The Buriram International Circuit (known as Chang International Circuit (ช้าง อินเตอร์เนชั่นแนล เซอร์กิต) for commercial purposes, but listed by its non-commercial name because of alcohol restrictions in some countries) is a motorsport race track in Buriram, Buriram Province, Thailand. The circuit was opened in October 2014.[2] This is the first FIA Grade 1 and FIM Grade A circuit in Thailand.
 | |
| Location | Buriram, Thailand |
|---|---|
| Time zone | UTC+07:00 Thai Standard Time |
| Coordinates | 14°57′46.24″N 103°5′5.99″E / 14.9628444°N 103.0849972°E |
| Capacity | 50,000 (grandstand) + 50,000 (berm) = 100,000 total capacity[1] |
| FIA Grade | FIA 1 FIM A |
| Broke ground | 2 March 2013 |
| Opened | 4 October 2014 |
| Construction cost | THB 2 billion |
| Architect | Hermann Tilke |
| Major events | Current: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Thailand motorcycle Grand Prix (2018–2019, 2022–present) GT World Challenge Asia (2017–2019, 2023–present) TCR Asia Series (2015–2016, 2024) Asia Road Racing Championship (2014–2019, 2022–present) Former: Asian Le Mans Series (2016–2020) Super GT (2014–2019) World SBK (2015–2019) WTCC Race of Thailand (2015) |
| Website | http://www.bric.co.th/ |
| Grand Prix Circuit (2014–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 4.554 km (2.830 miles) |
| Turns | 12 |
| Race lap record | 1:23.848 ( Nick Cassidy, Ligier JS P217, 2020, LMP2) |
| 'D' Circuit (2014–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 3.126 km (1.942 miles) |
| Turns | 8 |
History
The Japanese Super GT has visited Buriram since 2014. Also, the TCR International Series, TCR Asia Series and GT Asia Series is scheduled to race at Buriram in October 2015, and the World Touring Car Championship in November 2015, and the Asian Le Mans Series in January 2016.
On 22 March 2015, the first ever Thailand round of the World Superbike Championship was held at the circuit. Both of the Superbike races were won by UK rider Jonathan Rea and the World Supersport race was won by Thai rider Ratthapark Wilairot, much to the delight of the Thai spectators.
On 23 June 2015, it was announced that the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia series would be visiting the circuit for the seventh and eighth rounds of the one-make series.[3]
On 12 March 2016, the second Thailand round of the World Superbike Championship was held. UK rider Jonathan Rea again won race 1, UK rider Tom Sykes won race 2. The World Supersport race was won by the French rider Jules Cluzel.
On 11 March 2017, the third Thailand round of the World Superbike Championship took place. UK rider Jonathan Rea scored his hattrick of race 1 wins at the circuit and also won race 2. The World Supersport race was won by Italian rider Federico Caricasulo, local Thai rider Decha Kraisart came second.
In September 2017, Dorna Sports confirmed that MotoGP will be held at the Buriram International Circuit, with a three-year commitment running from 2018 to 2020 for a race called the PTT Thailand Grand Prix.[4] In February 2021, the MotoGP contract was extended until at least 2026.[5]
Events
- Current
- March: Asia Road Racing Championship
- May: GT World Challenge Asia, Thailand Super Series
- June: Porsche Carrera Cup Asia
- August: TCR Asia Series, Thailand Super Series
- September: TCR Asia Series
- October: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Thailand motorcycle Grand Prix, Asia Talent Cup
- December: Asia Road Racing Championship, Thailand Super Series
- Former
- Asian Formula Renault (2016)
- Asian Le Mans Series
- 4 Hours of Buriram (2016–2020)
- Audi R8 LMS Cup (2016)
- Clio Cup China Series (2016)
- F3 Asian Championship (2019–2020)
- Formula 4 South East Asia Championship (2017–2019)
- Formula Masters China (2016)
- GT Asia Series (2015–2016, 2018)
- Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia (2016–2018)
- Super GT (2014–2019)
- Superbike World Championship (2015–2019)
- Supersport World Championship (2015–2019)
- TCR International Series (2015)
- World Touring Car Championship
- FIA WTCC Race of Thailand (2015)
Lap records
As of March 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Buriram International Circuit are listed as:
Fatalities
Asia Road Racing Championship Underbone 150 class rider Amber Garcia Torres died after a crash with a Yamaha Jupiter MX King with UMA Racing Yamaha Philippines on the third lap while fighting for race leader on December 5, 2019.
Gallery
Finish line of the Circuit
S-curve at the Circuit
Marc Márquez after winning the 2018 Thailand motorcycle Grand Prix at Buriram International Circuit
Dani Pedrosa riding his Repsol Honda in the 2018 Thailand motorcycle Grand Prix at Buriram International Circuit
Marc Márquez, celebrating with his team on the podium after winning his sixth MotoGP world championship title and the 2019 Thailand motorcycle Grand Prix
References
External links
