Shah Alam Circuit
{{Short description|Racing circuit in Shah Alam, Malaysia}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox motorsport venue
|Name = Shah Alam Circuit
|Location = Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
|Coordinates = {{coord|03|04|34|N|101|32|38|E|type:landmark|}}
|Time = UTC+08:00
|Image = 300px
|Image_caption =
|Opened = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1968|09|08}}
|Closed = 2003
|Architect = John Hugenholtz
|Events = Malaysian Grand Prix
(1968–1975, 1977–1982, 1995)
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix (1991–1997)
World SBK (1990–1991)
World Sportscar Championship (1985)
Asia Road Racing Championship (1996, 2001–2002)
Asian Touring Car Championship (2000–2001)
Formula Asia (1996, 2000–2001)
1998 Commonwealth Games
|Former_names = Batu Tiga Speedway Circuit
|Layout1 = Grand Prix Circuit (1985–2003)
|Length_km = 3.693
|Length_mi = 2.295
|Turns = 15
|Record_time = 1:24.520
|Record_driver = {{flagicon|BRD}} Jochen Mass
|Record_car = Porsche 962C
|Record_year = 1985
|Record_class = Group C
|Layout2 = Original Circuit (1968–1984)
|Length_km2 = 3.380
|Length_mi2 = 2.100
|Turns2 = 12
|Record_time2 = 1:16.400
|Record_driver2= {{flagicon|GBR}} Tiff Needell
|Record_car2 = March 79B
|Record_year2 = 1980
|Record_class2 = Formula Pacific
}}
Shah Alam Circuit or Batu Tiga Speedway Circuit was a racing circuit in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. The circuit layout was designed by Dutchman John Hugenholtz.
History
The circuit was opened in 1968. The 1968 Malaysian Grand Prix was held there on 8 September as a Formula Libre race and was won by Indonesian Hengkie Irawan driving an Elfin 600.Derek Fulluck, Elfin takes Malaysian GP, Autosport, 27 September 1968. The circuit was the venue for the Malaysian Grand Prix until 1982, with the starting field consisting alternately of vehicles from the Formula Atlantic, Formula Pacific or Formula 2. The last Malaysian Grand Prix race held in Shah Alam was held for Formula Brabham in 1995.
The circuit was closed in 1977 after an accident that killed six children, although it later reopened after improvements of fences and guard rails around the track were carried out.[http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/tracks/shahalam.html Shah Alam Track info] In 1985 the track was lengthened from {{convert|3.380|km|mi|abbr=on}} to {{convert|3.693|km|mi|abbr=on}} with the addition of the curve 11.[http://www.gdecarli.it/php/circuit.php?var1=646&var2=2 Tracks: Shah Alam, Batu Tiga] In the same year, the first international racing event was held. Titled as the 1985 800 km of Selangor, the race was the tenth and final round of the 1985 World Endurance Championship, and was won by Jacky Ickx and Jochen Mass driving a Porsche 962C.
The circuit hosted rounds of the Superbike World Championship in the 1990 and 1991, and from 1991 to 1997 it hosted the Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix. Mick Doohan is the all-time leader in motorcycle Grand Prix victories at the venue, winning the event four times. The motorcycle Grand Prix was later moved to the Johor Circuit, and later to the Sepang International Circuit.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}
In 2003 the circuit was sold by Selangor state government to a property developer, which then developed the area into a luxury housing project by the name D'Kayangan.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
Details
The Batu Tiga Speedway Circuit Track Details In Brief:
- Total Area: {{convert|143|acre|km2}}
- No. of Pits: 57 units, 42 units concrete pit (22' x 17'), 15 units wooden pits (22' x 7')
- Spectator capacity: Covered grandstand - 8000, Uncovered grandstand - 18,000
- Track length: {{convert|3.380|km|mi|abbr=on}} (1968–1984) / {{convert|3.693|km|mi|abbr=on}} (1985–2003)
- No. of Turns: 14. Left -4, Right -10
- Straights: 3. The longest straight was {{cvt|600|m|ft|abbr=on}}
- Gate Entrances: 3
Lap records
The fastest official race lap records at the Shah Alam Circuit are listed as:
In popular culture
The track was used as one of the shooting locations for Jackie Chan's 1995 film Thunderbolt.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{commons category}}
{{MotoGP circuits}}
{{SBK circuits}}
{{Asia Road Racing Championship circuits}}
{{World Sportscar Championship circuits}}
{{Asian Touring Car Series circuits}}
Category:Motorsport venues in Malaysia
Category:Grand Prix motorcycle circuits
Category:Defunct motorsport venues
Category:Sports venues in Selangor
Category:Sports venues completed in 1968