Zhuhai International Circuit
Zhuhai International Circuit (ZIC) (simplified Chinese: 珠海国际赛车场; traditional Chinese: 珠海國際賽車場) is located at Jin Ding town in Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China.
Zhuhai Circuit layout | |
| Location | Zhuhai, Guangdong, China |
|---|---|
| Time zone | UTC+08:00 |
| Coordinates | 22°22′1.9″N 113°33′23″E / 22.367194°N 113.55639°E |
| FIA Grade | 2 |
| Opened | November 1996 |
| Architect | Kinhill Engineers Pty Ltd |
| Major events | Current: Asia Road Racing Championship (2001–2002, 2004–2012, 2019, 2023) Former: Asian Le Mans Series (2013, 2016–2017) FIM EWC (2004) TCR Asia (2017, 2019) Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (2006–2014, 2021) Intercontinental Le Mans Cup 6 Hours of Zhuhai (2010–2011) FIA GT (1999, 2004–2005, 2007) BPR Global GT Series (1996) A1 Grand Prix (2007) |
| Website | www |
| Full Circuit (1996–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 4.319 km (2.684 miles) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Race lap record | 1:22.296 ( Franck Montagny, Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, 2010, LMP1) |
Motorsport started in Zhuhai when it hosted a race on its street circuit in 1993. Racing continued there until 1996 when the motor racing circuit was constructed and became China's first permanent motor race track[1] with Formula One in mind.
The circuit was designed by Australian company Kinhill Engineers Pty Ltd, the same group which created the Formula One circuit in Adelaide. The project manager for the project was Michael McDonough.[2]
The first international race held at the circuit was the BPR Global GT Series. The circuit soon became the hotbed of local motorsports with teams from Hong Kong and Macau setting up their bases inside the circuit garages.
Track layout Edit
The original circuit contained 16 corners. But corners 7, 8 and 9 were eliminated and made into one corner, after a track change request from FIM.
The circuit is 4.319 km (2.684 mi) long and has 14 turns. 9 of them are right turns and 5 are left turns and the circuit runs clockwise only. The shorter straight is 0.500 km (0.311 mi) long. The longest straight is the start/finish straight which is 900 m (0.56 mi) long and 14 m (15 yd) wide at its widest.[1] Alexandre Imperatori, A1 Team Switzerland's rookie driver, suggested that there are many overtaking places in the circuit because of the combination of straights, hard braking areas for hairpins, tight corners, followed by and accelerating for long straights.[3] The most successful driver on the circuit is the best one who can manage their brake wear.[4] Zhuhai International Circuit is an FIA Grade II certified circuit.
‡== Lap records == The fastest qualifying lap ever at the circuit was 1:23.203, set by Michael Ammermüller on a Lola A1GP on the fourth round on December 16, 2007 during the 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix season. However, this is not considered the lap record since lap records are taken from racing laps and not qualifying.
The fastest unofficial lap ever at the circuit was set by a 2007 Panoz DP01 Champ Car on November 30, 2006. Driven by Roberto Moreno, it managed a lap of 1:23.612 during a demonstration run.
The fastest unofficial GT1 lap time is set by Porsche 911 GT1 with Porsche AG team in 1996 4 Hours of Zhuhai. The time was 1:30.401.[5]
The fastest unofficial lap ever on a motorcycle was set at a Pan Delta 1000cc Superbike race, taken by splitlath team. Winning all 6 races, Splitlath rider Mark Aitchison smashed the ZIC Superbike lap record 1:33.725 on an EBR RS 1190
Race lap records Edit
As of December 2019, the fastest official race lap records at the Zhuhai International Circuit are listed as:[6]
Event list Edit
- Current
- May: F4 Chinese Championship
- September: Porsche Sports Cup China
- October: Formula 4 South East Asia Championship
- November: Asia Road Racing Championship
- Former
- A1 Grand Prix (2007)
- Asian Formula Three Championship (2002, 2005–2008)
- Asian Le Mans Series (2013, 2016–2017)
- Asian Touring Car Series (2000–2002, 2005–2007)
- BPR Global GT Series (1996)
- China Superbike Championship (2007–2008)
- FIA GT Championship (1999, 2004–2005, 2007)
- FIM Endurance World Championship Zhuhai 6 Hours (2004)
- Formula BMW Asia (2006–2007)
- Formula Renault AsiaCup (2003–2019)
- Formula V6 Asia (2006–2007)
- Intercontinental Le Mans Cup 6 Hours of Zhuhai (2010–2011)
- Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (2006–2014, 2021)
- TCR Asia Series (2017, 2019)
- TCR China Touring Car Championship (2018–2019)
Event organizer Edit
Zhuhai International Circuit Co Ltd was also a prominent motorsport event organizer and promoter in China. It rganized and promoted the FIA GT Championship in China and in 2007, it also signed a contract with China Motorcycle Sports Association to promote the inaugural China Superbike Championship.
Races Edit
National races Edit
Zhuhai International Circuit was the promoter of the China Superbike Championship, established in 2007 and sanctioned by the China Motorcycle Sports Association, CMSA.
ZIC also organizes the Circuit Hero and Circuit Hero GT race series, which allows citizens of the People's Republic of China to participate.
HTCC and MTCC Edit
The Hong Kong Touring Car Championship and the Macau Touring Car Championship both run the majority of their races at ZIC since they began.
Asian races Edit
The Asian Festival of Speed was held at the circuit from October 20, 2006 to October 22, 2006, when a record 33,000 people turned up to watch the races.
AFOS has been held at the circuit many times since its inception in 1994.
The Asian Formula Three Championship is also hosted by the circuit in 2002, 2005–2008.
In addition, the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship race at ZIC regularly in 2001–2002, 2004–2012, 2019, 2023.
Formula One ambitions Edit
ZIC was included in the provisional 1999 F1 calendar, but the circuit subsequently lost its place in the calendar after failing to meet the international standards set by the FIA.[26][27] F1 subsequently raced in Shanghai International Circuit.
Endurance World Championship Edit
In May 2004, the Endurance World Championship Zhuhai 6 Hours race was held at the circuit. This was the first time an international motorcycle race was held at the circuit. [28] The race was won by GMT 94 Racing.[29]
FIA GT Championship Edit
In 1997, the circuit hosted a race in the inaugural FIA GT Championship. It hosted further races in the series in 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2007. The 2007 event was postponed from October 2006 to March 2007, in order to avoid a clash with the Shanghai F1 Grand Prix in early October and the Macau Grand Prix in the middle of November. The race was won by All-Inkl.com racing's Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT, driven by Christophe Bouchut and Stefan Mucke. GT2 class was won by AF Corse's Ferrari F430 GT2, with Dirk Müller and Toni Vilander at the wheel.
A1 Grand Prix Edit
Zhuhai International Circuit staged the fourth round of the 2007-08 A1 Grand Prix season on December 16, 2007. The Sprint race was won by Michael Ammermüller of Team Germany and the Feature race was won by Narain Karthikeyan of Team India. On October 13, 2009, Executive Deputy General Manager of Zhuhai International Circuit, Stewart Tan, said he welcomed A1 Grand Prix's return to the circuit for November 15, 2009.[30] However, the series had more races cancelled, with an announcement made on 5 November 2009 stating that races in China and Malaysia were not taking part.[31]
Le Mans Intercontinental Cup Edit
The 2010 1000 km of Zhuhai was held at the circuit in November 2010, forming a round of the 2010 Le Mans Intercontinental Cup.[32] In November 2011, the circuit hosted the 2011 6 Hours of Zhuhai, the finale of the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup season.
Super GT ambitions Edit
In 2004, the GT Association, the organizer of Super GT, announced on 23 May that an All-Star race in China, scheduled for 4 to 6 October at ZIC.[33] But on 5 August 2004, JGTC announced that the race was cancelled, for reasons related to the Chinese organizer.[34]
Champ Car Edit
A multi year deal was announced in 2006 that brought one of the American racing series to China. On 30 November 2006, Roberto Moreno made history as he took the 2007 DP01 Champ Car on track at the Zhuhai Circuit, marking the first time a Champ Car had run in China.[35]
Then the series had problems with its promoter, which settled in a court in the US, and was replaced. The new promoter did not have enough time to organize the race on the original May date and so the race was provisionally moved to October 2007. When the series failed to get F.I.A. approval for the October date the 2007 race was cancelled. The series was looking to race in Zhuhai for the 2008 season until the unification with Indy Racing League but most of the speculation had died down.
Ownership Edit
On 2 October 2003, Dragon Hill Corporation Ltd, part of LBS Bina Group, exercised its option to buy Lamdeal Investment Ltd, which is involved in managing Zhuhai International Circuit Ltd (ZICL), for US$1. LBS managing director, Datuk Lim Hock San said LBS believed in the potential of the ZIC circuit land, adding the acquisition "has come at an appropriate time. Upon completion of the exercise of the option, Dragon Hill will hold 100% of the entire issued and paid-up share capital of Lamdeal and Lamdeal will own 60% of ZICL," he said. [36]
Track rentals Edit
Since 2005, the circuit has become a hive of track activities, with a large number of auto-related launches and events held at the circuit, as the battle for car sales in China heats up. Auto dealers and manufacturers try to lure more customers by allowing them to drive freely on the track and pampering them off it.
Karting Edit
A kart circuit was added to the ZIC facility in 2004.
In 2011, Sunny Racing Club[37] was established. The club uses a one make Sunny Kart chassis and 2-stroke 100cc Yamaha engine.
Simulations Edit
GTR2 has the circuit simulated based on the 2004 FIA GT Championship season. The circuit has also been simulated on the racing simulator Project CARS. In March 2018, the track was released for Raceroom Racing Experience.
Transportation Edit
The ZIC has a bus stop which is served by routes 3, 3A, 10, 10A, 66, 68 and 69 of the Zhuhai bus network.
It is also served by the Guangzhou–Zhuhai Intercity Mass Rapid Transit, as Tangjiawan Station is within walking distance of the circuit's west grandstand.
Notes Edit
References Edit
- ^ a b "Zhuhai wins place on calendar". a1gp.com. 2007-08-01. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
- ^ "F1 track under starter's orders". SCMP. 1993-11-12. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
- ^ "Zhuhai to provide overtaking feast". a1gp.com. 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
- ^ "Braking set to be key in China". a1gp.com. 2007-12-14. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
- ^ "Zhuhai 4 Hours 1996 - All Session Laps - Racing Sports Cars".
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Zhuhai Fastest Lap Comparison". from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- ^ a b c "2010 World Endurance Zhuhai". Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ a b "2017-2018 4 Hours of Zhuhai Best laptimes per driver" (PDF). 29 October 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ a b "2005 FIA GT Championship Round Zhuhai". Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ "1996 Zhuhai FIA GT". Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ "2019 Asian Formula Renault Series - Race 2 - Official Classification- 8 December 2019" (PDF). 8 December 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ "FIA GT Championship Zhuhai 1999". Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ "2016-2017 4 Hours of Zhuhai Best laptimes per driver" (PDF). 30 October 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ "2019 Asia Road Racing Championship Round 5 - Zhuhai International Racing Circuit, China Asian Superbikes 1000cc - Race 2 Provisional Result" (PDF). 11 August 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
- ^ "2011 6 Hours of Zhuhai Final Classification by Class" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 13 November 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ "2004 FIA GT Championship Round Zhuhai". Retrieved 25 June 2022.
- ^ "2019 Asia Road Racing Championship Round 5 - Zhuhai International Racing Circuit, China Supersports 600cc - Race 1 Official Result" (PDF). 10 August 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
- ^ "Bamber takes second victory to lead championship" (PDF). 5 May 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ^ "2001 Asian F2000 Round 5: Zhuhai, China 20-21 October 2001 Race 1". Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ "Zahir Ali wins Driver Classification, while Mitchell takes Rookie Cup in Formula BMW Asia". 4 November 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ "Leong dominates but Chang leads opening day of Chinese F4 racing". 23 October 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
- ^ "TCR Asia 2019 » Zhuhai International Circuit Round 3 Results". Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "2001 Asian Touring Car Championship Zhuhai, China 20th-21st October, Round 7, Race 1". Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "2019 Asia Road Racing Championship Round 5 - Zhuhai International Racing Circuit, China Productions 250cc - Race 2 Official Result" (PDF). 11 August 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
- ^ "2019 Asia Road Racing Championship Round 5 - Zhuhai International Racing Circuit, China Underbone 150cc - Race 1 Provisional Result" (PDF). 10 August 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2007-07-03. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- ^ "A change for the good?". ESPN UK.
- ^ "City gets motor sport world championship". zhet.gov.cn. n.d. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
- ^ "Endurance, riders and teams". fimendurance.com. n.d. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
- ^ "A1GP to return to Zhuhai". a1gp.com. 2009-10-13. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
- ^ Vince Pettit (2009-11-05). "A1GP – The final nail in the coffin?". thecheckeredflag.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
- ^ ACO expands Le Mans Intercontinental Cup 11th June 2010 Autosport.com
- ^ "All Star Race announced for China and USA". supergt.net. 2004-05-26. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
- ^ "Zhuhai Event Cancelled". supergt.net. 2004-09-02. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
- ^ "Champ cars to hit Zhuhai track next year". peopledaily.com.cn. 2006-12-01. Retrieved 2008-12-08.
- ^ "LBS exercises option to buy Zuhai Int'l Circuit for US$1". The Star (Malaysia). 2 October 2013.
- ^ . July 29, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-07-29.
External links Edit
- Asian Festival of Speed - official website
- Map and circuit history at RacingCircuits.info