Baku, February 21, AZERTAC

Baku City Circuit (BCC) has said most of construction works within the first phase of preparations for 2016 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe have almost been completed, with only 4 months to go until the inaugural Formula One race in Azerbaijan.

Since the beginning of the construction works on Baku City Circuit which will host the Grand Prix of Europe, 86% of the road works, including removing the existing road surface and placing the bottom pavement layer, have already been done.

Most of existing track surface have been removed within 9cm and in parallel, the bottom layer of new asphalt pavement have been surfaced with 5cm height. Works on placing the upper pavement layer of new asphalt will be launched in late March, and it is expected to be finished by early May.

Baku City Circuit’s asphalt pavement has to meet high standards of the International Automobile Federation (FIA). To achieve the desired quality and to ensure the security in the workplace, placing the upper pavement layer will be carried out during daylight.

In order to reduce impact of construction works on daily life of residents and traffic in the capital city, BCC prepared a special plan and implements it in close collaboration with relevant government agencies. In addition, BCC has prepared Traffic Management Plan in order to ensure smooth flow of traffic in the downtown of Baku during race time as well as Transportation Operations Plan which is aimed to make transportation services for spectators of the race and BCC stakeholders providing services during race weekend efficient and responsive.

Nigar Arpadarai, BCC Head of Marketing and Communication Department, said that the first phase of construction works within preparations to the 2016 Grand Prix of Europe had gone to the finish: “The closer the race the more excitement and joy we will see. We have mobilized all our resources to deliver the major motorsport event of this kind in Baku on the weekend of 17-19 June 2016.”

At the same time, recruitment of workforce, especially for sports operations at the 2016 Grand Prix of Europe is underway. The registration process of the Marshals who allow F1 race from the pits and paddock to trackside run smoothly is going on and so far 2,500 people applied to the Marshaling Programme. Selection and training process of the Marshals has already been started. Last month, a special training was held for Recovery Marshals who learned about pilot’s evacuation and first aid assistance in case of accident. At the end of training, marshals successfully passed the FIA’s test and got international certificates.