Chile announces plans for MotoGP track

Could MotoGP be heading to Chile in the near future?

26 Jan 2012

Crowd, San Marino MotoGP 2011
© Gold and Goose

1993 500cc world champion Kevin Schwantz has attended the official presentation of a proposed new Hermann Tilke-designed circuit in Chile.

Called 'Motorpark' and part of a proposed 180-hectare development 30km from the centre of Santiago, the plans include the construction of a motocross circuit and 1.4km kart track in addition to the main race track, which is designed to meet both FIA and FIM homologation.

The project is now awaiting Environmental Impact approval, submitted in December. Once construction starts, Christian Epp (representing Tilke) said that the project would take around 18 months to complete.

Schwantz is advising on the design of the circuit and negotiations to host MotoGP, just as he did for the new track in Austin, Texas, which - like Argentina - has a contract to join the MotoGP calendar in 2013.

Chile joins the likes of India on the MotoGP 'wanted' list, putting further pressure on traditional European venues.

Tilke has designed many of the world's modern racetracks, including Bahrain, Buddh (India), Circuit of the Americas (Austin), Istanbul Park (Turkey), Korea, Sepang (Malaysia), Shanghai (China) and Yas Marina (Abu Dhabi).