Sepang International Circuit

Sepang opened in 1999 as the first of Hermann Tilke's modern grand prix circuits and set the template for those that followed - very wide track, two long straights joined by a tight hairpin to force overtaking, and enormous grandstands under a roof shaped after hibiscus petals. It held the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 to 2017, when the contract ended on cost and attendance grounds, and it continues to host the MotoGP Malaysian round, endurance racing and national series. The circuit is famous among drivers for two things: the heat, which is severe, and the afternoon thunderstorms, which have produced some of the more chaotic wet races in recent memory. Outside race weekends there are track days, driving experiences and karting on the adjoining circuit.

History

The circuit was designed by the German Hermann Tilke, who went on to design tracks in Shanghai, Sakhir, Istanbul, Marina Bay and Yas Marina; it was inaugurated on 7 March 1999 and held the first MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix on 20 April that year (Wikipedia, Sepang International Circuit).

What to look for

• A Tilke grand prix circuit - wide track, two straights and a tight hairpin.
• Hibiscus-shaped grandstand roofs - the covered main stands over the pit straight.
• MotoGP racing - the round still held here after Formula One left in 2017.
• Track days and karting - the non-event use of the circuit and its kart track.

When to go

Event weekends for racing; check the calendar. A day.

What to expect

Heat and humidity trackside are brutal - the covered stands cost more for good reason. Afternoon storms are common. Outside event weekends there is little to see without a booked activity.

Nearby

Kuala Lumpur International Airport is minutes away; Putrajaya is north.

Key facts