The Sepang International Circuit (Malay: Litar Antarabangsa Sepang) is a motorsport race track in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia. It is located approximately 45 km (28 mi) south of Kuala Lumpur, and close to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. It hosted the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix between 1999 and 2017, and is also the venue for the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, the Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race and other major motorsport events.
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Location | Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia |
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Time zone | UTC+08:00 |
Coordinates | 2°45′38″N 101°44′15″E |
Capacity | 130,000 |
FIA Grade | 1[N 1] |
Broke ground | 1 November 1997; 25 years ago (1997-11-01) |
Opened | 7 March 1999; 23 years ago (1999-03-07) |
Architect | Hermann Tilke |
Major events | Current: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix (1999–2019, 2022–) GT World Challenge Asia (2017–2019, 2022) Asia Road Racing Championship (2003–2015, 2019–2020, 2022) Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race Former: Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix (1999–2017) WTCR Race of Malaysia (2019) World SBK (2014–2016) FIM EWC (2019) Asian Le Mans Series (2013–2020) F3 Asia (2018–2020) GP2 (2012–2013, 2016) GP2 Asia (2008–2009) GP3 (2016) Super GT (2002, 2004–2013) F4 SEA (2016–2019) TCR International (2015–2016) A1 Grand Prix (2005–2008) Formula Nippon (2004) Sepang 12 Hours (2000–2017) |
Main Circuit (1999–present) | |
Length | 5.543 km (3.445 miles) |
Turns | 15 |
Race lap record | 1:34.080 (![]() |
North Circuit | |
Length | 2.706 km (1.681 miles) |
Turns | 9 |
South Circuit | |
Length | 2.609 km (1.621 miles) |
Turns | 8 |
Website | www |
Type | Government-linked company |
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Founded | 1997; 25 years ago (1997) |
Headquarters | Jalan Pekeliling, 64000 Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia |
Key people | Mohamed Azman Yahya, Chairman Azhan Shafriman Hanif, Chief Executive Officer |
Parent | Minister of Finance Incorporated |
Website | www |
The circuit was designed by German designer Hermann Tilke, who would subsequently design circuits including in Shanghai, Sakhir, Istanbul, Marina Bay and Yas Marina. As part of a series of major infrastructure projects in the 1990s under Mahathir Mohamad's government, the Sepang International Circuit was constructed between 1997 and 1999 close to Putrajaya, the then-newly founded administrative capital of the country, with the intent of hosting the Malaysian Grand Prix. Similar to other of the country's circuits, the circuit is known for its unpredictable humid tropical weather, varying from clear furnace hot days to tropical rain storms.
The circuit was officially inaugurated by the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohamad on 7 March 1999 at 20:30 MST (UTC+08:00). He subsequently went on to inaugurate the first Moto GP Malaysian Grand Prix on 20 April 1999 (see 1999 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix) and the first Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix on 17 October 1999 (see 1999 Malaysian Grand Prix).
On 23 October 2011, on the second lap of the MotoGP Shell Advance Malaysian Grand Prix, the Italian motorcycle racer Marco Simoncelli died following a crash in turn 11 on Lap 2, resulting in an abandonment of the race.
The track was completely resurfaced in 2016 with the support of italian designers Dromo, with several corners reprofiled to emphasize mechanical, rather than aerodynamic grip. Notably, the final corner was raised by approximately 1 meter,[1] which officials claimed would force drivers to take a later apex and explore different racing lines through the hairpin.
In October 2016 it was rumored that the Sepang circuit may be dropped from the Formula One calendar due to dwindling ticket sales, and held its nineteenth and last World Championship Grand Prix in 2017.[2] The race's contract was due to expire in 2018, but its future had been under threat due to rising hosting fees and declining ticket sales.
The main circuit, normally raced in a clockwise direction, is 5.543 km (3.444 mi) long, and is noted for its sweeping corners and wide straights.[citation needed] The layout is quite unusual, with a 927 m (1,014 yd) 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 2.706 km (1.681 mi) 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 2.609 km (1.621 mi) in length.
Sepang International Circuit also features kart racing and motocross facilities.
Sepang starts with a long pit straight where the DRS zone exists – crucial for drivers to get a good exit out of the last corner to gain as much speed as possible. Turn 1 is a very long, slow corner taken in second gear. Most drivers brake incredibly late and lose speed gradually as they file round the corner, similar to Shanghai's first turn but slower. Turn 1 leads straight into Turn 2, a tight left hairpin which goes downhill quite significantly. The first two corners are quite bumpy, making it hard to put power onto the track.[3] Turn 3 is a long flat out right hander which leads into Turn 4 – known locally as the Langkawi Curve[4] – a second gear, right-angle right-hander. Turns 5 and 6 make up an incredibly high-speed, long chicane that hurts tyres and puts a lot of stress on drivers due to high G-Force. It is locally known as the Genting Curve.[4] Turns 7 and 8 (the KLIA curve) make up a long, medium-speed, double-apex right hander, and a bump can cause the car to lose balance here.[3] Turn 9 is a very slow left-hand hairpin (the Berjaya Tioman Corner[4]), similar to turn two but uphill. Turn 10 leads into a challenging, medium-speed right hander at turn 11, requiring braking and turning simultaneously. Turn 12 is a flat-out, bumpy left which immediately leads into the flat right at turn 13, then the challenging 'Sunway Lagoon'[4] curve at turn 14. Similar to turn 11, it requires hard-braking and steering at the same time. It is taken in second gear. The long back straight can be a good place for drivers to overtake as they brake hard into turn 15, a left-handed, second-geared hairpin but drivers are advised by experts to be careful not to get re-overtaken as they come into turn 1.
The official lap record for the Sepang International Circuit is 1:34.080, set by Sebastian Vettel during the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix. The official race lap records at the Sepang International Circuit are listed as:
Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
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Grand Prix Circuit (1999–present): 5.543 km | ||||
Formula One | 1:34.080 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari SF70H | 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix |
GP2 | 1:45.066 | Sergio Canamasas | Dallara GP2/11 | 2016 Sepang GP2 Series round |
GP2 Asia | 1:46.405 | Romain Grosjean | Dallara GP2/05 | 2008 Malaysian GP2 Asia Series round |
A1 GP | 1:48.550 | Neel Jani | A1GP Powered by Ferrari car | 2008–09 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, Malaysia |
GP3 | 1:51.520 | Antonio Fuoco | Dallara GP3/16 | 2016 Sepang GP3 Series round |
LMP2 | 1:54.205[5] | Ben Barnicoat | Dallara P217 | 2020 4 Hours of Sepang |
Super GT (GT500) | 1:57.031[6] | Michael Krumm | Nissan GT-R GT500 | 2008 Sepang Super GT round |
MotoGP | 1:59.634 | Jorge Martin | Ducati Desmosedici GP22 | 2022 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix |
LMP3 | 2:00.525[7] | Josh Burdon | Ligier JS P3 | 2018 4 Hours of Sepang |
F3 Asia | 2:01.151[8] | Ye Yifei | Tatuus F.3 T-318 | 2019–20 2nd Sepang F3 Asia Winter Series Round |
World SBK | 2:03.637[9] | Tom Sykes | Kawasaki ZX-10R | 2016 Sepang World SBK round |
Formula Renault 2.0 | 2:03.747[10] | Bruno Carneiro | Tatuus FR2.0/13 | 2019 1st Sepang Asian Formula Renault round |
GT3 | 2:03.812[11] | James Calado | Ferrari 488 GT3 | 2019 4 Hours of Sepang |
Formula Masters China | 2:05.765[12] | Taylor Cockerton | Tatuus FA010 | 2017 1st Sepang Formula Masters China round |
Moto2 | 2:05.860 | Álex Márquez | Kalex Moto2 | 2019 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix |
Super GT (GT300) | 2:06.594[13] | Kota Sasaki | Subaru BRZ GT300 | 2013 Sepang Super GT round |
500cc | 2:06.618 | Valentino Rossi | Honda NSR500 | 2001 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix |
250cc | 2:07.597 | Hiroshi Aoyama | Honda NSR250 | 2009 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix |
World SSP | 2:09.178[14] | Kev Coghlan | Yamaha YZF-R6 | 2014 Sepang World SSP round |
Formula Nippon | 2:09.302[15] | Richard Lyons | Lola B03/51 | 2004 Sepang Formula Nippon round |
Ferrari Challenge | 2:09.394[16] | Philippe Prette | Ferrari 488 Challenge | 2017 Sepang Ferrari Challenge Asia–Pacific round |
Formula BMW | 2:11.139[17] | Richard Bradley | Mygale FB02 | 2010 1st Sepang Formula BMW Pacific round |
Formula 4 | 2:11.629[18] | Isyraf Danish | Mygale M14-F4 | 2017 1st Sepang F4 SEA round |
Stock car racing | 2:12.234[19] | Jean Alesi | Speedcar V8 | 2008 Malaysian Speedcar Series round |
Moto3 | 2:12.671 | Ayumu Sasaki | Husqvarna FR250GP | 2022 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix |
125cc | 2:13.118 | Álvaro Bautista | Aprilia RS125 | 2006 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix |
TCR Touring Car | 2:16.338[20] | Daniel Lloyd | Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8) | 2020 3rd Sepang TCR Malaysia round |
FIM EWC | 2:17.817[21] | Franco Morbidelli | Yamaha YZF-R1 | 2019 8 Hours of Sepang |
GT4 | 2:18.681[22] | Reinhold Renger | Mercedes-AMG GT4 | 2018 Sepang Blancpain GT Series Asia round |
Asia Productions 250 | 2:25.601[23] | Aiki Iyoshi | Kawasaki Ninja 250R | 2020 Sepang ARRC round |
Asia Underbone 150 | 2:33.537[24] | Muhammad Hildan | Honda Supra GTR 150 | 2020 Sepang ARRC round |
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Superbike World Championship circuits (1988–present) | |
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FIM Endurance World Championship circuits (1960–present) | |
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Circuits of the Asian Le Mans Series (2009, 2013–present) | |
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Circuits of the JGTC and Super GT Grand Touring Series (1993–present) | |
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Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America circuits (2013–present) | |
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