ITA - ITALY
BINETTO, LEVANTE
SORRY, SOME DATA ARE NOT TRANSLATED YET
Description  
Location Gro di Binetto
BA - Bari - Puglia
Location Gro di Binetto, 20 km - 12.5 mi from Bari and 15 km - 9 mi from the sea
Latitude - Longitude + 40°59'40"     + 16°44'32"
40.994444     16.742222
UTM Coordinates X = 646539.035  -  Y = 4539602.036  -  Zone 33T
Aerial photo / Map (*) Aerial photo / Map (*) OpenStreetMap  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) Google Maps  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) Bing Maps  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) Flash Earth  -   Aerial photo / Map (*) Wikimapia
Altitude AMSL 198 m - 650 ft
Inauguration September 17th 1989
Closing  
Designer  
Sources and links (Translation) (**)
(1) Italian ForumForum --> Europe --> Italy --> ITA Binetto [ITA]
(2) Italian www.ultramotard.com/bb/commenta-la-pista-vt27302.html
(3) Italian Autosprint 41/1981 (page 21)
(4) Italian Autosprint 46/1981 (page 21)Progetto in 3 fasi
(5) Italian Autosprint 5/1983 (page 36)Apertura entro fine anno
(6) Italian Autosprint 33/1987 (page 98)Ripresi i lavori di costruzione
(7) Italian Autosprint 35/1987 (page 38)Si lavora, inaugurazione prevista nel 1988
(8) Italian Autosprint 10/1988 (page 17)Inaugurazione prevista per maggio 1988
(9) Italian Rombo 43/1988 (page 82)Apertura entro fine anno
(10) Italian Rombo 21/1989 (page 44)Quasi pronto, ma slitta l’inaugurazione prevista il 14 maggio
(11) Italian Rombo 29/1989 (page 69)Problemi burocratici per l’inaugurazione
(12) Italian Rombo 31/1989 (page 66)Prima gara moto il 23 luglio, per le auto si andrà a settembre
(13) Italian Autosprint 37/1989 (page 4)Pronta l’inaugurazione
(14) Italian Rombo 39/1989 (page 68)Commenti dopo l’inaugurazione del 17 settembre 1989
(15) Italian Autosprint 35/1992 (page 56)Proposed extension
(16) Italian Autosprint 41/2003 (page 12)

(*) NOTE: a complete and detailed view of the circuit can be found (if available) on Street View by Google Maps and/or Bird's Eye and 3D views by Bing Maps for Enterprise (former Microsoft Virtual Earth): both can be reached using their own link in Aerial photo / Map cell.

(**) For on-line not-English speaking sources, click on each small flag and you open the corresponding Google Translator page with automatic translation.

Circuito del Levante
Description Since 1950s there were rumors about construction of a permanent circuit in Puglia, for replacing Bari street circuit: year after year proposals were made at Castellana Grotte (Autodromo dei Trulli), Putignano and at Lecce.
In 1977 at Binetto a motocross circuit was opened. In 1978 Mr. Nicola Favia, entrepreneur and former motorbike rider, change it into an autocross circuit; in 1979 Citroën 2CV Trophy races were raced here. In 1980 Mr. Favia bought some more land and proposed a project for a circuit to CSAI (car Federation) and FMI (motorbike Federation). In 1981, after having had authorization from both Federations, works begun.
The site is at approx. 200 m a.s.l. and it’s slighlty untulating; max. slope should have been less than 10% on straights and 5-6% in the corners. Main straight should have been 339 m long and average speed should have been approx. 130 km/h - 80 mph (what car?). Track construction was scheduled in two different steps: the first one included 1.6 km layout and its inauguration was scheduled within the end of 1982. I don’t know what problems delayed it; in 1983 it was scheduled within the end of 1983, but the track was inaugurated only on June 1989.
Years 1981
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal Proposal  YES
Proposal not developed YES
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration  
Closing  
Last update of this page July 16th 2007
Info last update October 1981
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 3000  m 9843  ft 1.864  mi Long circuit (3)
length 1600  m 5249  ft 0.994  mi Short circuit (3)
length 2200  m 7218  ft 1.367  mi Medium Circuit (3)
Straight length 339  m 1112  ft 0.211  mi Start finish straight (3)

Circuito del Levante
Description After some years without any news, a circuit at Binetto was proposed again. Oddly, 1981 layout was equal to what later built, while this proposal is a little different. In summer 1987 track was already nearly built even if still without tarmac (but maybe these works were already made in 1981-1982), later they built all facilities.
Inauguration should have been at end of 1988, but it has been on June 11th 1989
Years 1987
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal Proposal  YES
Proposal not developed YES
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration  
Closing  
Last update of this page July 16th 2007
Info last update August 1987
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 1700  m 5577  ft 1.056  mi   (7)

Circuito del Levante
Description Permanent circuit, first used on June 11th 1989. Later some changes were proposed, but I think track layout was never changed. Blue track on the map is shown on aerial photo taken on April 22nd 1998 and it seems be to be e temporary circuit (for karts?) drawn in circuit parking.
Years 1989÷...
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational  
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration  
Closing  
Last update of this page July 16th 2007
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 1577  m 5174  ft 0.98  mi    
Straight length (approx) 500  m 1640  ft 0.311  mi Start finish straight (2)

Circuito del Levante
Description Proposal for lengthn the circuit. In September 1992 local council granted all permissions, but the project has been abandoned. Inauguration should have been at end of 1993
Years 1992
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal Proposal  YES
Proposal not developed YES
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration  
Closing  
Last update of this page July 16th 2007
Info last update August 1992
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length (approx) 2500  m 8202  ft 1.553  mi   (15)

Circuito del Levante
Description After some years, there are rumors about track lengthen (see 1992, but maybe there was some more proposals). One possibility is to lengthen main straight with a new link between first and second corner, or they could use field in front of boxes. In both cases, pit lane should be put forward; new position should be more or less where now tribune is located. Final decision should be taken shortly. Inauguration should be at early 2005
Years 2003
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal Proposal  YES
Proposal not developed YES
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration  
Closing  
Last update of this page July 16th 2007
Info last update October 2003
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 2600  m 8530  ft 1.616  mi   (16)

Circuito del Levante: 1981 proposal, short course

Circuito del Levante: 1981 proposal, short course

Circuito del Levante: 1981 proposal, short course

Circuito del Levante: 1981 proposal, short course


Circuito del Levante: 1987 proposal

Circuito del Levante: 1987 proposal


Circuito del Levante 1989

Circuito del Levante 1989


Circuito del Levante: 1992 proposal

Circuito del Levante: 1992 proposal



Updates
Date Track layout Years Description by Map by Thanks to Note
February 8th 2008 Circuito del Levante 1989÷... Guido de Carli     Update Description
May 19th 2005 Circuito del Levante 1981 Guido de Carli Guido de Carli   New Description with map
May 19th 2005 Circuito del Levante 1987 Guido de Carli     Update Description
May 13th 2004 Circuito del Levante 1989÷... Guido de Carli Guido de Carli   New Description with map
November 14th 2003 Circuito del Levante 1987 Guido de Carli     Update Description
November 13th 2003 Circuito del Levante 2003 Guido de Carli     New Description without map
Not all eventual updates issued in last years are already visible in this list
 
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