Motorsports in Istria and Kvarner

Car and motorcycle races are very popular in Istria and Kvarner. There’s a reason for that. This part of Croatia is known for its stunning natural beauty, making it the perfect hotspot for these sports where, in addition to speed and adrenaline, an emphasis is also placed on the attractiveness of the track itself. That’s why there are numerous racing tracks and circuits in this part of the country for fans of car and motorcycle racing, which host various racing events. We will take this opportunity to highlight some of them.

Kvarner’s most famous racing track is the Grobnik circuit, also known as the “Grobnik Beauty”. This race track is located near Rijeka, in the municipality of Čavle, and has been in operation since 1978. The first race that was took place there was the last Grand Prix race of the World Motorcycle Championship. Today, the Grobnik circuit is a world famous race track and attracts octane sports fans from all over the world. Throughout its rich history, it hosted numerous international racing events organized by the FIA (International Automobile Federation) and FIM (International Motorcycling Federation). The Grobnik Beauty is a challenging track with multiple sharp turns and altitude changes, and practice sessions, tests and races take place there on the daily.

Located near Opatija, Preluk is one of the oldest motorsport tracks in Croatia, with competitive racing having started there in the 1940s. Nowadays it is often a part of Istrian rallies.

Buzet also boasts a racing circuit, which is an essential part of the Croatian as well as the European Rally Championships. It is a mountainous track beloved by Croatian and international race drivers and fans alike.

Another magnet for motorsport lovers is Poreč. This Istrian town has been the host of the international INA Rally Poreč for over two decades, a competition which is part of the Croatian Championship and one of the most exciting rallies in the region. Poreč does not have a racing circuit of its own, and the rally is driven on a challenging route which meanders through the historic town center of Poreč. The rally involves various types of cars, including old-timers, moderns sports cars and rally cars.

Just like Poreč, a race through the city of Opatija and its surrounding area has been taking place for decades, with a route several hundred kilometers long. The race counts for the Croatian Championship.

Cities of the Istria and Kvarner region are generally known for being fond of motorsports and have hosted the Croatia Rally, Croatia’s biggest car racing competition counting for the European Rally Championship, on multiple occasions. When Croatia Rally is organized in Rijeka or Poreč, the race is driven all across Istria, regularly including towns and municipalities such as Boljun, Buzet, Buje, Motovun, Opatija, Preluk etc. This year’s host of Croatia Rally is Zagreb, and the race will take place all across Croatia between April 20-23, with the third day (April 22) scheduled to take place in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, on Ravna Gora – Skrad and Platak stages.

But in addition to world-renowned competitions on asphalt tracks, local octane lovers also enjoy “wild” races. Each year, the Motovun Off Road race takes place on May Day. The drivers race in the daylight and at night, on soil and mud (not paved roads), and as was mentioned in the beginning of this article, this race is not only about speed and adrenaline, but the exploration of the natural wonders this region has to offer.

Whether you dare to drive or just care to observe the car races in Kvarner and Istria, you will certainly make the right choice. Find out where to spend the night between race legs on Molo Longo agency’s website.