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Sepang Circuit | Malaysia
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| Circuit Length: |
5.54km
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| Circuit Width: |
25m
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| Longest Straight: |
920m
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| Official Website: | |
| In the mid-1990s Malaysia's President Dr Mahathir Mohamad formulated a far-sighted policy to turn the country into a fully industrialised nation by the year 2020. As part of the program he made heavy investment in the automobile business with the Proton car company. The most extraordinary part of the Mahathir's plan was the construction of a "Multimedia Super Corridor" linking Kuala Lumpur with the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at Sepang. The corridor would include two "intelligent" cities designed for the 21st century with fibre optic cable networks linking all the buildings and an integrated transportation system. Close to the airport he planned for a Grand Prix standard motor racing facility. This was designed by Germany's Hermann Tilke and work began at the start if 1997. The track was opened in March 1999 which included a round of the World Motorcycle Championship and in October that year by the inaugural Malaysian GP. The event was a big success and Sepang has been a regular venue of the World Championship ever since. Specifically built for speed and exciting racing, the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia is one of the world´s best. The 2,300 acre complex which also houses a hotel, shopping centre, golf course and other sports facilities cost around £50m to construct and was built in just 14 months, holding its first Grand Prix in April 1999 and setting the standard for race circuits worldwide. With four slow corners following long straights and ten medium to high-speed corners, the wide track is particularly favourable to overtaking manoeuvres and plenty of open throttle. The longest lap in MotoGP is made all the more gruelling for riders by intense heat and humidity. Sepang is located around 50km south of Kuala Lumpur city. |
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