidecars	Chris Vincent/ Michael Casey (Münch-URS)	Klaus Enders/ Ralf Engelhardt (Busch-BMW)	Siegfried Schauzu/ Wolfgang Kalauch (BMW)	Chris Vincent/ Michael Casey (Münch-URS)

From 1973 to 1982

(Coloured background = the race was boycotted by international competitors)

Year	Class	1st	2nd	3rd	Pole Position	Fastest Lap
1973	125 cc	Otello Buscherini (Malanca)	Kent Andersson (Yamaha)	Börje Jansson (Maico)	Kent Andersson (Yamaha)	Otello Buscherini (Malanca)
	250 cc	Teuvo Länsivuori (Yamaha)	Dieter Braun (Yamaha)	John Dodds (Yamaha)	Teuvo Länsivuori (Yamaha)	Teuvo Länsivuori (Yamaha)
	350 cc	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)	Phil Read (MV Agusta)	John Dodds (Yamaha)	Teuvo Länsivuori (Yamaha)	John Dodds (Yamaha)
	500 cc	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)	Phil Read (MV Agusta)	Bruno Kneubühler (Yamaha)	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)	Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta)
	Sidecars[7]	Kalevi Rahko/ Kari Laatikainen (Honda)	Jaakko Palomäki/ Juhani Vesterinen (BMW)	Pentti Moskari/ Olaf Sten (BMW)	Unknown	Matti Satukangas/ Alanen (Sachs)
1974	50 cc	Julien van Zeebroeck (Van Veen-Kreidler)	Rudolf Kunz (Kreidler)	Ulrich Graf (Kreidler)	Julien van Zeebroeck (Van Veen-Kreidler)	Julien van Zeebroeck (Van Veen-Kreidler)
	250 cc	Walter Villa (Harley-Davidson)	Michel Rougerie (Harley-Davidson)	Dieter Braun (Yamaha)	Michel Rougerie (Harley-Davidson)	Walter Villa (Harley-Davidson)
	350 cc	John Dodds (Yamaha)	Bruno Kneubühler (Yamaha)	Dieter Braun (Yamaha)	Teuvo Länsivuori (Yamaha)	Bruno Kneubühler (Yamaha)
	500 cc	Phil Read (MV Agusta)	Gianfranco Bonera (MV Agusta)	Teuvo Länsivuori (Yamaha)	Phil Read (MV Agusta)	Teuvo Länsivuori (Yamaha)
1975	50 cc	Ángel Nieto (Kreidler)	Eugenio Lazzarini (Piovaticci)	Rudolf Kunz (Kreidler)	Eugenio Lazzarini (Piovaticci)	Ángel Nieto (Kreidler)
	250 cc	Michel Rougerie (Harley-Davidson)	Johnny Cecotto (Yamaha)	Otello Buscherini (Yamaha)	Michel Rougerie (Harley-Davidson)	Johnny Cecotto (Yamaha)
	350 cc	Johnny Cecotto (Yamaha)	Giacomo Agostini (Yamaha)	Patrick Pons (Yamaha)	Johnny Cecotto (Yamaha)	Patrick Pons (Yamaha)
	500 cc	Giacomo Agostini (Yamaha)	Teuvo Länsivuori (Yamaha)	Jack Findlay (Yamaha)	Gianfranco Bonera (MV Agusta)	Giacomo Agostini (Yamaha)
1976	50 cc	Julien van Zeebroeck (Kreidler)	Ulrich Graf (Kreidler)	Eugenio Lazzarini (UFO)	Ángel Nieto (Bultaco)	Ulrich Graf (Kreidler)
	125 cc	Pier Paolo Bianchi (Morbidelli)	Gert Bender (Bender)	Henk van Kessel (AGV Condor)	Pier Paolo Bianchi (Morbidelli)	Pier Paolo Bianchi (Morbidelli)
	250 cc	Walter Villa (Harley-Davidson)	Takazumi Katayama (Yamaha)	Gianfranco Bonera (Harley-Davidson)	Walter Villa (Harley-Davidson)	Gianfranco Bonera (Harley-Davidson)
	350 cc	Walter Villa (Harley-Davidson)	Dieter Braun (Morbidelli)	Tom Herron (Yamaha)	Walter Villa (Harley-Davidson)	Dieter Braun (Morbidelli)
	500 cc	Pat Hennen (Suzuki)	Teuvo Länsivuori (Suzuki)	Philippe Coulon (Suzuki)	Giacomo Agostini (Suzuki)	John Newbold (Suzuki)
1977	125 cc	Pier Paolo Bianchi (Morbidelli)	Eugenio Lazzarini (Morbidelli)	Jean-Louis Guignabodet (Morbidelli)	Pier Paolo Bianchi (Morbidelli)	Pier Paolo Bianchi (Morbidelli)
	250 cc	Walter Villa (Harley-Davidson)	Mick Grant (Kawasaki)	Kork Ballington (Yamaha)	Alan North (Yamaha)	Walter Villa (Harley-Davidson)
	350 cc	Takazumi Katayama (Yamaha)	Christian Sarron (Yamaha)	Jon Ekerold (Yamaha)	Johnny Cecotto (Yamaha)	Jon Ekerold (Yamaha)
	500 cc	Johnny Cecotto (Yamaha)	Marco Lucchinelli (Suzuki)	Gianfranco Bonera (Suzuki)	Barry Sheene (Suzuki)	Johnny Cecotto (Yamaha)
1978	125 cc	Ángel Nieto (Minarelli)	Eugenio Lazzarini (MBA)	Harald Bartol (Morbidelli)	Eugenio Lazzarini (MBA)	Ángel Nieto (Minarelli)
	250 cc	Kork Ballington (Kawasaki)	Gregg Hansford (Kawasaki)	Mario Lega (Morbidelli)	Gregg Hansford (Kawasaki)	Kork Ballington (Kawasaki)
	350 cc	Kork Ballington (Kawasaki)	Takazumi Katayama (Yamaha)	Tom Herron (Yamaha)	Kork Ballington (Kawasaki)	Takazumi Katayama (Yamaha)
	500 cc	Wil Hartog (Suzuki)	Takazumi Katayama (Yamaha)	Johnny Cecotto (Yamaha)	Johnny Cecotto (Yamaha)	Johnny Cecotto (Yamaha)
1979	125 cc	Ricardo Tormo (Bultaco)	Matti Kinnunen (MBA)	Hans Müller (MBA)	Stefan Dörflinger (Morbidelli)	Ricardo Tormo (Bultaco)
	250 cc	Kork Ballington (Kawasaki)	Gregg Hansford (Kawasaki)	Patrick Fernandez (Yamaha)	Toni Mang (Kawasaki)	Gregg Hansford (Kawasaki)
	350 cc	Gregg Hansford (Kawasaki)	Patrick Fernandez (Yamaha)	Pentti Korhonen (Yamaha)	Kork Ballington (Kawasaki)	Gregg Hansford (Kawasaki)
	500 cc	Boet van Dulmen (Suzuki)	Randy Mamola (Suzuki)	Barry Sheene (Suzuki)	Boet van Dulmen (Suzuki)	Jack Middelburg (Suzuki)
1980	125 cc	Ángel Nieto (Minarelli)	Pier Paolo Bianchi (MBA)	Hans Müller (MBA)	Guy Bertin (Motobécane)	Ángel Nieto (Minarelli)
	250 cc	Kork Ballington (Kawasaki)	Toni Mang (Krauser)	Roland Freymond (Ad Maiora)	Toni Mang (Krauser)	Kork Ballington (Kawasaki)
	500 cc	Wil Hartog (Suzuki)	Kenny Roberts (Yamaha)	Franco Uncini (Suzuki)	Graziano Rossi (Suzuki)	Marco Lucchinelli (Suzuki)
	Sidecars	Jock Taylor/ Benga Johansson (Windle-Yamaha)	Werner Schwärzel/ Andreas Huber (Yamaha)	Bruno Holzer/ Karl Meierhans (LCR-Yamaha)	Alain Michel/ Michael Burkhard (Seymaz-Yamaha)	Rolf Biland/ Kurt Waltisperg (LCR-Yamaha)
1981	125 cc	Ángel Nieto (Minarelli)	Jacques Bolle (Motobécane)	Maurizio Vitali (MBA)	Pier Paolo Bianchi (MBA)	Hans Müller (MBA)
	250 cc	Toni Mang (Kawasaki)	Jean-François Baldé (Kawasaki)	Jean-Louis Guignabodet (Kawasaki)	Toni Mang (Kawasaki)	Toni Mang (Kawasaki)
	500 cc	Marco Lucchinelli (Suzuki)	Randy Mamola (Suzuki)	Kork Ballington (Kawasaki)	Marco Lucchinelli (Suzuki)	Marco Lucchinelli (Suzuki) en Jack Middelburg (Suzuki)
	Sidecars	Rolf Biland/ Kurt Waltisperg (LCR-Yamaha)	Jock Taylor/ Benga Johansson (Fowler-Yamaha)	Werner Schwärzel/ Andreas Huber (Seymaz-Yamaha)	Rolf Biland/ Kurt Waltisperg (LCR-Yamaha)	Werner Schwärzel/ Andreas Huber (Seymaz-Yamaha)
1982	125 cc	Iván Palazzese (MBA)	August Auinger (Bartol-MBA)	Johnny Wickström (MBA)	Hans Müller (MBA)	Iván Palazzese (MBA)
	250 cc	Christian Sarron (Yamaha)	Didier de Radiguès (Chevallier-Yamaha)	Sito Pons (Kobas-Rotax)	Didier de Radiguès (Chevallier-Yamaha)	Christian Sarron (Yamaha)
	350 cc	Toni Mang (Kawasaki)	Christian Sarron (Yamaha)	Donnie Robinson (Yamaha)	Didier de Radiguès (Chevallier-Yamaha)	Toni Mang (Kawasaki)
	Sidecars	Rolf Biland/ Kurt Waltisperg (LCR-Yamaha)	Alain Michel/ Michael Burkhard (Seymaz-Yamaha)	Werner Schwärzel/ Andreas Huber (Seymaz-Yamaha)	Rolf Biland/ Kurt Waltisperg (LCR-Yamaha)	Rolf Biland/ Kurt Waltisperg (LCR-Yamaha)