Hungarian Grand Prix

Budapest is a great place to combine a city break with a visit to a top level sporting event.

The Formula One Grand Prix is held at the Hungaroring around 18km away from the city centre. The circuit is easy to access by public transport. A free bus runs from and to the Arpad Hid bus station. However, we chose to take the HEV suburban railway from the Ors Vezer Tere station (easily reached by metro from the flat). The train’s destination is Godollo but for the circuit leave the train at Szilasliget and follow the crowds! On the race weekend there is also a temporary Hungaroring station though Szilasliget is better placed for the majority of the grandstands.

The race attracts visitors from all over Europe which makes for a great cosmopolitan atmosphere. There are fans and flags from many nations – Poland and Finland seemed the best represented. Although the track is tight and twisty it has a reputation for seeing the most first time winners. That was the case this year (2008) when Heikki Kovalainen took his first win and also became the 100^th race winner in Grand prix history.

One of the other great things about the Hungarian Grand Prix is that it also offers opportunities for “driver spotting” and autographs. The circuit holds a pit lane walk about on the Thursday before the Grand Prix weekend. This is usually held from 4PM-7PM and is open to hodlers of 3 day tickets. It is also possible to see drivers leaving and arriving at their hotels in the city centre.

The combination of a great city and an easily accessible circuit make a trip to the Hungarian Grand Prix a fantastic holiday!