Sentul International Circuit

Sentul International Circuit is a 50,000-capacity[1] permanent motor racing circuit located at Sentul City, Babakan Madang, Bogor, near the Toll Gate of Jakarta towards Bogor Regency, Indonesia.[2]

Sentul International Circuit
LocationSentul City, Indonesia
Time zoneGMT+7
Major eventsATCC, GP2 Asia, Asian F3, Formula BMW Asia, Formula V6 Asia, MotoGP
Length3.965 km (2.464 mi)
Turns11
Race lap record1:15.686 (Bruno Senna, Trust Team Arden, 2008)

Its pit facilities have easy access to the Jagorawi Toll Road. The current circuit is a truncated version of the original design. Approximately 40% shorter than the original, the circuit runs clockwise and 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 machines 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 (section) was designed to meet the Formula One motor racing standard and was 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 Two showcase to the world, its tight corners and shortened length (4.12 km in total) rendered it unsuitable for Formula One. Sentul has been used for the Superbike World Championship between 1994 and 1997 and the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix in 1996 and 1997. Sentul was nearly included in 1997 Formula One provisional calendar but never came into fruition.

The 1997 Asian Financial Crisis worsened the situation and made motor racing an unaffordable luxury for many Indonesian enthusiasts who had been participating. The facility has also come to be overshadowed by the Sepang International Circuit, built in 1999, which possessed a superior track layout and facilities.

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

MotoGP was set to return to Indonesia in 2017, dependent on finding the 15 billion rupiah (approximately 1.12 million USD) 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 provided the upgrades are given the green light, however the plan never materialized, and Dorna Sports would eventually gave the hosting rights for the return of the Indonesian motorcycle Grand Prix in 2021 to the Mandalika Circuit in Lombok instead of Sentul.[5]

Sentul International Circuit continues to host various events but mostly motorbike racing with ISSOM events also held throughout the year. It also hosted the para-cycling road race for the 2018 Asian Para Games.[6]

Track description
  • Track length: 3.965 km (2.464 mi)
  • Width: 15 metres (49 ft)
  • Longest straight: 900 metres (3,000 ft)
  • FIA Grade 2 track license [7]
  • 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 Mick 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. Mau Gelar MotoGP.. Tribun Sirkuit Sentul Bakal Jauh Lebih Besar dari Stadion GBK
  2. "Sentul International Circuit". asianf3.net. 2007. Archived from the original on 10 October 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  3. "Porsche Carrera Cup Asia 2008 – Round 7 & 8". porsche.com. 20 July 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  4. Indonesia Resmi Jadi Tuan Rumah Moto GP 2017, Kompas TV, accessed 20 November 2015.
  5. Iswara, Aditya Jaya. "Resmi! Sirkuit Mandalika Tuan Rumah MotoGP 2021". Good News From Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  6. "18 Sports and Venues You Need To Know in The Asian Para Games 2018!". Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  7. https://id.motorsport.com/a1gp/news/a1gp-indonesia-tonggak-kembalinya-balap-dalam-negeri/3159716/

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