Time zone GMT+7 Length 3,965 m Phone +62 21 87951080 | Turns 11 Province West Java | |
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Location Babakan Madang, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia Lap record 1:15.686 (Bruno Senna, Trust Team Arden, 2008) Address Sentul, Babakan Madang, Bogor, West Java 16810, Indonesia Major events GP2 Asia Series, Formula BMW, Grand Prix motorcycle racing Similar Sepang International Circuit, Misano World Circuit M, Twin Ring Motegi, Sachsenring, Circuito de Jerez | ||
Sentul International Circuit is a 120,000-capacity permanent motor racing circuit located in Babakan Madang, Bogor, near the Toll Gate of Jakarta towards Bogor, Indonesia.
Contents
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.
Profile sentul international circuit
History
Sentul International Circuit 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.
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.
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 is 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. 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.
Sentul continues 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.
Track description
Other facilities include:
Asian Formula 3
Series 2005
Series 2006