Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone is a firm supporter of Russian president Vladimir Putin over his controversial attitude on gay rights.
Friends united —
Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone is a firm supporter of Russian president Vladimir Putin over his controversial attitude on gay rights.
ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Image
The Sochi International Street Circuit is set to play host to the Russian Grand Prix in October 2014. Russia signed a seven-year deal with Ecclestone in 2010, with the project to build the circuit costing $200 million -- a fraction of the reported $50 billion spent on the Winter Games.
An eventful year —
The Sochi International Street Circuit is set to play host to the Russian Grand Prix in October 2014. Russia signed a seven-year deal with Ecclestone in 2010, with the project to build the circuit costing $200 million -- a fraction of the reported $50 billion spent on the Winter Games.
Ben Wyatt
Russian president Vladimir Putin is no stranger to a F1 car, having reached speeds of up to 150mph while test-driving a Renault vehicle in St. Petersburg in 2010. Ecclestone spoke of his "great admiration" for Putin in an interview with CNN.
Seasoned pro —
Russian president Vladimir Putin is no stranger to a F1 car, having reached speeds of up to 150mph while test-driving a Renault vehicle in St. Petersburg in 2010. Ecclestone spoke of his "great admiration" for Putin in an interview with CNN.
ALEXEI NIKOLSKY/AFP/Getty Images
The Sochi International Street Circuit is Russia's first purpose-built 1e facility, while October's showpiece event will be the country's inaugural Grand Prix.
Firsts —
The Sochi International Street Circuit is Russia's first purpose-built 1e facility, while October's showpiece event will be the country's inaugural Grand Prix.
Paul Gilham/Getty Images
The Sochi circuit will be a 55,000-capacity venue, with its main grandstand holding up to 10,000 spectators. Ecclestone believes Russia has done a "first-class job" on the new circuit.
Build it and they will come —
The Sochi circuit will be a 55,000-capacity venue, with its main grandstand holding up to 10,000 spectators. Ecclestone believes Russia has done a "first-class job" on the new circuit.
Ben Wyatt
Renowned circuit architect Hermann Tilke supervised the design for the track, which runs in a clockwise direction. Tilke has previously designed the likes of the Yas Marina and Shanghai International circuits.
In safe hands —
Renowned circuit architect Hermann Tilke supervised the design for the track, which runs in a clockwise direction. Tilke has previously designed the likes of the Yas Marina and Shanghai International circuits.
Ben Wyatt
The Olympic Park will be the centrepiece of the circuit, with the track circling a number of venues used for the 2014 Winter Olympics. The racing track surface will not be laid until after the Games have finished.
Legacy lives on —
The Olympic Park will be the centrepiece of the circuit, with the track circling a number of venues used for the 2014 Winter Olympics. The racing track surface will not be laid until after the Games have finished.
Ben Wyatt
"The circuit is going to be very fast and technical and offers a number of interesting features," Tilke told F1's official website. "It is a fantastic facility with a great atmosphere and it will be outstanding as the circuit will run through the Olympic Park."
'A fantastic facility' —
"The circuit is going to be very fast and technical and offers a number of interesting features," Tilke told F1's official website. "It is a fantastic facility with a great atmosphere and it will be outstanding as the circuit will run through the Olympic Park."
Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images
F1 cars are expected to reach up to a maximum speed of 320km/h on the Sochi circuit, which consists of 12 right and six left-hand corners.
Speed demon —
F1 cars are expected to reach up to a maximum speed of 320km/h on the Sochi circuit, which consists of 12 right and six left-hand corners.
Ben Wyatt
Stars including four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel and Russia's own Daniil Kvyat have already visited the Sochi track.
Vettel & Co. —
Stars including four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel and Russia's own Daniil Kvyat have already visited the Sochi track.
MIKHAIL MORDASOV/AFP/Getty Image
The 5.853km track will be the third longest on the F1 calendar, behind Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Silverstone in Britain.
On track —
The 5.853km track will be the third longest on the F1 calendar, behind Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Silverstone in Britain.
Ben Wyatt
The Sochi International Street Circuit will host the 16th race of the Formula One season 100 years after the last Russian Grand Prix took place.
A century on —
The Sochi International Street Circuit will host the 16th race of the Formula One season 100 years after the last Russian Grand Prix took place.
Ben Wyatt