Sentul International Circuit

Sentul International Circuit

Location	Babakan Madang, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia
Time zone	GMT+7
Major events	ATCC, GP2 Asia, Asian F3, Formula BMW Asia, Formula V6 Asia, MotoGP
Length	4.12 km (2.56 mi)
Turns	11
Lap record	1:15.686 (Bruno Senna, Trust Team Arden, 2008)

Sentul International Circuit is 120,000-capacity^[1] permanent motor racing circuit located in Babakan Madang, Bogor. Away from the Toll Gate of Jakarta towards Bogor, Indonesia.^[2] Its pit facilities got easy access from the Jagorawi Toll Road. The course (run clockwise) is actually a truncated version of the original design. The current circuit, shortened by 40 percent compared to the original design, 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 machine 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.

Sentul is located in Bogor Regency. It is a hilly area 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]

History

Sentul International Circuit was designed to meet the Formula One motor racing standard. The project was also 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 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 One showcase to the world, and indeed an Indonesian Grand Prix was held in 1993 for the Australian-based Formula Brabham series as a demonstration. However, its tight corners and shortened length (4.12 km in total) rendered it unsuitable for the fast and furious world of Formula One. The Superbike World Championship raced at Sentul between 1994 and 1997, whereas the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix raced in 1996 and 1997.

The domino effect from the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis worsened the situation and made motor racing an unaffordable luxury for many Indonesian enthusiasts who had been participating. The 1993 facility also has been overshadowed by the Sepang International Circuit completed in 1999 with a superior track layout and facilities when compares to Sentul.

Sentul has, however, continued to host the Asian Formula Three Championship, Formula V6 Asia, Formula BMW Asia / JK Racing Asia Series, Asian Touring Car Series, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, National Superbike Races and similar events.

During the mid-2000s the circuit held 2 rounds of the A1 Grand Prix of Nations, in the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons respectively. Also, the GP2 Asia Series raced at Sentul in 2008. A Superstars Series race was planned in 2012 and an Asian Le Mans Series race in 2013, but they were cancelled.

MotoGP is set to return to Indonesia in 2017, however is dependent on finding the 15 billion rupiah required to get the circuit up to FIM Grade 1.^[4] 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 providing the upgrades are given the green light.

Track description

• Track length: 4.12 km (2.56 mi)
• Width: 15 metres (49 ft)
• Longest straight: 900 metres (3,000 ft)
• FIA Grade 2 track license
• 50 pit garages
• 2 covered grandstands

Other facilities include:

• Motocross, Autocross and Go-Karts Circuits
• Three-star International Hotel
• Bungalows / Guest House
• International Golf Course
• Restaurant
• Recreation Centre

Events

Indonesian motorcycle Grand Prix

Season	Winner 500cc	Winner 250cc	Winner 125cc	Report
1996	Michael Doohan	Tetsuya Harada	Masaki Tokudome	report
1997	Tadayuki Okada	Max Biaggi	Valentino Rossi	report

A1 Grand Prix

Season	Sprint Race Winner	Feature Race Winner	Report
2005–06	Nicolas Lapierre	Sean McIntosh	report
2006–07	Jonny Reid	Jonny Reid	report

GP2 Asia

Season	Race 1 Winner	Race 2 Winner
2008	Sébastien Buemi	Fairuz Fauzy

Asian Formula 3

Series 2005

Round	Race Winner	Fastest Lap
10	Tyson Sy	Tyson Sy (1'24.594)
9	Tyson Sy	Tyson Sy (1'24.791)
8	Ananda Mikola	John O'Hara (1'25.092)
7	John O'Hara	John O'Hara (1'25.221)

Series 2006

Round	Race Winner	Fastest Lap
15	Cancelled	Cancelled
14	James Winslow	Alistair Jackson (1'25.929)
13	James Winslow	James Winslow (1'26.011)
12	James Winslow	James Winslow (1'26.447)
11	James Winslow	James Winslow (1'26.179)
10	James Winslow	James Winslow (1'26.167)

References

1. http://www.cnnindonesia.com/olahraga/20151211004839-156-97461/bukan-hanya-motogp-sentul-juga-disiapkan-untuk-f1/
2. "Sentul International Circuit". asianf3.net. 2007. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
3. "Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2008 – Round 7 & 8". porsche.com. 20 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
4. Indonesia Resmi Jadi Tuan Rumah Moto GP 2017, Kompas TV, accessed 20 November 2015.

External links

• Official Website
• Trackpedia's guide to racing and driving the Sentul Circuit
• Track info from AFOS Official Website

Coordinates: 6°32′9.1″S 106°51′24.4″E / 6.535861°S 106.856778°E