Auto Moto Park Albania

Auto Moto Park Albania
LocationKrastë, Elbasan, Albania
Coordinates41°06′03″N 20°06′31″E / 41.10078°N 20.10870°E / 41.10078; 20.10870
FIA GradeGrade 3 target; higher-grade ambitions
OwnerGovernment of Albania
OperatorGeneral Directorate of Road Transport Services
Broke ground2025
OpenedUnder construction
ArchitectTest & Training International
Websitewww.automotopark.al
Length5.3 km (3.3 mi)

Auto Moto Park Albania (Albanian: Auto Moto Park Shqipëria) is a planned motorsports, road-safety and automotive complex under construction in Krastë, near Elbasan, Albania. The project is promoted by the Albanian government, the General Directorate of Road Transport Services (DPSHTRR) and the Municipality of Elbasan as Albania's first permanent international motor-racing venue.[1][2]

The project has been presented as a multi-purpose facility combining a racing circuit, karting and drag-racing areas, road-safety training, an automotive museum and event spaces. The main circuit has generally been described in official and media material as approximately 5.3 km (3.3 mi) long, although some 2025 reports cited a later design length of 4,444 m (2.761 mi).[3][4] The government has stated an ambition for the facility to support Albania's long-term objective of hosting a Formula One event by 2030, but no Formula One Grand Prix had been awarded to Albania as of July 2026.[5]

Background

Albania has not historically had a permanent international-standard racing circuit. Motorsport activity in the country has mainly consisted of road rallies, hill climbs, karting, informal car culture events and automotive fairs. The Auto Moto Park project was introduced by state authorities as part of a wider programme to expand automotive tourism, promote road-safety education and create a national facility for controlled motorsport activities.[1]

The proposed location is in the Krastë area of Elbasan, near the Shkumbin river. The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) described the planned venue as being set by Elbasan, approximately 40 km (25 mi) from Tirana and 75 km (47 mi) from Durrës.[2] Public authorities have presented the project as a way to connect Elbasan to Albania's wider transport and tourism strategy, including the development of Corridor VIII.[5]

History

Early proposals and land allocation

The idea for a national auto-moto park was publicly promoted by DPSHTRR in the early 2020s. Official project summaries described the planned venue as Albania's first circuit developed on more than 500,000 m2 (50 ha; 120 acres) of land in Elbasan, with facilities intended to meet standards of the FIA, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and international karting bodies.[6]

In 2022, the Albanian government made public a decision concerning the first Albanian Auto Moto Park, describing a development area of more than 550,000 m2 (55 ha; 140 acres) in Krastë, Elbasan. The land was to be used for a project that included an automobile circuit, road-safety education facilities and automotive cultural functions.[7]

Design competition

In February 2023, the government opened an international design process for the Auto Moto Park. The Prime Minister's Office described the tender as a step toward Albania's first auto-racing circuit built to FIA and FIM standards and stated that the project would be funded through the road transport service directorate and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, in cooperation with the Municipality of Elbasan and the Albanian government.[1]

The competition was reported to have been won by a company associated with former Formula One driver Alexander Wurz and his father Franz Wurz, known for work in road-safety initiatives.[8] FIA later identified the circuit designer as Test & Training International, a company founded by Alexander Wurz, who presented the design study during the FIA location check in 2023.[2]

A separate design study by Apex Circuit Design was also prepared during the international design competition. Apex stated that it had been approached by the Albanian government in November 2021 and that its proposal included an FIA Grade II/FIM Grade B circuit, rallycross links, a drag strip, karting circuit, off-road areas, museum and government offices on a 52-hectare site.[9]

FIA involvement

On 1 June 2023, the FIA announced that a delegation led by FIA Vice President for Sport Europe Manuel Aviñó had completed a location check of the planned Auto Moto Park Albania. The FIA described it as Albania's first planned international motor-racing venue and stated that the project considered environmental measures and the possible economic and social impact on local communities.[2]

The FIA statement said that the initial target was to obtain an FIA Grade 3 circuit licence, which would allow events for cars with a power-to-weight ratio of 2–3 kg/bhp, including categories such as Formula 3, Formula 4, TCR and GT3. The same statement said the objective was to complete the circuit within three years and that the venue would also be used for fleet driver training, including police and ambulance-driver training.[2] Motorsport trade publication Professional Motorsport World also reported the Grade 3 target and noted that the circuit was scheduled for completion within three years.[10]

In January 2024, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem visited Tirana and met Prime Minister Edi Rama and Albanian Automobile Club president Niko Leka. The FIA said Ben Sulayem expressed support for the Auto Moto Park project, described it as the first international motor-racing complex in Albania, and stated that the FIA would oversee homologation of the circuit with support from its Safety Department.[11]

Construction and supporting infrastructure

By late 2024, the Albanian Development Fund had opened a tender for the second phase of supporting infrastructure for the Auto Moto Park in Elbasan. SCAN TV reported that the tender was worth 376.6 million lek and concerned infrastructure for the multifunctional complex, including a concrete structure related to drainage and the Shkumbin river.[12]

In March 2025, the government presented a more detailed project in Elbasan. Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that the project was being developed in consultation with Formula One technical staff and that the wider ambition was for "Albania 2030" to host a Formula One race. The government presentation also described the complex as a year-round economic and road-safety destination rather than only a racing track.[5]

On 21 May 2025, the Albanian Council of Ministers approved expropriation in the public interest of private properties affected by the Auto Moto Park project. The expropriated land was to be transferred in favour of DPSHTRR.[13] SeeNews reported that the government had allocated 347.4 million lek, equivalent to about €3.5 million at the time, to compensate affected landowners and that the process was expected to conclude within three months.[3]

Facilities

The project has been presented as a mixed-use motorsport and mobility complex rather than a racing circuit alone. Planned components have included:[6][12][3]

  • a main racing circuit for cars and motorcycles;
  • a homologated karting circuit;
  • a drag strip, reported by the official project website as planned at about 1.2 km (0.75 mi);
  • rallycross and off-road areas;
  • paddock and service spaces;
  • the National Road Safety Academy;
  • a retro automobile museum and historic-vehicle restoration academy;
  • indoor and outdoor event spaces;
  • pedestrian and recreational areas.

The government has promoted the park as a training venue for road-safety education, driving tests and professional driver training, in addition to motorsport events.[5] The FIA also described the facility as intended for fleet-driver training, including for emergency services and police drivers.[2]

Main circuit

The main circuit has most often been reported as approximately 5.3 km (3.3 mi) long.[3][6] However, in May 2025, SCAN TV reported a 4,444 m (2.761 mi) track designed for speeds up to 349 km/h (217 mph).[4] Because the project was still under construction and subject to homologation, the final certified layout had not been confirmed by the FIA as of July 2026.

The FIA's 2023 location-check statement stated that the initial licensing objective was Grade 3, not Grade 1. Grade 3 would allow several international and regional categories but would not by itself permit a Formula One Grand Prix, which normally requires a higher FIA circuit grade and separate commercial approval from Formula One.[2] Later government statements referred to continued consultation with Formula One's technical staff and an ambition to prepare the complex for Formula One by 2030.[5]

Formula One ambitions

Albanian officials have repeatedly presented the Auto Moto Park as part of an ambition to place Albania on the international motorsport map and eventually host a Formula One race. In March 2025, Prime Minister Rama said the government hoped that "Albania 2030" would become host to a Formula One race and described the project as an economic engine for the country.[5]

The FIA's public statements have been more limited. The federation has supported development of motorsport and road-safety infrastructure in Albania and stated that it would oversee the circuit's homologation, but it has not announced a Formula One Grand Prix for Albania.[11] As of July 2026, the project remained a planned or under-construction venue and was not listed as a Formula One race on the championship calendar.

Public funding and criticism

The project has been promoted by the Albanian government as a public investment intended to support sports tourism, job creation, road-safety education and local economic development.[1][5] Critics from the opposition have questioned the priority of public spending on a motorsport venue. In August 2022, the Democratic Party branch in Elbasan criticised the project, arguing that public money was being allocated to a racing track during an economic crisis.[14]

Land acquisition also became part of the project's public record in 2025, when the Council of Ministers approved expropriations for properties affected by the project and allocated compensation for landowners.[3][13] Supporters of the project have described the expropriations as necessary for a public-interest infrastructure project, while critics have questioned the overall cost and public priorities of the investment.[14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Auto Moto Park, historic step forward of Albanian motorsports and auto-racing". Prime Minister's Office of Albania. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "FIA delegates complete location check at planned Auto Moto Park Albania". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Hodo, Genta (22 May 2025). "Albania approves land expropriation for Elbasan auto project". SeeNews. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 "'Auto-moto Park', the government grants 3 million euros in expropriations - The project being built in Elbasan has begun to be implemented". SCAN TV. 22 May 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Elbasan Unveils a Project for Auto Moto Park, Poised to Become the Region's New Hub for Sports Tourism". Prime Minister's Office of Albania. 28 March 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 "Auto Moto Park - Një ëndërr e shumëpritur së shpejti realitet". DPSHTRR (in Albanian). 7 March 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "Zbardhet Vendimi i Qeverisë Shqiptare për Auto Moto Park-un e parë shqiptar". DPSHTRR (in Albanian). 11 June 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Winner for 'Auto Moto Park Albania' Project Announced". Albanian Daily News. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Auto Moto Park Albania". Apex Circuit Design. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Location check conducted by FIA delegates for planned Auto Moto Park Albania". Professional Motorsport World. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  11. 1 2 "FIA President applauds commitment to growth of motorsport and road safety in meeting with Albanian Prime Minister on visit to Tirana". Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  12. 1 2 "Auto Moto Park in Elbasan, 376 million ALL for phase II - ADF opens tender for supporting infrastructure". SCAN TV. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Formula 1 track towards 'viability', government approves expropriations for the Auto-Moto Park project in Elbasan". A2 CNN. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
  14. 1 2 "DP Slams Govt Over Auto-Moto Park Project in Elbasan". Albanian Daily News. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
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