Finland's first purpose-built racing circuit, Keimola was founded in 1965 at Vantaa near Helsinki by Curt Lincoln, the most famous Finnish racing driver of the 1950s.

Modern in design, the track measured some 3.3 km long with a 1 km main straight, and constant-radius corners with banking. The track was built in quite a short time and was opened in 1966. Later additions included a karting circuit (which would see Mika Hakkinen take his first steps into motorsport) and a rallycross facility was also built into the area.

During its relatively short history, Keimola hosted several international racing events, including F2 races in 1966 and 1967 with drivers such as Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jack Brabham, Denny Hulme and Jochen Rindt. Interserie events followed from 1969 to 1972 for some of the fastest sports cars ever built.

Despite its location close to the centre of Helsinki, the track failed to attract big crowds and year by year the financial situation got steadily worse. Complaints about noise from nearby residents were a constant worry, but the death knell finally came with the energy crisis in the 1970s.

Keimola officially closed to racing in 1978, but the track surface and pit buildings remained. For many years it it saw unofficial action as fans took their bikes and cars around the track. Of course, with no proper facilities, danger was ever-present. After a nearly fatal accident in 1985 (after a collision with a moose), sections of track were dug up to stop laps being completed.

The circuit has fallen substantially into decay, with trees poking up through the cracked track surface. The area has also been used as a tyre dump, with thousands of used tyres strewn all over the former paddock. When these were set on fire in 2004, the old pit tower was engulfed in a spectacular inferno.

There have been plans to destroy the remains of the track, in order to replace it with a residential area, although this has so far yet to happen. Enthusiasts, however, have been hoping to revive the circuit for historic racing, but despite gaining some support, it appears there is little chance of this happening.

Circuit Length: 1.400 miles/2.253 km, 8 turns
Circuit type: Permanent road course

• Keimola history website (in Finnish)