Pyynikki Circuit

Coordinates: 61°29′40″N 23°43′47″E / 61.4944°N 23.7297°E / 61.4944; 23.7297
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Pyynikki Circuit
LocationTampere, Finland
Coordinates61°29′40″N 23°43′47″E / 61.4944°N 23.7297°E / 61.4944; 23.7297
Opened1932 (re-opened 1946)
Closed1971 (firstly closed 1939)
Major eventsGrand Prix motorcycle racing
Finnish motorcycle Grand Prix (1962–1963)
Length3.608 km (2.242 miles)
Turns11 (7 right, 4 left)

The Pyynikki Circuit or Tampere Circuit is a former motorsport street circuit in Tampere, Finland. The circuit was a 3.608 km (2.242 mi) long clockwise circuit in a park (or on public streets) in the district of Pyynikki. The roadraces were known as "Pyynikinajot" and were first run from 1932–1939. After an interruption caused by the Second World War they were revived in 1946, running until 1971.

For the 1962 and 1963 seasons the Finnish Motorcycle Grand Prix, a round of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championship, was held on the Pyynikki Circuit. The circuit was found to be too narrow, and therefore the Finnish Grand Prix was moved to the Imatra Circuit from 1964.

Races on the Pyynikki Circuit were banned in 1971 for safety reasons, but in the final year the future World Champion Jarno Saarinen won two classes.

World Championship Results 1962 and 1963[edit]

Year Class 1st 2nd 3rd Fastest Lap
1962 50 cc Switzerland Luigi Taveri (Honda) Northern Ireland Tommy Robb (Honda) Germany Hans-Georg Anscheidt (Kreidler) Switzerland Luigi Taveri (Honda)
125 cc Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Jim Redman (Honda) Switzerland Luigi Taveri (Honda) United Kingdom Alan Shepherd (MZ) United Kingdom Alan Shepherd (MZ)
350 cc Northern Ireland Tommy Robb (Honda) Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Jim Redman (Honda) United Kingdom Alan Shepherd (MZ) Northern Ireland Tommy Robb (Honda)
500 cc United Kingdom Alan Shepherd (Matchless) Sweden Sven-Olof Gunnarsson (Norton) Czechoslovakia František Šťastný (Jawa) United Kingdom Alan Shepherd (Matchless)
1963 50 cc Germany Hans-Georg Anscheidt (Kreidler) Japan Mitsuo Itō (Suzuki) New Zealand Hugh Anderson (Suzuki) New Zealand Hugh Anderson (Suzuki)
125 cc New Zealand Hugh Anderson (Suzuki) Switzerland Luigi Taveri (Honda) United Kingdom Alan Shepherd (MZ) New Zealand Hugh Anderson (Suzuki)
350 cc United Kingdom Mike Hailwood (MV Agusta) Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Jim Redman (Honda) Sweden Sven-Olof Gunnarsson (Norton) United Kingdom Mike Hailwood (MV Agusta)
500 cc United Kingdom Mike Hailwood (MV Agusta) United Kingdom Alan Shepherd (Matchless) Canada Mike Duff (Matchless) United Kingdom Mike Hailwood (MV Agusta)