Racepark Meppen

Racepark Meppen
Owner Hennie van der Most
Harry Maessen
Operator Peter Grondel
Broke ground 2008
Opened 18 June 2016
Major events 12H Meppen
Circuit
Surface Asphalt
Length 2,3 km
Turns 10
Oval
Surface Asphalt
Length 1 km
Turns 4
Oval
Surface Asphalt
Length 0,4 km
Turns 4

Racepark Meppen is racing circuit located near Meppen, Lower Saxony, Germany. The racetrack is located on the grounds of the former Kraftwerk Meppen-Hüntel energy plant. The first event will be run on 16 June 2016.

History

Dutch entrepreneur Hennie van der Most bought 60 hectare of the former Kraftwerk Meppen-Hüntel power plant in 2004, four years af its closure. Van der Most planned to build an automotive theme park with a racetrack. The opening was scheduled for 2009. If the park was not opened in 2009 the Emsland municipality could claim € 1.286.000 from Van der Most. Initially the opening was scheduled in the first half of 2008.[1] However, the Financial crisis of 2007–08 halted construction in august of 2008.[2] The first races scheduled in 2009 of the BRL V6 and BRL Light had to re-schedule. Van der Most reached an agreement with the municipality to postpone the opening of the Funpark to 2015.

In 2014 20 acres of the Funpark Meppen were bought by Harry Maessen, owner of Raceway Venray, to develop the racing circuit. The new configuration would include a racetrack, as well as a 1 kilometer and a 400-meter oval track.[3] In July 2015 the track was paved and races for 2016 were announced.[4] Two months later the first cars took to the track to test the new layout.

In February 2016 it was announced that the Touring Car Endurance Series would host a 12-hour endurance race, 12H Meppen, at the German track.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Int. autosport nieuws: 'Eerste foto's bouw nieuw race circuit in Funpark Meppen (D)'". Raceflash.nl. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "Van der Most zoekt 20 miljoen". De Stentor. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "Baustart für Rennstrecke im Funpark Meppen". Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  4. ↑ "Circuit Meppen nu écht van de grond; eerste race in seizoen 2016". Racexpress.nl. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  5. ↑ "CREVENTIC launches TCES powered by Hankook". Touring Car Endurance Series. Retrieved 8 May 2016.

External links

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