BUDAPEST, Aug 5, 2008 (AFP) - The Hungarian Grand Prix, which Finnish driver Heikki Kovalainen won on Sunday, attracted a record 250,000 visitors to the Hungaroring racing track, a government spokesman said Tuesday.

"The Hungarian leg of the Formula One world championship has beaten all records in terms of visitors: quarter of a million people went to see the race, which is 10-15 percent more than last year," said government spokesman David Daroczi.

The Hungarian Grand Prix is the 11th of 18 races in the Formula One championship and generates 2.5 billion forint (11 million euros) in tax revenues, "practically" covering the annual licence fee or 2.6 billion forint.

Hotels of the three, four and five-star categories were all full at the weekend, Daroczi said.

The Hungaroring is located 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of Budapest and is particularly popular with spectators as they can see at least 80 percent of the track from any one point.

Led by British Lewis Hamilton, the Formula One world championship is set to continue on August 24 with the European Grand Prix in Valencia.