MOZ - MOZAMBIQUE
LOURENÇO MARQUES
Not to be confused with Lourenço Marques (urbano)
Description I have info about races at Lourenço Marques from 1950, but probably they were raced on street circuit located 5 km - 3.2 mi South.
This circuit was built in two steps, the first one in 1962 and the second one probably in 1970. On June 25th 1975 Mozambique become independent from Portugal. From 1975 to 1981 new government banned all motor racing, so the circuit was abandoned. 10 years later, in 1991 first race after Independence was held. Later the track was used now and then and it was in very poor condition. Between 2001 and beginning of 2004 (probably at the end of 2003) a small section of the track was destroyed and overbuilt. On June 14th 2006 a complete renovation started and a kart track, a motocross track and some more facilities were built.
Location Maputo - Maputo (cidade)
Location Alongside the shore at a stone throw of the Indian Ocean, just oustide Maputo, capital of Mozambico and near to border with South Africa. Before independence of Mozambico (1975), the town was named Lourenço Marques.
Latitude - Longitude - 25°56'29"     + 32°37'07"
-25.941389     32.618611
UTM Coordinates X = 461812.383  -  Y = 7130751.333  -  Zone 36J
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 1 m - 3 ft
Inauguration July 24th 1962
Closing  
Designer  
Sources and links (Translation) (**)
(1) Italian Da Monza a Indianapolis (page 201)Author: Tommaso Tommasi - Published by: Arnoldo Mondadori Editore - Published in: Italia - year: 1973
(2) English mail, note Mails from Yves-Henri Randier dated December 27th2005 and February 17th 2006 (the latter with aerial photo), that told me to have seen the circuit from the aircraft and he explained me where is it
(3) Portuguese autosport.aeiou.pt (...)
(4) English wsrp.ic.cz/spring.html3 Horas De Lourenço Marques - Springbok Trophy: results
(5) Portuguese www.amigosjaponesesantigos.pt/forum/index.php?topic=1706.0Renovation of the circuit
(6) English www.classicscars.com/wspr/results/spring/nf_spring_home.html3 Horas De Lourenço Marques - Springbok Trophy: results
(7) English www.milermeter.com/?r=3197213Track layout
(8) English www.milermeter.com/?r=3197233Track layout
(9) English www.racingcircuits.netMotor Racing Circuits Database
(10) English www.silhouet.com/motorsport/tracks/lourenco.htmlThe GEL Motorsport - Tracks Around The World
(11) Italian Grace 3/2007 (page 37)Description in brief (with map) [Publishing date: April 2007]

(*) 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 de Lourenço Marques
Description This circuit used the coastal road just along the shore (usually open to normal traffic); slower section was used also for later permanent circuit
Years 1962÷1969
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational YES
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Road course
Inauguration July 24th 1962
Closing 1969
Last update of this page September 16th 2009
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 3362  m 11030  ft 2.089  mi    
length 3362  m 11030  ft 2.089  mi    
length 3432  m 11258  ft 2.132  mi Calculated from aerial photo (*) (8)
Straight length (approx) 1500  m 4921  ft 0.932  mi Longest straight (3)

Autódromo de Lourenço Marques
Description I don’t know if the chicane on main straight was present in original layout or if it was added later, maybe after the track was reopened after 1991.
Years 1970?÷1975, 1991÷2006
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational YES
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit  
Type Permanent
Inauguration  
Closing July 2006
Last update of this page January 4th 2008
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points  
length 3909  m 12825  ft 2.429  mi   (1)
length 3909.62  m 12827  ft 2.429  mi   (2)
length 3943  m 12938  ft 2.45  mi Calculated from aerial photo (*) (7)
Width 8  m 26  ft      (1)

Autódromo de Moçambique
Description On July 14th 2006 works for a complete renovation of the circuit begun. Final section of the circuit as reprofiled, because a section was overbuilt and in order to fullfill currect safety requirements
Years 2006÷...
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational  
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit YES
Type Permanent
Inauguration  
Closing  
Last update of this page September 16th 2009
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points  

Kartódromo
Description  
Years 2006÷...
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational  
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit YES
Type Kart track
Inauguration  
Closing  
Last update of this page September 16th 2009
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points  

Pista de Motocross
Description  
Years 2006÷...
Direction Clockwise   Clockwise
Progetto Proposal NO
No longer operational  
Car Circuit YES
Motorbike circuit YES
Type Motocross
Inauguration  
Closing  
Last update of this page September 16th 2009
Info last update  
Designer  
Distinctive points  

Circuito de Lourenço Marques (1962÷1969)

Due to technical problems, temporarily it’s no longer possible to see the circuits on Google Maps embedded in the current page.
This feature will be restored as soon as I figure out how to do (any help would be appreciated!)

See this track layout with Google Earth - milermeter.com
(milermeter.com can be used in your browser, without installing anything; Google Earth is a program that must be installed in your computer)
(Map shown here above can show at the same time all eventual layouts drawn. If you want to see only some of them, please go to Google Maps or Google Earth, by clicking on its own link)


Autódromo de Lourenço Marques (1970?÷1975, 1991÷2006)

Autódromo de Lourenço Marques (1970?÷1975, 1991÷2006)

Due to technical problems, temporarily it’s no longer possible to see the circuits on Google Maps embedded in the current page.
This feature will be restored as soon as I figure out how to do (any help would be appreciated!)

See this track layout with Google Earth - milermeter.com
(milermeter.com can be used in your browser, without installing anything; Google Earth is a program that must be installed in your computer)
(Map shown here above can show at the same time all eventual layouts drawn. If you want to see only some of them, please go to Google Maps or Google Earth, by clicking on its own link)



PHOTOS

Aerial photo taken during the flight from Maputo to Inhaca Island, 40 km - 25 mi East of Maputo. I think it was taken just after take-off, as the airport is very close to the circuit. Two thumbnails are taken form the same original photo: the first shows a general overview, while the second zooms only on the area of the circuit.
The photo was taken from the North, looking towards South

Photos by Yves-Henri Randier - August 2004
Click on thumbnail to open original large photo

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Updates
Date Track layout Years Description by Map by Thanks to Note
September 18th 2009     Guido de Carli   Yves-Henri Randier Update Description with map
February 6th 2008 Circuito de Lourenço Marques 1962÷1969 Guido de Carli   Yves-Henri Randier Update Description
February 6th 2008 Autódromo de Lourenço Marques 1970?÷1975, 1991÷2006 Guido de Carli   Yves-Henri Randier Update Description
January 4th 2008 Autódromo de Lourenço Marques 1970?÷1975, 1991÷2006 Guido de Carli     Update Description
February 18th 2006 Autódromo de Lourenço Marques 1970?÷1975, 1991÷2006 Guido de Carli   Yves-Henri Randier New Photos (on this site)
February 18th 2006 Autódromo de Lourenço Marques 1970?÷1975, 1991÷2006 Guido de Carli Guido de Carli Yves-Henri Randier Update Description with map
February 17th 2006 Autódromo de Lourenço Marques 1970?÷1975, 1991÷2006 Guido de Carli   Yves-Henri Randier Update Description
February 23rd 2004 Autódromo de Lourenço Marques 1970?÷1975, 1991÷2006 Guido de Carli Guido de Carli   New Description with map
Not all eventual updates issued in last years are already visible in this list
 
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