Shah Alam Circuit Explained

Shah Alam Circuit
Location:Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Coordinates:3.0761°N 101.5439°W
Closed:2003
Architect:John Hugenholtz
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 (1996, 2000–2001)
1998 Commonwealth Games
Former Names:Batu Tiga Speedway Circuit
Layout1:Grand Prix Circuit (1985–2003)
Length Km:3.693
Length Mi:2.295
Turns:15
Record Time:1:24.520
Record Driver: Jochen Mass
Record Car:Porsche 962C
Record Year:1985
Record Class:Group C
Layout2:Original Circuit (1968–1984)
Length Km2:3.380
Length Mi2:2.100
Turns2:12
Record Time2:1:16.400
Record Driver2: Tiff Needell
Record Car2:March 79B
Record Year2:1980
Record Class2:Formula Pacific

Shah Alam Circuit or Batu Tiga Speedway Circuit was a racing circuit in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. 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.[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 3.38km (02.1miles) to 3.693km (02.295miles) 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:

Lap records

The fastest 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
1:24.520[4] 1985 800 km of Selangor
1:24.840 1997 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix
1:25.994 1996 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix
1:28.690 1991 Shah Alam World SBK round
1:29.979[5] 2000 Shah Alam Formula Asia 2000 round
1:31.594 1996 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix
1:32.590[6] 2002 Shah Alam ARRC round
1:38.820[7] 2000 Shah Alam ATCC round
Original Circuit (1968–1984): 3.380 km
1:16.400[8] 1980 Selangor Grand Prix
1:21.000[9] 1979 Malaysian Grand Prix
1:22.700[10] 1973 Malaysian Grand Prix
1:25.700[11] Brabham BT11[12] 1968 Malaysian Grand Prix
1:31.500[13] Tony Maw 1969 Malaysian Grand Prix

In popular culture

The track was used as one of the shooting locations for Jackie Chan's 1995 film Thunderbolt.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Derek Fulluck, Elfin takes Malaysian GP, Autosport, 27 September 1968.
  2. http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/tracks/shahalam.html Shah Alam Track info
  3. http://www.gdecarli.it/php/circuit.php?var1=646&var2=2 Tracks: Shah Alam, Batu Tiga
  4. Web site: 800 km Selangor 1985 . 1 December 1985 . 3 January 2022.
  5. Web site: Asian Formula 2000 2000 Round 3 Results: Asian Festival of Speed Shah Alam, Malaysia - July 8th. . https://web.archive.org/web/20010530013424/http://afos.com/afsdox/af2000/2000/r3results.mv?one_rnd=3&event_year=2000&dates=July+8th+-+9th&location=Shah+Alam,+Malaysia . 8 July 2000 . 30 May 2001 . 31 December 2023 . dead.
  6. Web site: 2002 FIM Asia Road Racing Championship Round 3: >> Venue: Batu Tiga Speedway, Shah Alam, Malaysia SuperSports 600cc Race 1 . 11 August 2002 . 11 January 2023.
  7. Web site: Asian Touring Car Championship 2000 Round 5 Results: Asian Festival of Speed, Shah Alam, Malaysia July 9th., 2000 . https://web.archive.org/web/20010515084706/http://afos.com/afsdox/atcc/2000/r5results.mv?one_rnd=5&event_year=2000&dates=July+8th+-+9th&location=Shah+Alam,+Malaysia . 9 July 2000 . 15 May 2001 . 31 December 2023 . dead.
  8. Web site: Selangor Grand Prix 1980 . 30 November 1980 . 19 December 2022.
  9. Web site: Malaysian Grand Prix 1979 . 7 May 1979 . 19 December 2022.
  10. Web site: 1973 Malaysian Grand Prix . . 15 April 1973 . 19 December 2022.
  11. Web site: 1968 Malaysian Grand Prix . . 8 September 1968 . 19 December 2022.
  12. Web site: Max Stewart - Motorsport Memorial . 19 December 2022.
  13. Web site: 1969 Malaysian Grand Prix . 26 October 1969 . . 19 December 2022.