The Abandoned Keimola Motor Stadium: Finland’s lost track

We all know Finland as the icy forge of F1 greats: the effortlessly cool Mika Häkkinen, the gloriously monosyllabic Kimi Räikkönen, and the rock-steady Valtteri Bottas. But picture this: decades ago, Finland actually had its very own purpose-built racetrack, a place meant to churn out more of those “Flying Finns.”

This place was Keimola Motor Stadium, Finland’s first real home for racing. Born near Helsinki in Vantaa, it roared into life back in 1966. Fast forward to 1978? Silence.

Today, if you wander through that spot, you’ll mostly find quiet houses and sleepy streets. You really have to squint to spot the faint whispers – a cracked bit of old curb, maybe – hinting at the pure speed that once lived there.

The Dreamer & The Beast
So, who dreamed up this Finnish speed temple? Meet Curt Lincoln, a Finnish racer with a serious gripe. He was sick of the death-trap street circuit at Eläintarha in Helsinki and was determined to build something safe and proper.

Shovels hit the dirt in 1965, and by June 12, 1966, Keimola was open for business. This wasn’t some backwater track. It was built tough, meeting top Formula Two standards: a twisting 3.3 km (just over 2 miles) ribbon of tarmac with eight corners that tested your nerve and a main straight that stretched a full, heart-in-mouth kilometer. Drivers knew it was a beast. Those long straights let you flirt with terrifying speeds, only to slam you into corners demanding every ounce of skill and courage you had.

Glory Days (Even if the Stands Were a Bit Empty)
Keimola was world-class, weirdly underappreciated by the home crowd. It never quite became Finland’s buzzing weekend hangout. But oh, the racing it saw!

Formula Two Fireworks (1966-1967): This is where Keimola shone. Imagine the scene! Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jack Brabham, Jochen Rindt – absolute gods of the track – throwing their cars around Finnish asphalt! Finland finally had a stage worthy of the world’s best.
Interserie Thunder (1969-1972): Keimola became a battleground for Europe’s snarling sports prototypes in the Interserie series. This is where homegrown hero Leo Kinnunen truly became a legend, using the track as his personal playground to clinch the championship three years straight (1971, 1972, 1973).
Rallycross Ruckus (1974-1978): When the big open-wheel events drifted away, Keimola got down and dirty. Its layout was perfect for the door-banging, mud-slinging chaos of European Rallycross, pulling in stars like Björn Waldegård and Franz Wurz (yep, Alex Wurz’s dad!).

Finland’s First Drag Race (1975): Keimola even made history by hosting Finland’s very first official drag race. That massive main straight? Instantly transformed into a quarter-mile strip where metal met metal in pure acceleration battles.

The Fade to Silence
By the late ’70s, the roar at Keimola started to sputter. Money troubles, maybe that elusive packed grandstand, and just the changing times took their toll. The engines finally fell silent for good in 1978. The land was sold off, and slowly, nature – then houses – crept in.

Think about that today: Families live in cozy homes there. Kids kick balls in gardens built over where apexes used to be. Commuters drive roads that unknowingly trace the ghost of that thrilling main straight. Only if you really know where to look might you find a crumbling concrete barrier or a weathered sign – tiny echoes of the incredible speed and history that once vibrated through this now-peaceful ground. It’s a bittersweet reminder of a bold Finnish dream: their very own slice of Silverstone magic, a legend that almost was.