Chang International Circuit
The Buriram International Circuit (known as Chang International Circuit (ช้าง อินเตอร์เนชั่นแนล เซอร์กิต) for commercial purposes, but listed by its non-commercial name because of alcohol restrictions in some countries) is a motorsport race track in Buriram, Buriram Province, Thailand. The circuit was opened in 2014.[2] This is the first FIA Grade 1 and FIM Grade A circuit in Thailand. The track's primary corporate sponsor, Chang Beer, named the track as part of the sponsorship; however, because of laws regarding alcohol sponsorship in France and Qatar, the circuit uses the non-commercial name in FIM documentation.
Location | Buriram, Thailand |
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Coordinates | 14.962844°N 103.0849984°E |
Capacity | 50,000 (grandstand) + 50,000 (berm) = 100,000 total capacity[1] |
FIA Grade | FIA 1 FIM A |
Broke ground | 2 March 2013 |
Opened | 4 October 2014 |
Major events | FIM MotoGP Thailand motorcycle Grand Prix Super GT SBK WTCC |
Current Circuit (2014–present) | |
Surface | Asphalt |
Length | 4.554 km (2.830 mi) |
Turns | 12 |
Race lap record | 1:23.260 ( Kenta Yamashita, Team LeMans, 2019) |
Website | www |
History
The Japanese Super GT has visited Buriram since 2014. Also, the TCR International Series, TCR Asia Series and GT Asia Series is scheduled to race at Burinam in October 2015, and the World Touring Car Championship in November 2015, and the Asian Le Mans Series in January 2016.
On 22 March 2015, the first ever Thailand round of the World Superbike Championship was held at the circuit. Both of the Superbike races were won by UK rider Jonathan Rea and the World Supersport race was won by Thai rider Ratthapark Wilairot, much to the delight of the Thai spectators.[3]
On 23 June 2015, it was announced that the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia series would be visiting the circuit for the seventh and eighth rounds of the one-make series.[4]
On 12 March 2016, the second Thailand round of the World Superbike Championship was held. UK rider Jonathan Rea again won race 1, UK rider Tom Sykes won race 2. The World Supersport race was won by the French rider Jules Cluzel.[3]
On 11 March 2017, the third Thailand round of the World SuperBike Championship took place. UK rider Jonathan Rea scored his hattrick of race 1 wins at the circuit and also won race 2. The World Supersport race was won by Italian rider Federico Caricasulo, local Thai rider Decha Kraisart came second.[3]
In September 2017, Dorna Sports confirmed that MotoGP will be held at the Buriram International Circuit, with a three-year commitment running from 2018 to 2020 for a race called the PTT Thailand Grand Prix.[5]
Gallery
- Marc Márquez at Buriram International Circuit
- Finish line of the Circuit
- S-curve at the Circuit
- Dani Pedrosa riding his Repsol Honda at Buriram International Circuit
References
- Dagys, John. "VIDEO: 100,000 Fans Pack Buriram for Asian LMS Round – Sportscar365". sportscar365.com.
- https://www.sanook.com/sport/104597/
- "WorldSBK". www.worldsbk.com.
- Pettit, Vince. "Carrera Cup Asia announces visit to Tilke designed Thailand circuit". theCheckeredFlag.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- "MotoGP 2018 Confirmed At Chang International Circuit". September 3, 2017.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chang International Circuit. |
- Chang International Circuit official website