A “Kvyat” grandstand in Sochi for the Formula 1 Grand Prix
The Sochi circuit, which will host Formula 1 from October 10 to 12, has announced that one of its largest grandstands will be named after the current Toro Rosso driver, Daniil Kvyat. A first for a driver still active in the sport.
The information, unprecedented, is quite surprising. The organizers of the upcoming Russian Grand Prix, which will take place in mid-October at the Sochi circuit, have decided to name one of the largest stands after Daniil Kvyat, the young Toro Rosso driver who will be the first Russian driver to race on home soil.
The “Kvyat” grandstand will overlook turns 2, 3, 4, and 5, which are already presented as one of the most interesting parts of the track in terms of spectacle. The promoters took advantage of the Toro Rosso driver’s visit to the circuit last Saturday to make this announcement during a press conference.
Obviously, the young Russian driver is very honored by this news, even if he remains surprised: « I was really astonished to learn that a grandstand will bear my name at the Sochi Autodrome. Usually, this is a great honor reserved for retired drivers, so it’s both surprising and great news for me. [The Grand Prix] is going to be a historic moment for Formula 1 and Russia, and I really look forward to driving in front of my home crowd. »
As Kvyat pointed out, it is common for a circuit to name a stand or one of its corners after a driver who has made history. However, whenever this has occurred, the driver in question was no longer active in Formula 1. This was the case recently with a corner named Michael Schumacher on the Sakhir track in Bahrain, for example.
