Nagy Futam 2016: an overview – Photos, Video

Autosforum.hu gives an overview of the happenings at this year’s Nagy Futam in Budapest. The event gets more and more popular every year, this time also hundreds of thousands of people visited the locations to see the best Hungarian and international motor sports competitors.

Autosforum talked to Zsolt Gyulay, director and CEO of Hungaroring Sport Zrt., who said that, thanks to the great popularity of technical sports – which was visible at this event too – they could extend their contract with Formula 1 for 5 more years. He also mentioned the new asphalt of the racetrack as a major improvement, just like the fact that, from next week on, a new Volán bus line will transport the visitors to Hungaroring, thus making it more accessible by public transport.

The event was visited by a former Formula 1 legend, Gerhard Berger, who entertained the audience through driving a BRM, a classic F1 car. Then, he joined Karl Wendlinger and Patrick Friesacher in the Nascars, who heightened the atmosphere by releasing pink, blue and white smoke clouds from the cars. Berger confessed how he has always loved coming to Budapest, as he has visited the city earlier as a competitor. Back then, he said, it was special to come here, because it meant going beyond the Iron Curtain for the first time.

Also, he highlighted how welcoming and interested the audience were towards him and his partners. Thus, it is not surprising that he is always glad when he has to come to Hungary. The Nagy Futam was really enjoyable for him and he was enthralled by the BRM and its technique, even though he said he was too tall for such a narrow car.

Furthermore, pilots of DTM, Miguel Molina (Audi), Lucas Auer (Mercedes) and Martin Tomczyk (BMW) made the grounds for the return of the German Touring Car Championships in September to the Hungaroring. Norbert Michelisz also participated in the event, however, with his street used Honda, because his race car is already on its way to Morocco. He also expressed his love for the Nagy Futam and mentioned how amazing it is always to see so many people in Hungary who love motor sports.

Zsolt Baumgartner, Hungary’s only F1 pilot told the site that such street events make motor sports more relatable for people, and, as the attendance at the Nagy Futam is free of charge, anyone may go and meet their favourites, while getting a truly abiding memory.

Also, in the audience some of the Hungarian athletes, preparing for the Olympics, could have been found alongside members of the national football team, who are preparing for the participation in the European Championships. Just to name a few: Dániel Gyurta, Tibor Benedek, Viktor Nagy, Balázs Dzsudzsák, Sándor Torghelle, Roland Juhász, Róbert Feczesin and László Nagy were among the spectators of the Nagy Futam and giving out some autographs for fans.

Photos: MTI

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