General Information

• Circuit : Sepang
• Location : 3.5 km east of Kuala Lumpur Airport, Malaysia
• Opened : 1999
• Grand Prix Held : 10
• Years : 1999-2008
• First Grand Prix : 1999
• Last Grand Prix : 2008
• Circuit Length : 5.543 km
• Race Distance : 310.408 km (56 laps)
• Circuit Details : Permanent road course, Clockwise
• Corners : 15
• Spectator capacity : 33,000 in main ‘double’ grandstand, 100,000 in 4 ‘natural’ stands

Recent Stats

• Lap Record : JP Montoya - 1:34.223 (2004, BMW WilliamsF1)
• Fastest Lap 2008 : N Heidfeld - 1:35.366 (BMW Sauber)
• Pole 2008 : F Massa - 1:35.748 (Ferrari)
• Podium 2008 : 1. K Raikkonen, 2. R Kubica, 3. H Kovalainen

History

The Sepang International Circuit is just under an hour’s drive south of the vibrant downtown area of Kuala Lumpur.

A purpose-built facility, Sepang’s 5.543km lap provides a blend of medium and high speed corners interspersed with several slow speed sections and blisteringly fast straights. Such a dynamic track poses a particular challenge for the drivers and their engineers as a quick lap depends on a car with a well balanced set-up for the complex mix of corners, plenty of power for the quick straights and sufficient cooling capabilities to counterbalance the extremes of temperature and powerful humidity.With temperatures reaching 40°C in Kuala Lumpur, climatic conditions can play a significant role in the outcome of the Malaysian Grand Prix. Coupled with the high humidity levels and the constant threat of heavy downpours, the drivers and their cars will be pushed to thermal limits. As temperatures soar so will the heat in the cockpit, and the driver’s physical and mental fitness levels will be severely tested as they lose over a litre of fluid per hour in the race. Engines will also be strained as they are fired up for a second outing in Malaysia.

Sepang is not regarded as a power circuit, with the time spent at full throttle relatively low, but containing oil temperatures in the extreme heat, while not compromising aerodynamic efficiency, will be imperative for their reliability.

The circuit was the first F1 track to be designed from scratch by German architect Hermann Tilke. It was built on a 260-hectare swamp and the challenge of its long, demanding corners has been made harder over the years by an increasing number of bumps in the asphalt. The cars average 210kph (130mph) around the 5.54km (3.44-mile) lap, and the sweltering humidity and scorching heat make the Malaysian Grand Prix a tough test of man and machine.