After years of planning and less than a year of construction, A1 Motor Park officially opened on 21 March 2026 near Samokov, Bulgaria. This is the first FIA Grade 3 certified circuit on the Balkan Peninsula — and the opening ceremony made clear that Bulgaria takes this seriously.
I was there. Here is the full account.
Key Dates
March 21 (Saturday) — Official Opening
The historic first day of Bulgaria's first internationally certified racing circuit.
March 25 – April 2 — Open House Free and open access for everyone. No invitation needed. Walk the paddock, see the pit lane, experience the circuit in person.
The circuit is located just outside Samokov, 60km south of Sofia via E79 highway — near the village of Dospey, approximately 12km from Borovets.
The Opening Ceremony
The ceremony opened with a performance by 101 kaba gaida bagpipers — a powerful, distinctly Bulgarian moment before the first engine turned a wheel. The event was hosted by Ivan Hristov and Andrey Arnaudov.
Among the official guests were Minister of Youth and Sports Dimitar Iliev and his deputy Daniela Dasheva, alongside representatives from the automotive industry, business, and international organisations including FIA Vice President for Sport in Europe Anna Nordqvist.
Speeches were delivered by Kalin Peshov and Kamen Peshov from Glavbulgastroi Holding, Zara Kizirian (Project Manager of A1 Motor Park and Executive Director of GBS Energy Solutions), Dimitar Tsotsorkov from Asarel-Medet, and the Mayor of Samokov.
The First Lap
The historic first lap of the circuit was made by Nikola Tsolov — currently leading the Formula 2 championship standings. His appearance triggered a standing ovation from the crowd and marked the symbolic start of a new era for Bulgarian motorsport.
The programme continued with demonstrations of supercars, GT machinery, single-seater cars, and a drift and stunt show that showcased the full range of what the circuit can host.
The Circuit
A1 Motor Park sits at 585 metres above sea level in the Rila Mountains. Built on approximately 350 decares of land, the facility took less than a year to complete — main construction ran from March to November 2025.
Key facts:
- Length: 3.91 km (full configuration)
- Turns: 15 (8 left, 7 right — counter-clockwise layout)
- Main straight: 900+ metres, top speeds 280–300 km/h
- Altitude: 585m above sea level
- FIA Grade 3 certification
- FIM Grade B certification (moto)
- 21 layout configurations — from 1.09 km to 3.91 km
- Spectator capacity: up to 30,000
- Paddock capacity: 1,000+
- Located near Dospey village, Samokov municipality
The circuit was designed by Driven International Ltd — the studio behind Mandalika Street Circuit (MotoGP venue) and Silverstone Rallycross Circuit — in partnership with Bulgarian architecture firm IPA. The safety systems were validated using the FIA's CSAS (Circuit Safety Analysis System).
The project was built by Glavbulgastroi Holding in partnership with Asarel-Medet. A1 Bulgaria (the telecom) joined as title sponsor in December 2025, when the circuit was renamed from its original name LARA Racing Circuit.
The Crowd
Interest was enormous. Kilometre-long queues formed near Samokov before noon — well before the ceremony reached its peak. This is not a niche event. The Bulgarian motorsport community has been waiting a long time for this, and March 21 made that very clear.
The Infrastructure
The facility is built for serious competition. What you will find at A1 Motor Park:
- Modern pit garages (single, double and technical configurations)
- Full paddock with capacity for 1,000+ people
- Control tower
- Medical centre
- VIP terrace with panoramic track view
- Grandstands along the main straight
- Natural spectator zones at key corners
- Simulator zones and driver training facilities
- Restaurant
- Helicopter landing pad
How to Get There
A1 Motor Park is approximately 60 km south of Sofia, near the village of Dospey — about 12km from Borovets.
- Route: E79 highway heading south toward Samokov / Borovets
- Drive time: 50–60 minutes from central Sofia
- From Sofia Airport: Head south on the Ring Road, merge onto E79 toward Samokov
- GPS coordinates: 42.3317°N, 23.5583°E
The road is well-maintained and mostly dual carriageway. A straightforward drive through the valley toward the mountains.
Getting There from Germany & Austria
- Munich → Sofia: ~2 hours direct flight
- Vienna → Sofia: ~1 hour 45 minutes direct flight
- Berlin → Sofia: ~2 hours 30 minutes direct flight
From Sofia Airport, the track is 60km by rental car. You can land in the morning and be trackside before lunch.
Open House: March 25 – April 2
The public Open House runs March 25 through April 2. Free entry for everyone. This is your chance to walk the paddock, see the pit lane and facilities up close, and experience what Bulgaria has built.
Arrive early. This is a new venue with no established traffic routine. Queues on opening day stretched for kilometres — the Open House will draw serious numbers too.
Practical tips:
- Bring water and food — the circuit is remote, don't assume vendors will be there
- Dress in layers — at 585m, March weather is unpredictable
- Check the live weather at the Track page before heading out
What This Means
A1 Motor Park is not just another track day venue. With FIA Grade 3 homologation, it can host Formula 3, GT3, endurance series, and virtually all classes of circuit motorcycle racing except MotoGP. The ambition is to bring international championships to Bulgaria and develop local talent — and the opening ceremony, with FIA representatives and a Formula 2 points leader making the first lap, showed that this ambition is taken seriously at the highest levels.
Follow @CIRCUIT.INSIDER for ongoing coverage from the circuit.
