Shanghai International Circuit

Shanghai International Circuit
Location	Jiading, Shanghai, China
Time zone	UTC+08:00
Coordinates	31°20′20″N 121°13′11″E / 31.33889°N 121.21972°E
Capacity	200,000
FIA Grade	1 (Grand Prix); 2 (International); 3E (West Long)
Owner	Shanghai Jiushi Group (92%); Shanghai International Automobile City (8%);
Operator	Shanghai International Circuit Co., Ltd.
Broke ground	April 2003; 21 years ago
Opened	6 June 2004; 20 years ago
Construction cost	¥2.6 billion ($450 million, €370 million)
Architect	Hermann Tilke
Major events	Current:; Formula One; Chinese Grand Prix (2004–2019, 2024); Formula E; Shanghai ePrix (2024); GT World Challenge Asia (2017–2019, 2024); Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (2004–2019, 2021, 2023–present); Former:; FIA WEC; 4 Hours of Shanghai (2012–2019); Grand Prix motorcycle racing; Chinese motorcycle Grand Prix (2005–2008); WTCC Race of China (2012–2016); Asian Le Mans Series (2014, 2018–2019); A1 Grand Prix (2006–2008); V8 Supercars China round (2005)
Website	shang-sai.com
Grand Prix Circuit (2004–present)
Length	5.451 km (3.388 miles)
Turns	16
Race lap record	1:32.238 ( Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2004, 2004, F1)
Motorcycle Grand Prix Circuit (2004–present)
Length	5.281 km (3.282 miles)
Turns	16
Race lap record	1:59.273 ( Valentino Rossi, Yamaha YZR-M1, 2008, MotoGP)
Intermediate Circuit (2004–present)
Length	4.603 km (2.858 miles)
Turns	14
Race lap record	1:35.177 ( Robert Wickens, Lola B05/52, 2008, A1GP)
West Long Circuit (2012–present)
Length	3.051 km (1.896 miles)
Turns	12
Race lap record	1:15.358 ( Norman Nato, Porsche 99X Electric, 2024, F-E)

The Shanghai International Circuit (simplified Chinese: 上海国际赛车场; traditional Chinese: 上海國際賽車場; pinyin: Shànghǎi Guójì Sàichēchǎng), also called the Shanghai Audi International Circuit (simplified Chinese: 上海奥迪国际赛车场; traditional Chinese: 上海奧迪國際賽車場; pinyin: Shànghǎi Àodí Guójì Sàichēchǎng) for sponsorship purposes, is a motorsport race track, situated in the Jiading District, Shanghai, China. The circuit is best known as the venue for the annual Chinese Grand Prix which was hosted from 2004 to 2019, and from 2024.

History

Shanghai International Circuit was conceived by the Shanghai authorities as a way to showcase the city to the world. A 5.3 sq km site was chosen in the Jiading District in the north west of the city, close to major car parts manufacturing facilities and a budget of 2.6 billion yuan ($450 million) raised through a government-funded joint-venture company, the Shanghai Jiushi Group.

Herman Tilke was chosen to design the track and associated buildings, and between April and May 2003, engineers visited the site to draw up their plans. The site was actually a swampland, previously used as rice paddy fields, and extensive groundworks had to be completed to construct the circuit. For 18 months some 3,000 workers were on site daily to complete the facility – a remarkable feat of both engineering and logistics.

When it opened, visitors found a vast complex, dominated by the main grandstand and pit complex, which featured wing-like viewing platforms crossing the circuit at either end. This can hold 30,000 spectators alone, and others around the circuit take the total capacity to 200,000. Paddock facilities were also unique – each of the F1 teams had its own building, arranged like pavilions in a lake to resemble the ancient Yu Garden in Shanghai.^[1]

The Shanghai International Circuit is the first in China to be purpose-built for Formula One and it hosts FIA Formula One World Championship Chinese Grand Prix every year since 2004.^[2] The circuit also holds a number of global high-profile series, including the FIA World Endurance Championship and the Blancpain GT Series Asia.

In the past, the circuit has hosted the MotoGP world championship, and a one-off V8 Supercars China Round of the Australian-based V8 Supercar championship in 2005, and also the final round of the A1 Grand Prix in 2006/2007.

In 2011, the Shanghai International Circuit signed a sponsorship deal with Audi and was subsequently named the Shanghai Audi International Circuit and the SAIC International Circuit following a deal with SAIC Motor.

Layout

The track layout was inspired from the Chinese character shang (上), the first character in the name of the city Shanghai , meaning "above" or "ascend".^[3]

There’s a unique start to the lap as the drivers fly into the ever-tightening Turns 1 and 2, before they dart left through 3 and 4. The super-high g force Turns 7 and 8 are loved by the drivers, while the circuit also features one of the longest straights on the calendar, the 1.2 km (0.7 mi) stretch that separates turns 13 and 14.^[4]

A lap in a Formula One car

The first two bends make a 185 km/h (115 mph) right-hand curve which leads immediately into turns 3 and 4 taken at 105 km/h (65 mph). One and two are far more difficult – a lift on entry followed by various taps of the throttle and brakes are needed so the car maintains balance throughout. It also becomes blind towards the middle of the corner.^[5] Three and four are less complicated, with three being a simple hairpin, but a good exit is needed from four to gain speed down the following straight and through turn 5. The complex of turns 1–4 makes up the first of two "snails" on the circuit, the other being turns 11–13.^[6] Turn 6 is a second gear, right-handed hairpin with plentiful run-off. Turns 7 and 8 make up a high speed chicane – the left-right complex sees a constant G-force of 3^[5] and a minimum speed of about 160 km/h (99 mph). Turns 9 and 10 immediately follow – two slow left-handers which require a good exit to gain speed down the next straight. Turns 11 and 12 effectively make up a slow left-right chicane where the use of kerbs are important but traction is low. Turn 13 is a very long right-hander which becomes less and less tight, and a very good exit is important as DRS is available down the following straight. At 1.170 km (0.727 mi), it is the equivalent to 11 football pitches laid end to end, or the same length as three and a half of the world's biggest aircraft carriers^[7] Turn 14 is a hairpin at the end of the straight – the second gear corner is a prime overtaking spot as DRS is available in the run up to the corner. Turn 16 is the last corner – a fourth-gear^[5] left-hander which requires a quick tap on the brakes – braking early can be more effective as you can then carry more speed through the corner and then down the pit straight.

Events

Current

April: Formula One Chinese Grand Prix, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, F4 Chinese Championship
May: Formula E Shanghai ePrix
June: TCR China Touring Car Championship, China Touring Car Championship
September: GT World Challenge Asia, Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia, F4 Chinese Championship,
October: Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, TCR Asia Endurance Series Shanghai 10 Hours

Former

A1 Grand Prix (2006–2008)
Asian Le Mans Series (2014, 2018–2019)
Audi R8 LMS Cup (2012–2019)
China Formula Grand Prix (2015–2019)
F3 Asian Championship (2018–2019)
Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific (2011–2019)
FIA World Endurance Championship
- 4 Hours of Shanghai (2012–2019)
Formula BMW Pacific (2004–2008)
Formula Masters Series (2011–2017)
Formula Renault AsiaCup (2004–2011, 2013–2018)
Formula V6 Asia (2008)
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
- Chinese motorcycle Grand Prix (2005–2008)
GP2 Asia Series (2008)
GT Asia Series (2014–2017)
Superrace Championship (2014–2016)
TCR Asia Series (2016–2019, 2021)
TCR International Series (2015)
Trofeo Maserati (2012–2014)
V8 Supercars
- V8 Supercars China Round (2005)
World Touring Car Championship
- FIA WTCC Race of China (2012–2016)

Lap records

The total length of the circuit is 5.451 km (3.387 mi), which is about average for a Formula One circuit. Michael Schumacher's race lap record of 1:32.238 has stood since 2004. In Q3 of 2018 Chinese Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel qualified on pole position with a time of 1:31.095, a new track record.^[8] As of June 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Shanghai International Circuit are listed as:^[9]^[10]

Category	Record	Circuit Length	Circuit Layout	Driver/Rider	Team	Bike/Chassis	Date
Formula One	1:32.238^[9]	5.451 km (3.387 mi)		Michael Schumacher	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari F2004	September 26, 2004
LMP1	1:45.892^[9]^[11]	Sébastien Buemi	Toyota Gazoo Racing	Toyota TS050 Hybrid 2017	November 5, 2017
GP2 Asia	1:46.407^[9]	Kamui Kobayashi	DAMS	Dallara GP2/05	October 18, 2008
LMP2	1:51.793^[9]^[11]	Bruno Senna	Vaillante Rebellion	Oreca 07 Gibson	November 5, 2017
A1 Grand Prix	1:52.508^[9]	Alex Yoong	A1 Team Malaysia	Lola A1GP	April 2, 2006
LMP3	2:00.638^[9]^[12]	Mathias Beche	Craft-Bamboo Racing	Ligier JS P3 Nissan	August 27, 2017
LM GTE	2:00.948^[9]^[13]	Kévin Estre	Porsche GT Team	Porsche 911 RSR-19	November 10, 2019
Formula Regional	2:01.440^[14]	Daniel Cao	Absolute Racing	Tatuus F.3 T-318	September 27, 2019
GT3	2:04.316^[15]	Adderly Fong	UNORacing Team	Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II	October 4, 2023
Formula Renault 2.0	2:04.675^[16]	Daniel Cao	BlackArts Racing Team	Tatuus FR2.0/13	April 29, 2018
Lamborghini Super Trofeo	2:06.333^[9]^[17]	Mikko Eskelinen	Leipert Motorsport	Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo	September 23, 2018
Porsche Carrera Cup	2:07.723^[9]^[18]	Philip Hamprecht	Team StarChase	Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup	April 15, 2019
Formula 4	2:09.479^[19]	Jiang Fukang	BlackJack Racing	Mygale M21-F4	April 21, 2024
Formula BMW	2:12.155^[20]	Michael Patrizi	Team Meritus	Mygale FB02	October 16, 2005
TCR Touring Car	2:14.904^[21]	Hongyu Zhang	Jinyutu GYT Racing	Audi RS 3 LMS TCR (2021)	June 8, 2024
GT4	2:17.168^[15]	Hu Hao Heng	Zenith Racing	BMW M4 GT4 Evo	October 4, 2023
MotoGP	1:59.273	5.281 km (3.281 mi)		Valentino Rossi	Fiat Yamaha Team	Yamaha YZR-M1	May 4, 2008
250cc	2:05.738	Jorge Lorenzo	Fortuna Aprilia	Aprilia RSW 250	May 6, 2007
125cc	2:12.131	Álvaro Bautista	Master - MVA Aspar	Aprilia RS 125 R	May 14, 2006
A1 Grand Prix	1:35.177	4.603 km (2.860 mi)		Robert Wickens	A1 Team Canada	Lola A1GP	April 13, 2008
Formula Renault 2.0	1:48.325^[22]	Leopold Ringbom	PS Racing	Tatuus FR2000	October 23, 2011
TC1	1:50.833	Ma Qinghua	Citroën Total WTCC	Citroën C-Elysée WTCC	October 12, 2014
V8 Supercars	1:51.0557^[23]	Todd Kelly	Holden Racing Team	Holden VZ Commodore	June 12, 2005
Super 2000	1:54.947	Alain Menu	Chevrolet	Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T	November 4, 2012
TCR Touring Car	1:59.143^[24]	Huang Chuhan	New Faster Team	Audi RS 3 LMS TCR	August 5, 2017
Formula E	1:15.358^[25]	3.051 km (1.896 mi)		Norman Nato	Andretti Formula E	Porsche 99X Electric	May 26, 2024