Shah Alam Circuit
![]() | |
Location | Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia |
---|---|
Time zone | GMT +8 |
Coordinates | 03°04′34″N 101°32′38″E / 3.07611°N 101.54389°E |
Opened | 1968 |
Closed | 2003 |
Architect | John Hugenholtz |
Major events | Malaysian Grand Prix (1968-1975, 1977-1982, 1995) Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix (1991-1997) World SBK (1990-1991) World Sportscar Championship (1985) 1998 Commonwealth Games |
Grand Prix Circuit (1985-2003) | |
Length | 3.693 km (2.295 mi) |
Turns | 15 |
Race lap record | 1:24.520 (![]() |
Original Circuit (1968-1984) | |
Length | 3.380 km (2.100 mi) |
Turns | 13 |
Shah Alam Circuit or Batu Tiga Speedway Circuit was a racing circuit in Malaysia. The circuit was located in the capital of Selangor in Shah Alam, between the Shah Alam Stadium and Federal Highway. 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 Ford.[1] 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.[2] In 1985 the track was lengthened from 3.380 km (2.100 mi) to 3.693 km (2.295 mi) with the addition of the curve 11.[3] 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.
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.
Details[]
The Batu Tiga Speedway Circuit Track Details In Brief:
- Total Area: 143 acres (0.58 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: 3.380 km (2.100 mi) (1968-1984) / 3.693 km (2.295 mi) (1985-2003)
- No. of Turns: 14. Left -4, Right -10
- Straights: 3. The longest straight was 600 meters.
- Gate Entrances: 3
Lap records[]
The official race lap records at the Shah Alam Circuit are listed as:
Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Prix Circuit (1985-2003): 3.693 km | ||||
Group C | 1:24.520[4] | Jochen Mass | Porsche 962C | 1985 800 km of Selangor |
500cc | 1:24.840 | Mick Doohan | Honda NSR500 (NV0X) | 1997 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix |
250cc | 1:25.994 | Max Biaggi | Aprilia RSV250 | 1996 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix |
World SBK | 1:28.700[5] | Raymond Roche | Ducati 888SBK | 1991 Shah Alam World SBK round |
125cc | 1:31.594 | Emilio Alzamora | Honda RS125 | 1996 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix |
In popular culture[]
The track was used as one of the shooting locations for Jackie Chan's 1995 film Thunderbolt.
See also[]
- Malaysian Grand Prix
- Mohamed Khir bin Toyo
References[]
- ^ Derek Fulluck, Elfin takes Malaysian GP, Autosport, September 27 1968.
- ^ Shah Alam Track info
- ^ Tracks: Shah Alam, Batu Tiga
- ^ "800 km Selangor 1985". Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ "1991 Superbike World Championship Shah Alam Statistics". Retrieved 3 January 2022.
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shah Alam Circuit. |
- Motorsport venues in Malaysia
- Grand Prix motorcycle circuits
- Defunct motorsport venues
- Shah Alam
- Malaysian Grand Prix
- Sports venues in Selangor
- Sports venues completed in 1968
- 1968 establishments in Malaysia
- 2003 disestablishments in Malaysia
- Selangor geography stubs