Sentul International Circuit is a 50,000-capacity[1] permanent motor racing circuit located at Sentul City, Babakan Madang, Bogor Regency, West Java, Indonesia, near the toll gate of Jakarta towards Bogor city and areas at the foot of Jonggol Mountains [2]
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Location | Sentul City, Bogor Regency, West Java, Indonesia |
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Time zone | UTC+07:00 |
Coordinates | 6°32′9.1″S 106°51′24.4″E |
Capacity | 50,000 |
Broke ground | January 1992 |
Opened | 22 August 1993; 29 years ago (1993-08-22) |
Major events | Current: Indonesia Touring Car Championship Former: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Indonesian motorcycle Grand Prix (1996–1997) World SBK (1994–1997) Asia Road Racing Championship (1996–2000, 2002–2018) F4 SEA (2016) GP2 Asia (2008) Speedcar Series (2008) A1 GP (2 times in 2006) ATCC (2006–2009, 2011) JK Racing Asia Series (2006–2009, 2011) Formula V6 Asia (2006–2008) Asian F3 (2004–2005, 2007) |
Grand Prix Circuit (1993–present) | |
Length | 3.965 km (2.464 miles) |
Turns | 11 |
Race lap record | 1:15.686 (![]() |
Its pit facilities have easy access to the Jagorawi Toll Road. The current circuit is a truncated version of the original design. Approximately 40% shorter than the original, the circuit runs clockwise and is predominantly used for motorcycle racing and the Asian F3 series. Sentul is a relatively simple, smooth, broad track with large runoff areas, enabling non-bumpy and smooth driving at racing speeds. Sentul has a 900-metre (3,000 ft) main straight that allows speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour (190 mph) before slowing for the right-hand Turn 1. The only truly high-speed corner at Sentul is Turn 2. The fastest driver on four-wheel machines can do 220 kilometres per hour (140 mph), and the fastest rider can do 190 kilometres per hour (120 mph) on two-wheel machines. They can take Turn 2 as a complex "S" bend when they get out from the tighter Turn 1 at around 140 kilometres per hour (87 mph). The wide corners allow good passing with various racing lines.
Located in Bogor Regency, Sentul is a hilly area at the foot of the Jonggol Mountains and a bit cooler than the tropical city of Jakarta. However, the track can still get extremely hot under direct sunlight. It is also humid and wet as well. Such characteristics cause distress to European tuners, riders and drivers who are accustomed to cooler climates.[3]
Sentul International Circuit (section) was designed to meet the Formula One motor racing standard and was the first serious attempt outside Japan to meet such a standard in Asia. The vision came to Indonesia around 1990 when Hutomo Mandala Putra, motor racing enthusiast and son of President Suharto, began promoting the construction of a track at Sentul. Racing had previously been held at the short, tight and relatively dangerous Jaya Ancol Circuit, on the Java Sea coast in North Jakarta. In August 1993, the circuit was officially opened by Suharto.[2]
While Sentul International Circuit was intended to be Indonesia's Formula Two showcase to the world, its tight corners and shortened 3.965 km (2.464 mi) length rendered it unsuitable for Formula One. On 13 October 1996 the Pacific GP was to be held at the Sentul Circuit but it was cancelled for previous mentioned reason.[4] Sentul has been used for the Superbike World Championship between 1994 and 1997 and the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix in 1996 and 1997.
The 1997 Asian Financial Crisis worsened the situation and made motor racing an unaffordable luxury for many Indonesian enthusiasts who had been participating. The facility has also come to be overshadowed by the Sepang International Circuit, built in 1999, which possessed a superior track layout and facilities.
In the mid-2000s, the circuit held two rounds of the A1 Grand Prix of Nations, in the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons respectively. In 2008, the GP2 Asia Series raced at Sentul. A Superstars Series race was planned in 2012 and an Asian Le Mans Series race in 2013, but these ultimately were cancelled.
MotoGP was set to return to Indonesia in 2017, dependent on finding the 15 billion rupiah (approximately 1.12 million USD) required to get the circuit up to FIM Grade 1.[5] Due to the rapid rise in popularity of Formula One in Indonesia following the debut of Rio Haryanto in 2016, Formula One Management are said to be looking into the viability of holding a race at Sentul provided the upgrades are given the green light, however the plan never materialized, and Dorna Sports would eventually gave the hosting rights for the return of the Indonesian motorcycle Grand Prix to the Mandalika Circuit in Lombok instead of Sentul, which was held in March 2022.[6][7]
Sentul International Circuit continues to host various events but mostly motorbike racing with ISSOM events also held throughout the year. It also hosted the para-cycling road race for the 2018 Asian Para Games.[8]
Other facilities include:
The official race lap records at the Sentul International Circuit are listed as:
Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
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Grand Prix Circuit: 3.965 km (1993–present) | ||||
GP2 Asia | 1:15.686 | Bruno Senna | Dallara GP2/05 | 2008 Sentul GP2 Asia Series round |
A1 GP | 1:18.110 | Robbie Kerr | Lola A1GP | 2006–07 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Indonesia |
Formula Three | 1:24.594[10] | Tyson Sy | Dallara F304 | 2005 2nd Sentul Asian F3 round |
500cc | 1:26.141 | Tadayuki Okada | Honda NSR500 (NV0X) | 1997 Indonesian motorcycle Grand Prix |
World SBK | 1:27.151[11] | John Kocinski | Honda RVF750 RC45 | 1997 Sentul World SBK round |
250cc | 1:28.256 | Max Biaggi | Honda NSR250 | 1997 Indonesian motorcycle Grand Prix |
Asia Supersports 600 | 1:30.131[12] | Ahmad Yudhistira | Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R | 2016 Sentul ARRC round |
Formula BMW | 1:32.085[13] | Rio Haryanto | Mygale FB02 | 2009 Sentul Formula BMW Pacific round |
Stock car racing | 1:32.316[14] | Ananda Mikola | Speedcar V8 | 2008 Sentul Speedcar round |
125cc | 1:34.044 | Valentino Rossi | Aprilia RS125 | 1997 Indonesian motorcycle Grand Prix |
Asia Production 250 | 1:42.350[15] | Rheza Danica Ahrens | Honda CBR250RR | 2018 Sentul ARRC round |
Asia Underbone 150 | 1:49.304[16] | Muhammad Agung Fachrul | Yamaha T-150 | 2018 Sentul ARRC round |
Season | Winner 500cc | Winner 250cc | Winner 125cc | Report |
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1996 | ![]() |
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Report |
1997 | ![]() |
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Report |
Season | Sprint Race Winner | Feature Race Winner | Report |
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2005–06 | ![]() |
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Report |
2006–07 | ![]() |
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Report |
Season | Race 1 Winner | Race 2 Winner | Report |
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2008 | ![]() |
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Report |
Season | Race 1 Winner | Race 2 Winner | Report |
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2008 | ![]() |
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Report |
Series 2005
Round | Race Winner | Fastest Lap |
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10 | ![]() |
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9 | ![]() |
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8 | ![]() |
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7 | ![]() |
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Series 2006
Round | Race Winner | Fastest Lap |
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15 | Cancelled | Cancelled |
14 | ![]() |
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13 | ![]() |
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12 | ![]() |
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11 | ![]() |
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10 | ![]() |
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