Shanghai International Circuit

Motorsport venue
Name = Shanghai International Circuit
Location = Shanghai, China
Time = GMT +8


Opened = 2004
Construction_cost = $450 million
Architect = Hermann Tilke
Events = FIA Formula One
Chinese Grand Prix
FIM MotoGP
Chinese motorcycle Grand Prix
V8 Supercars
A1 Grand Prix
Grand Prix of Nations, China
Length_km = 5.451
Length_mi = 3.387
Turns = 16
Record_time = 1:32.238
Record_driver = flagicon|GER Michael Schumacher
Record_team = Ferrari
Record_year = 2004

The Shanghai International Circuit (zh-stp |s=上海国际赛车场 |t=上海國際賽車場 |p=Shànghǎi Guójì Sàichēchǎng) is a Chinese motor racing venue, situated in the district of Jiading near Shanghai in the People's Republic of China. It was the venue of the inaugural Formula One Chinese Grand Prix on 26 September 2004.

Costing approximately $450 million (USD), the circuit was financed by a government-funded joint-venture company, consisting of the Shanghai Juishi Corporation, Shanghai National Property Management Co Ltd, and Shanghai Jia'an Investment and Development Co Ltd. Architectural and design experts began planning and visiting the site between April and May 2003, and the area was transformed from swampland to international racetrack within 18 months with a team of 3000 engineers working around the clock.

In common with many other new Formula One circuits, it was designed by Hermann Tilke, and also features his trademark track feature: a long back straight followed by a hairpin turn. Current-generation F1 cars can easily surpass Auto km/h|300|0 on the long straight between corners 13 and 14. The track layout also resembles the Chinese character [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E4%B8%8A shang] (上) [ [http://www.forumula1.net/2007/f1/race-tracks/shanghai-international-circuit-%e2%80%93-facts-and-figures/ Shanghai International Circuit Facts & Figures] "Forumula1.net", retrieved on October 10, 2007] the first word in the name of the city Shanghai, meaning "above" or "ascend". One lap lasts 5.5 kilometres (3.4 miles). The whole circuit plus seating areas and other areas for spectators, covers a total area of 5.3 km².

Other events held at the circuit include a round of the MotoGP world championship, the Australian-based V8 Supercar championship in 2005, attracting crowds of over 250,000 spectators, and also the final round of the A1 Grand Prix in 2006/2007.

In September 2007, former manager of the circuit Yu Zhifei [ [http://www.forumula1.net/2007/f1/f1-news/chinas-f1-boss-fired/ Chinese boss fired] "Forumula1.net", retrieved on October 10, 2007] was convicted of embezzlement as part of a corruption scandal in Shanghai which resulted in the dismissal of several senior Chinese Communist Party officials. [ [http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/09/19/chinese-f1-boss-found-guilty/ Chinese F1 boss found guilty] "GPUpdate.net", retrieved on September 19, 2007.]

External links

* [http://www.icsh.sh.cn/ Shanghai International Circuit]
* [http://www.forumula1.net/2007/f1/race-tracks/shanghai-international-circuit-%e2%80%93-facts-and-figures/ Shanghai International Circuit History and Statistics]
* [http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/china_803/ Shanghai International Circuit Statistics from official F1 site]
* [http://www.geocities.com/ciroalbertopabon/Circuitos_eng.htm Ciro Pabón's Racetracks] 3D views and virtual laps of all F1 circuits, including this one, via Google Earth
* [http://www.mapygon.com/china/jiangsu/shanghai-international-circuit/ Shanghai International Circuit mapygon] Satellite image of Shanghai International Circuit under construction
* [http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Shanghai_Circuit Trackpedia's guide to the Shanghai International Circuit]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/circuit_guide/4245789.stm BBC's guide to the Shanghai International Circuit]
* [http://www.a1gp.com/Circuit/CircuitInfo.aspx?circuitId=17&seasonId=4 A1GP info of Shanghai International Circuit]

References

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