Kuala Lumpur Street Circuit
Kuala Lumpur Street Circuit at a glance
- Location
- Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur (Federal Territory)
- Type
- historic circuit (defunct)
- Length
- 3.305 km (2.054 mi)
- Turns
- 16
- Surface
- asphalt (public roads)
- Opened
- 2015
Track map and layout
The Kuala Lumpur Street Circuit was a temporary, FIA Grade 3-rated layout built on closed public roads through the heart of the city, in front of the Suria KLCC shopping centre at the foot of the Petronas Twin Towers. The 3.305 km, 16-turn circuit also passed other landmarks including Menara KL, giving it a highly photogenic, skyline-dominated backdrop rare among street circuits, with a key overtaking zone along Jalan Ampang. It hosted only one event weekend, the inaugural 2015 KL City Grand Prix, before the following year's race was cancelled and the circuit was never used again.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Full circuit | 3.30 km | 3.305 km, 16 turns; used for the single 2015 KL City Grand Prix |
Events and race weekends
The circuit hosted only one race weekend, the inaugural KL City Grand Prix from 7-9 August 2015, featuring the KL GT City Cup (GT3), Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia, Formula Masters China and a V8 Supercars demonstration run. A multi-year deal for 2016-2019 to bring a full International V8 Supercars Championship round to the circuit was announced, but the 2016 event was cancelled after a legal dispute broke out between the original promoter, GT Global, and a new promoter, City Motorsport; the race was never revived.
Getting there and parking
The former circuit ran through downtown Kuala Lumpur around the KLCC precinct, one of the city's best-connected areas, served directly by the KLCC LRT station and within walking distance of numerous hotels; there is no race-specific visitor infrastructure since the event has not returned since 2015.
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) · about 45 min drive
The former circuit streets are ordinary public roads today; the KLCC LRT station serves the area for anyone visiting the site.
Hotels and camping near Kuala Lumpur Street Circuit
KLCC and the surrounding Bukit Bintang district have Kuala Lumpur's densest concentration of international hotels, all within walking distance of the former circuit route, making this one of the most convenient areas in the city to stay regardless of any race connection.
Where to look
KLCC and Bukit Bintang for the widest range of hotels, both directly adjacent to the former circuit.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
There is no public track-day or driving access; the circuit existed only as closed public roads for a single race weekend in 2015 and has not been used for motorsport since.
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outright | 1:25.279 | Todd Kelly | Nissan Altima L33 | 2015 |
| Sports cars (GT) | 1:25.387 | Kazuki Hiramine | Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 | 2015 |
| Open-wheel | 1:27.002 | Shota Kiyohara | Tatuus FA010 | 2015 |
Spectator guide
For its one event, the circuit's KLCC setting gave spectators grandstand views against the Petronas Twin Towers skyline, a signature backdrop unmatched by most street circuits worldwide; no spectator event has been run since 2015.
Weather
- August (2015 race): hot, humid and prone to afternoon thunderstorms, typical of Kuala Lumpur's wet season
History of Kuala Lumpur Street Circuit
A one-weekend spectacle in the city centre
The Kuala Lumpur Street Circuit was built for a single purpose: the inaugural KL City Grand Prix, held from 7 to 9 August 2015 on closed public roads through the KLCC precinct in downtown Kuala Lumpur. The FIA Grade 3-rated, 3.305 km, 16-turn layout ran directly past the Petronas Twin Towers and Suria KLCC shopping centre, giving it one of the most striking urban backdrops of any street circuit built anywhere in the world at the time.
An ambitious debut
The first event packed in a wide mix of categories: the KL GT City Cup for GT3 cars, the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia one-make series, Formula Masters China open-wheelers, and a demonstration run by Australia's International V8 Supercars Championship, whose organisers signed on for a full multi-year deal to bring a championship round to the circuit from 2016 through 2019. Fastest overall lap honours went to Todd Kelly in a Nissan Altima V8 Supercar.
Cancelled before its second race
The planned 2016 event, which would have been the circuit's first full V8 Supercars championship round, was cancelled after a legal dispute broke out between the race's original promoter, GT Global, and a new promoter, City Motorsport, over rights to the event. The dispute was never resolved in a way that allowed racing to resume, and no further events were held. The circuit's streets returned to ordinary public use, and as of 2026 there has been no announced attempt to revive city-centre racing in Kuala Lumpur.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kuala Lumpur Street Circuit still used for racing?+
No. It hosted only one event, the inaugural KL City Grand Prix in August 2015, before a legal dispute between promoters led to the cancellation of the planned 2016 race and the circuit was never used again.
Why was the KL City Grand Prix cancelled after 2015?+
A legal dispute broke out between the event's original promoter, GT Global, and a new promoter, City Motorsport, over rights to the race, and it was never resolved in time to run the planned 2016 event or any race afterward.
How long was the Kuala Lumpur Street Circuit?+
The circuit was 3.305 km (2.054 miles) long with 16 turns, run through the KLCC district of central Kuala Lumpur.
What series raced at the 2015 KL City Grand Prix?+
The event featured the KL GT City Cup (GT3), Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia, Formula Masters China, and a demonstration run by Australia's International V8 Supercars Championship.
Can you see the former circuit today?+
The route runs on ordinary public streets around the Petronas Twin Towers and Suria KLCC that remain fully open to normal city traffic; there is no dedicated circuit infrastructure left to visit.
Other tracks nearby
- Putrajaya Street Circuit · 26 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Sepang International Circuit · 44 km · road course
- Johor Circuit · 307 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Marina Bay Street Circuit · 317 km · street circuit
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.