Sentul International Circuit

Motorsport venue
Name = Sentul International Circuit
Location = Km 42 Citeureup, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia
Time = GMT+7


Events = ATCS, GP2 Asia, Asian F3, Formula BMW Asia, Formula V6 Asia
Length_km = 4.12
Length_mi = 2.56
Turns = 11
Record_time = 1:15.686
Record_driver = Bruno Senna
Record_team = Trust Team Arden
Record_year = 2008

Sentul International Circuit is a motor racing circuit located in Citeureup, Bogor, Indonesia. The course (run clockwise), actually a truncated version about 60% in length compared to the original, faster design, has been predominantly used for motorcycle racing and the Asian F3 series. Sentul is a relatively simple, smooth, broad track with large runoff areas, enabling comfortable competition at racing speeds. Sentul has a 900m. long main straight enabling speeds of up to 300 km/h, before slowing for right-hand Turn 1. The only truly high-speed corner at Sentul is Turn 2 (220 km/h in cars, 190 km/h on two-wheel machines), which the fastest drivers and riders take as a complex 'S' bend coming out of the tighter Turn 1 (at around 140 km/h). The broad corners allow good passing action, with varied racing lines. Modern pit facilities and easy access from the Jagorawi Toll Road make this a popular course with foreign competitors (apart from the fact that Indonesia has no other international-standard courses! Note that coming A1 GP races will NOT be run at Sentul, but rather at a specially-designed road circuit in Karawaci, west of Jakarta).

While Sentul is located in Bogor Regency, a hilly area a bit cooler than tropical Jakarta, it can get extremely hot in direct sunlight, and is humid as well, both factors that are distressing to tuners, riders and drivers accustomed to cooler climates. [http://www.porsche.com/pap/motorsportandevents/motorsport/racing/porschecarreracupasia/racecalendar/sentulinternationalcircuit/]

History

The first serious attempt outside Japan to construct a Formula One-standard motor racing circuit in Asia came in Indonesia around 1990 when Hutomo Mandala Putra, motor racing enthusiast son of former President Suharto, began promoting the construction of a track at Sentul. Racing had previously been held at the short, tight and relatively dangerous Ancol Circuit, on the Java Sea coast in north Jakarta.

While Sentul International Circuit was intended to be Indonesia's Formula One showcase to the world, its tight corners and shortened length (4.12 km in total) rendered it unsuitable for the fast and furious world of Formula One. Worse were the acute effects of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, which made motor racing an unaffordable luxury for many Indonesian enthusiasts who would previously have joined in. Completed in 1994, the facility has been overshadowed by the spectacular Sepang International Circuit, with a superior track layout and facilities. Sentul does, however, continue to serve as a safe course for drivers competing in the Pertamina Fastron Asian Formula 3 Super Series, Formula V6 Asia, Formula BMW Pacific, ATCS, Carrera Cup Asia, National Superbike Races and similar events.

Its future may be in doubt as it lays near several choice luxury housing developments, and its location next to a toll road exit would also make it a prime location for residential or business development. Sponsors have unfortunately been few and far between since the end of the Suharto regime."'

Track description

* Track length: 4.12 km (2.56 miles)
* Width: 15 m
* Longest straight: 900 m
* FIA Grade 2 track license
* 50 Pit garages
* 2 covered grandstands

Facilities

* Grand Prix track
* Motocross, Autocross and Go-Karts Circuits
* Three-star International Hotel
* Bungalows / Guest House
* International Golf Course
* Restaurant
* Recreation Centre

Asian Formula 3

Series 2005

Series 2006

External links

* [http://www.sentulcircuit.com/home.htm Official Website]
* [http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Sentul_International_Circuit Trackpedia's guide to racing and driving the Sentul Circuit]
* [http://www.afos.com/calendar.php?cid=43 Track info from AFOS Official Website]

References

*cite web |author= |year= |url=http://www.a1gp.com/racing/season.php?raceid=8 |title=A1 Grand Prix |format= |work= |publisher= |accessdate=February 12 |accessyear=2006
*cite web |author= |year= |url=http://www.asianf3.net/article/articleview/270/1/33/ |title=Asian Formula 3 |format= |work= |publisher= |accessdate= |accessyear=

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