Korea International Circuit facts for kids
Grand Prix Circuit (2010–present)
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| Location | Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, South Korea |
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| Time zone | UTC+09:00 |
| Coordinates | 34°44′N 126°25′E / 34.733°N 126.417°E |
| Capacity | 135,000 |
| FIA Grade | 1 (Grand Prix) 2 (2 layouts) |
| Broke ground | 2 September 2009 |
| Opened | 11 October 2010 |
| Construction cost | 88 billion won |
| Major events | Current: Superrace Championship (2010–present) Former: Formula One Korean Grand Prix (2010–2013) Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (2015, 2023) GT World Challenge Asia (2019) TCR Asia Series (2016, 2018) |
| Grand Prix Circuit (2010–present) | |
| Length | 5.615 km (3.489 mi) |
| Turns | 18 |
| Race lap record | 1:39.605 ( Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB7, 2011, F1) |
| National Circuit (2010–present) | |
| Length | 3.045 km (1.892 mi) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:20.191 ( Peter Terting, Hyundai i30 N TCR, 2018, TCR) |
| Short Grand Prix Circuit (2019–present) | |
| Length | 3.312 km (2.057 mi) |
| Turns | 13 |
The Korea International Circuit is a special track for car races in South Korea. It's about 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles) long. You can find it in Yeongam, which is in the South Jeolla Province. This area is about 320 kilometers (200 miles) south of Seoul.
This circuit was once home to the exciting Korean Grand Prix races. These big Formula One events happened from 2010 to 2013. Building the circuit cost around 88 billion won.
Contents
Circuit History: Building a Race Track
The idea for the Korea International Circuit started in 2009. On September 2, 2009, it was announced that money was ready to begin building the track. Officials hoped to finish it in time for a Grand Prix race in 2010.
The famous German designer Hermann Tilke created the track's layout. It's a unique design because it's partly a permanent track and partly a temporary one. The temporary section runs along the harbor. This means people can watch races from hotels, yachts, and special viewing areas.
First Race and Challenges
Even with some delays, the circuit officially opened on October 11, 2010. Before the first big race, a special event called 'Circuit Run 2010' took place. On September 4, 2010, a Red Bull Racing Formula 1 car drove 14 laps. Driver Karun Chandhok was behind the wheel, showing off the new track to thousands of spectators.
The first official race, the 2010 Korean Grand Prix, happened on October 24, 2010. It was a big event in the 2010 Formula One season. The circuit can hold many fans, with space for up to 135,000 spectators.
What's it Like to Drive a Lap?
Imagine you're a race car driver on this track! The circuit starts with two left turns. Drivers speed up through the second turn onto a long straight section. This straight is about 1.16 kilometers (0.72 miles) long.
After the straight, there's a slow right-hand turn. Then comes a shorter straight, followed by a series of tight turns. These turns, like turns four, five, and six, require drivers to slow down a lot. The track then opens up with some fast, flowing bends.
Tricky Turns and Pit Stops
One challenging part is turn ten, a tight right-hander. Drivers have to brake hard while going downhill, which makes it tricky! The rest of the track feels a bit like a street circuit. It has many left and right turns. Turn seventeen is a long right-hand turn that's hard to see because of the walls around it. Finally, a left turn leads back to the main straight.
Pit Lane Safety Improvements
The pit lane is where race cars stop for new tires or repairs. When the circuit first opened, the pit lane entry was a bit controversial. Drivers like Robert Kubica thought it was dangerous because cars entering the pits had to slow down on the main racing line. This could lead to accidents.
To make it safer, changes were made. In 2011, a wall at Turn 17 was moved back to help drivers see better. For the 2013 Korean Grand Prix, the pit exit was extended. This change helped cars rejoin the race track more safely. These improvements show how important safety is in motorsport!
Events Held at the Circuit
The Korea International Circuit hosts various exciting races.
- Current Events
- May: Superrace Championship
- September: Superrace Championship
- Past Events
- Formula One (2010–2013)
- Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (2015, 2023)
- TCR Asia Series (2016, 2018)
- Blancpain GT World Challenge Asia (2019)
- Audi R8 LMS Cup (2014–2017)
- GT Asia Series (2014–2016)
Fastest Laps (Lap Records)
Here are some of the fastest official race lap records at the Korea International Circuit, as of June 2023:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix Circuit: 5.554 km (2010–present) | ||||
| F1 | 1:39.605 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull RB7 | 2011 Korean Grand Prix |
| GT3 | 2:07.380 | Adderly Fong | Bentley Continental GT3 | 2016 Yeongam GT Asia round |
| Formula Renault 2.0 | 2:09.785 | Josh Burdon | Tatuus FR2.0/13 | 2016 Yeongam Asian Formula Renault round |
| Porsche Carrera Cup | 2:10.649 | Luo Kailuo | Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup | 2023 Yeongam Porsche Carrera Cup Asia round |
| TCR Touring Car | 2:22.227 | Kantadhee Kusiri | CUPRA León TCR | 2018 Yeongam TCR Asia Series round |
| National Circuit: 3.045 km (2010–present) | ||||
| TCR Touring Car | 1:20.191 | Peter Terting | CUPRA León TCR | 2018 2nd Yeongam TCR Korea round |
Images for kids
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Grand Prix Circuit (2010–present)
See also
In Spanish: Circuito Internacional de Corea para niños
