Shanghai International Circuit

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Template:Use mdy dates Template:Short description Template:Infobox motorsport venue

The Shanghai International Circuit (Template:Zh), also called the SAIC Shanghai International Circuit (Template:Zh) for sponsorship purposes, is a motorsport race track, situated in the Jiading District, Shanghai, China. The circuit is best known as the venue for the annual Chinese Grand Prix which was hosted from 2004 to 2019, and from 2024 onwards. Besides Chinese Grand Prix, the circuit also hosts Shanghai ePrix starting from 2024.

The Shanghai International Circuit features over 10 top-tier domestic car racing events annually. It also boasts Shanghai's only world-class outdoor go-karting track.

As a nationally recognized 4A-rated tourist attraction, the circuit features tourism, shopping, dining, entertainment, and sports.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The track was resurfaced ahead of the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Shanghai International Circuit was conceived by the Shanghai authorities as a way to showcase the city to the world. A 5.3 sq km site was chosen in the Jiading District in the north west of the city, close to major car parts manufacturing facilities and a budget of 2.6 billion yuan ($450 million) raised through a government-funded joint-venture company, the Shanghai Jiushi Group.

Herman Tilke was chosen to design the track and associated buildings, and between April and May 2003, engineers visited the site to draw up their plans. The site was actually a swampland, previously used as rice paddy fields, and extensive groundworks had to be completed to construct the circuit. For 18 months some 3,000 workers were on site daily to complete the facility – a remarkable feat of both engineering and logistics.

When it opened, visitors found a vast complex, dominated by the main grandstand and pit complex, which featured wing-like viewing platforms crossing the circuit at either end. This can hold 30,000 spectators alone, and others around the circuit take the total capacity to 200,000. Paddock facilities were also unique – each of the F1 teams had its own building, arranged like pavilions in a lake to resemble the ancient Yu Garden in Shanghai.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Shanghai International Circuit is the first in China to be purpose-built for Formula One and it hosts FIA Formula One World Championship Chinese Grand Prix every year since 2004.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The circuit also held a number of global high-profile series, including the FIA World Endurance Championship and the GT World Challenge Asia.

In the past, the circuit has hosted the MotoGP world championship, and a one-off V8 Supercars China Round of the Australian-based V8 Supercar championship in 2005, and also the final round of the A1 Grand Prix in 2006/2007.

In 2011, the Shanghai International Circuit signed a sponsorship deal with Audi and was subsequently named the Shanghai Audi International Circuit and the SAIC International Circuit following a deal with SAIC Motor.

Layout

File:Shanghai International Circuit, April 7, 2018 SkySat (rotated).jpg
Satellite image of the circuit, as it appeared in April 2018

The track layout was inspired from the Chinese character Template:Zht, the first character in the name of the city Shanghai, meaning "above" or "ascend".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

There’s a unique start to the lap as the drivers fly into the ever-tightening Turns 1 and 2, before they dart left through 3 and 4. The super-high g force Turns 7 and 8 are loved by the drivers, while the circuit also features one of the longest straights on the calendar, the Template:Cvt stretch that separates turns 13 and 14.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

A lap in a Formula One car

The first two bends make a Template:Cvt right-hand curve which leads immediately into turns 3 and 4 taken at Template:Cvt. One and two are far more difficult – a lift on entry followed by various taps of the throttle and brakes are needed so the car maintains balance throughout. It also becomes blind towards the middle of the corner.<ref name="pom">Template:Cite web</ref> Three and four are less complicated, with three being a simple hairpin, but a good exit is needed from four to gain speed down the following straight and through turn 5. The complex of turns 1–4 makes up the first of two "snails" on the circuit, the other being turns 11–13.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Turn 6 is a second gear, right-handed hairpin with plentiful run-off. Turns 7 and 8 make up a high speed chicane – the left-right complex sees a constant G-force of 3<ref name=pom/> and a minimum speed of about Template:Cvt. Turns 9 and 10 immediately follow – two slow left-handers which require a good exit to gain speed down the next straight. Turns 11 and 12 effectively make up a slow left-right chicane where the use of kerbs are important but traction is low. Turn 13 is a very long right-hander which becomes less and less tight, and a very good exit is important as DRS is available down the following straight. At Template:Cvt, it is the equivalent to 11 football pitches laid end to end, or the same length as three and a half of the world's biggest aircraft carriers<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Turn 14 is a hairpin at the end of the straight – the second gear corner is a prime overtaking spot as DRS is available in the run up to the corner. Turn 16 is the last corner – a fourth-gear<ref name=pom/> left-hander which requires a quick tap on the brakes – braking early can be more effective as you can then carry more speed through the corner and then down the pit straight.

Events

Current
Future
Former

Lap records

The total length of the circuit is Template:Cvt, which is about average for a Formula One circuit. Michael Schumacher's official race lap record of 1:32.238 has stood since 2004. In Q3 of the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri qualified on pole position with a time of 1:30.641, a new unofficial track record.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As of May 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Shanghai International Circuit are listed as:<ref name='shanghai_fl_comparison'>Template:Cite web</ref>

Category Record Circuit length Circuit layout Driver/Rider Vehicle Date
Formula One 1:32:238<ref name='shanghai_fl_comparison' /> Template:Cvt File:Shanghai International Racing Circuit track map.svg Template:Flagicon Michael Schumacher Ferrari F2004 September 26, 2004
LMP1 1:45.892<ref name='shanghai_fl_comparison' /><ref name='2017_wec_shanghai' >Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Sébastien Buemi Toyota TS050 Hybrid 2017 November 5, 2017
GP2 Asia 1:46.407<ref name='shanghai_fl_comparison' /> Template:Flagicon Kamui Kobayashi Dallara GP2/05 October 18, 2008
LMP2 1:51.793<ref name='shanghai_fl_comparison' /><ref name='2017_wec_shanghai' /> Template:Flagicon Bruno Senna Oreca 07 Gibson November 5, 2017
A1 Grand Prix 1:52.508<ref name='shanghai_fl_comparison' /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Alex Yoong Lola A1GP April 2, 2006
GT3 2:00.195<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Daniel Morad Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo September 15, 2024
LMP3 2:00.638<ref name='shanghai_fl_comparison' /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Mathias Beche Ligier JS P3 August 27, 2017
LM GTE 2:00.948<ref name='shanghai_fl_comparison' /><ref name='2019_wec_shanghai' >Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Kévin Estre Porsche 911 RSR-19 November 10, 2019
Formula Regional 2:01.440<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Daniel Cao Tatuus F3 T-318 September 27, 2019
Lamborghini Super Trofeo 2:02.994<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Jonathan Cecotto Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Evo2 May 18, 2025
Formula 4 2:04.580<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Chloe Chambers Tatuus F4-T421 March 22, 2025
Formula 4 2:05.230<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Zhang Shimo Mygale M21-F4 May 18, 2025
Formula Renault 2.0 2:04.675<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Daniel Cao Tatuus FR2.0/13 April 29, 2018
Porsche Carrera Cup 2:04.813<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Dylan Pereira Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup March 22, 2025
GT4 2:10.489<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Lu Wenlong Lotus Emira GT4 March 23, 2025
TCR Touring Car 2:10.712<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Zhang Zhendong Hyundai Elantra N TCR April 26, 2025
Formula BMW 2:12.155<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Michael Patrizi Mygale FB02 October 16, 2005
MotoGP 1:59.273 Template:Cvt File:Shanghai International Circuit moto map.svg Template:Flagicon Valentino Rossi Yamaha YZR-M1 May 4, 2008
250cc 2:05.738 Template:Flagicon Jorge Lorenzo Aprilia RSW 250 May 6, 2007
125cc 2:12.131 Template:Flagicon Álvaro Bautista Aprilia RS 125 R May 14, 2006
A1 Grand Prix 1:35.177 Template:Cvt File:Shanghai International Circuit wtcc.png Template:Flagicon Robert Wickens Lola A1GP April 13, 2008
Formula Renault 2.0 1:48.325<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Leopold Ringbom Tatuus FR2000 October 23, 2011
TC1 1:50.833 Template:Flagicon Ma Qinghua Citroën C-Elysée WTCC October 12, 2014
V8 Supercars 1:51.0557<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Todd Kelly Holden VZ Commodore June 12, 2005
Super 2000 1:54.947 Template:Flagicon Alain Menu Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T November 4, 2012
TCR Touring Car 1:59.143<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Huang Chuhan Audi RS 3 LMS TCR August 5, 2017
Formula Renault 3.5 2:01.581<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Kevin Chen Tatuus FRV6 November 23, 2008
Porsche Carrera Cup 2:02.2892<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Flagicon Siu Tit Lung Porsche 911 (997 I) GT3 Cup June 12, 2005
Formula E 1:10.564<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Cvt File:Shanghai ePrix circuit.png Template:Flagicon Nick Cassidy Jaguar I-Type 7 May 31, 2025

References

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