Sepang International Circuit

Motorsport venue
Name = Sepang International Circuit (SIC)
Location = flagicon|MAS Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia
Time = GMT +8


Broke_ground = 1998
Opened = 1999
Architect = Hermann Tilke
Events = FIA Formula One
Malaysian Grand Prix
FIM MotoGP
Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix
A1 Grand Prix
Grand Prix of Nations, Malaysia
SuperGT
Asian Touring Car Championship
FIA GP2 Asia Series
Layout1 = Main Track
Length_km = 5.543
Length_mi = 3.44
Turns = 15
Record_time = 1:34.223
Record_driver = flagicon|COL Juan Pablo Montoya
Record_team = Williams
Record_year = 2004

The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) is the venue used for the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix, A1 Grand Prix as well as the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix. It is also used as a venue for many other major motorsport events.

Widely regarded as a benchmark for other Grand Prix venues, the Sepang circuit boasts superb pit garage and media facilities, as well as impressive grandstands and patron amenities. Some complaints have been raised regarding the unevenness of the surface, as the track appears to be slowly sinking. This is possibly due to the fact that Sepang was built on the site of a former swamp.

The circuit was designed by German designer Hermann Tilke, who would subsequently design the new facilities in Shanghai, Bahrain and Turkey.

The main circuit, normally raced in a clockwise direction, is 5.54 kilometres long, and is noted for its sweeping corners and wide straights.cite web |url=http://www.forumula1.net/2008/f1/race-tracks/malaysia-sepang-international-circuit-preview |title=Sepang International Circuit Preview |accessdate=2008-03-20 |publisher=www.forumula1.net] The layout is quite unusual, with a very long back straight separated from the pit straight by just one very tight hairpin.

Other configurations of the Sepang circuit can also be used. The north circuit is also raced in a clockwise direction. It is basically the first half of the main circuit. The course turns back towards the pit straight after turn 6 and is 2.71 kilometres long in total.

The south circuit is the other half of the racecourse. The back straight of the main circuit becomes the pit straight when the south circuit is in use, and joins onto turn 8 of the main circuit to form a hairpin turn. Also run clockwise, this circuit is 2.61 km in length.

Sepang International Circuit also features kart racing and motocross facilities.

External links

* [http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/malaysia_788/circuit_diagram.html Official information about Sepang at the Formula 1 site]
* [http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/3/7506.html A lap of Sepang with Honda’s Alexander Wurz]
* [http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Sepang_International_Circuit Trackpedia guide to driving Sepang]
* [http://www.malaysiangp.com.my Sepang F1 International Circuit]
* [http://www.f1db.com/f1/page/Sepang_International_Circuit Sepang F1 International Circuit Statistics]
* [http://www.sportsvenue-technology.com/projects/sepang_mrc/ Sport Facilities]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=2.760229,101.737261&spn=0.039740,0.063000&t=k&hl=en Google Maps location]
* [http://www.geocities.com/ciroalbertopabon/Circuitos_eng.htm Ciro Pabón's Racetracks] 3D views and virtual laps of all F1 circuits, including this one, via Google Earth
* [http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/f1-information/going-to-a-race/sepang-international-circuit/ Spectator testimonial on the Sepang International Circuit at F1Fanatic]
* [http://www.a1gp.com/Circuit/CircuitInfo.aspx?circuitId=11&seasonId=4 A1GP info of Sepang International Circuit]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/circuit_guide/4244253.stm BBC's circuit guide]
* [http://watch.tsn.ca/auto-racing/clip39307#clip39307 TSN Track Walkthrough]
* [http://www.afos.com/calendar.php?cid=41 Track info from the Asian Festival of Speed web site]

See also

* List of sporting venues with a highest attendence of 100,000 or more

Notes

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