Moscow Raceway lacks zing: Petrov

Volokolamsk (Russia) - The new Moscow Raceway is fit to host Formula One but it lacks the excitement of a top-level circuit, Caterham driver Vitaly Petrov says.

The four-kilometer track on the outskirts of Moscow is hosting its maiden competitive event this weekend, the eighth and ninth races of the Renault World Series.

‘The raceway could have been done a little bit more interesting,’ said Petrov after a couple of exhibition laps. ‘It doesn’t have enough zing.’

‘It lacks high-speed corners, some sections of the track are a bit slow, and it doesn’t bring a lot of pleasure to go through (corners) in second or third gear.’

But he praised the fact that his homeland at last has a top-notch racing facility.

‘The main thing is that it is Russian,’ Petrov said. ‘Finally, we have a raceway that can hold Renault World Series and other classes.’

The Moscow Raceway could be decent enough for Formula One but need massive infrastructural upgrades, Petrov added.

Petrov became the first Russian in F1 in 2010 and took the only podium of his career with third place at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix last year.

He became known for a comparatively aggressive overtaking instinct and during his first two years in the sport with Renault before dropping to the back of grid with Caterham for 2012.

Petrov got his best result of this season with 13th in last month’s European Grand Prix, but was running as high as 10th with a chance of taking Caterham’s first points before an accident derailed his chances.