Korean International Circuit facts for kids
Korean International Circuit
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| Location | Yeongam County, South Jeolla, South Korea |
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| Time zone | GMT +9 |
| Capacity | 135,000 |
| Owner | M-Bridge Holdings and Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) |
| Operator | Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) |
| Construction cost | $264 million |
| Architect | Hermann Tilke |
| Major events | Formula One Korean Grand Prix |
| Length | 5.621 km (3.493 mi) |
| Turns | 23 |
| Race lap record | 1:50.257 ( Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari, 2010, Formula One) |
The Korean International Circuit is a special racetrack located in Yeongam County, South Jeolla Province, South Korea. It's about 400 kilometers away from the country's capital, Seoul.
This track is about 5.684 kilometers long. This makes it one of the longest race tracks in Asia. Its main purpose is to host exciting Formula One (F1) races. F1 races were planned to happen here for at least seven years, starting in 2010. The circuit is also used for other local races.
Getting FIA Approval
Before a big race like Formula One can happen, the track needs to be approved by the FIA. This is the main group that sets rules for international motorsports.
An expert from the FIA, Charlie Whiting, checked the circuit on October 10, 2010. Even though some buildings were still being finished, the race track itself was ready for the F1 race. They paid extra attention to the top layer of the road, called asphalt, which had just been put down.
Usually, the FIA needs to approve a track at least 90 days before a race. But for the Korean Grand Prix, they made an exception to their rules so the race could take place.
What Makes the Track Special
The Korean International Circuit was designed by a famous German architect named Hermann Tilke. He is known for designing many modern race tracks around the world.
The track has two main parts:
- One part is permanent and is about 3.047 kilometers long. This section is used for local races.
- The other part is temporary and is about 2.643 kilometers long. This section connects to the permanent part to make the full track for F1 races.
In total, the track has 18 corners, which makes it a challenging and exciting course for drivers. The track is also built next to a lake. This means some people can even watch the races from their boats!
See also
In Spanish: Circuito Internacional de Corea para niños
