Sepang Circuit

Background and history

The Sepang International Circuit is just under an hour’s drive south of the vibrant downtown area of Kuala Lumpur. This year the race track celebrates its 10th anniversary along with the 10th appearance of Formula One here.

The name Kuala Lumpur translates as “muddy estuary” after its location at the mouth of the rivers Gombak and Klang. KL, as the city is popularly known today, is the heartbeat of modern Malaysia. With a population of around 1.5 million, more than half of them Chinese, the capital is also the country’s largest city. Extending over an area of 244 square kilometres, KL offers a thriving Asian culture alongside British colonial buildings and landmark high-tech edifices such as the 88-storey PETRONAS Twin Towers that rise to a height of 452 metres.

Kuala Lumpur was founded in the middle of the jungle by tin miners in 1857. In 1896, under British rule, the Malay Sultanates formed the Federation of Malaya with Kuala Lumpur as its capital. In 1957 Kuala Lumpur became the capital of the newly independent country. (f1c-BMW)

A purpose-built facility, Sepang’s 5.543km lap provides a blend of medium and high speed corners interspersed with several slow speed sections and blisteringly fast straights. Such a dynamic track poses a particular challenge for the drivers and their engineers as a quick lap depends on a car with a well balanced set-up for the complex mix of corners, plenty of power for the quick straights and sufficient cooling capabilities to counterbalance the extremes of temperature and powerful humidity.
With temperatures reaching 40°C in Kuala Lumpur, climatic conditions can play a significant role in the outcome of the Malaysian Grand Prix. Coupled with the high humidity levels and the constant threat of heavy downpours, the drivers and their cars will be pushed to thermal limits. As temperatures soar so will the
heat in the cockpit, and the driver’s physical and mental fitness levels will be severely tested as they lose over a litre of fluid per hour in the race. Engines will also be strained as they are fired up for a second outing in Malaysia.

Sepang is not regarded as a power circuit, with the time spent at full throttle relatively low, but containing oil temperatures in the extreme heat, while not compromising aerodynamic efficiency, will be imperative for their reliability. (F1c-Wf1)


General information

Location : 3.5 km east of Kuala Lumpur Airport, Malaysia
First Grand Prix : 17 Oct 1999
Opened : 1999
Circuit/race Length : 3.444 miles (5.542 km) - 310.408 km (56 laps)
Circuit Details : Permanent road course, Clockwise,
Corners : 15 turns: 10 right-hand and 5 left-hand corners
Spectator capacity : 33000 in main 'double' grandstand, 100000 in 4 'natural' stands
Address : Sepang International Circuit SDN, BHD,. 64000 KLIA, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia