Shah Alam Circuit
Shah Alam Circuit (حلبة شاه عالم) or Batu Tiga Speedway Circuit was a racing circuit in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. The circuit layout was designed by Dutchman John Hugenholtz.
 | |
| Location | Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia |
|---|---|
| Time zone | UTC+08:00 |
| Coordinates | 03°04′34″N 101°32′38″E |
| Opened | 8 September 1968 |
| Closed | 2003 |
| Architect | John Hugenholtz |
| Former names | Batu Tiga Speedway Circuit |
| Major events | Malaysian Grand Prix (1968–1975, 1977–1982, 1995) Grand Prix motorcycle racing Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix (1991–1997) World SBK (1990–1991) World Sportscar Championship (1985) Asia Road Racing Championship (1996, 2001–2002) Asian Touring Car Championship (2000–2001) Formula Asia (2001) 1998 Commonwealth Games |
| Grand Prix Circuit (1985–2003) | |
| Length | 3.693 km (2.295 miles) |
| Turns | 15 |
| Race lap record | 1:24.520 ( Jochen Mass, Porsche 962C, 1985, Group C) |
| Original Circuit (1968–1984) | |
| Length | 3.380 km (2.100 miles) |
| Turns | 12 |
| Race lap record | 1:16.400 ( Tiff Needell, March 79B, 1980, Formula Pacific) |
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.[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 m (2,000 ft)
- Gate Entrances: 3
Lap records
The official race lap records at the Shah Alam Circuit are listed as:
In popular culture
The track was used as one of the shooting locations for Jackie Chan's 1995 film Thunderbolt.
References
- Derek Fulluck, Elfin takes Malaysian GP, Autosport, 27 September 1968.
- Shah Alam Track info
- Tracks: Shah Alam, Batu Tiga
- "800 km Selangor 1985". Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- "2001 Asian F2000 Round 3: Shah Alam, Malaysia 1 July 2001". Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- "2002 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship Round 3: >> Venue: Batu Tiga Speedway, Shah Alam, Malaysia SuperSports 600cc Race 1" (PDF). Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- "2001 Asian Touring Car Championship Shah Alam, Malaysia 1st July, Round 3 Race 1". Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- "Selangor Grand Prix 1980". Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- "Malaysian Grand Prix 1979". Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- "1973 Malaysian Grand Prix". Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- "1968 Malaysian Grand Prix". Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- "Max Stewart - Motorsport Memorial". Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- "1969 Malaysian Grand Prix". Retrieved 19 December 2022.
