Sepang International Circuit

Sepang International Circuit at a glance

Location

Sepang, Selangor

Type

road course

Length

5.543 km (3.444 mi)

Turns

15

Direction

clockwise

Surface

asphalt

Opened

1999

Owner

Sepang International Circuit Sdn Bhd (Ministry of Finance Incorporated)

Capacity

130,000

Address

Jalan Pekeliling

Website

sepangcircuit.com

Track map and layout

Designed by German architect Hermann Tilke and opened in 1999, the Sepang Grand Prix Circuit was one of the first modern Tilke-designed 'superspeedway' style layouts, with wide, sweeping corners deliberately built for overtaking and a distinctive double-apex hairpin sequence at Turns 1 and 2 that funnels straight off the pit straight. The lap mixes long, high-speed sections through the Langkawi and Genting curves with tighter technical corners toward the end of the lap, and the circuit's flat, exposed layout leaves it fully open to Malaysia's tropical heat and sudden afternoon downpours, a defining feature of racing here. A full resurface by Italian design firm Dromo in 2016 refreshed the track surface and run-off areas without changing the fundamental layout. Beyond the full Grand Prix layout, Sepang also has shorter North and South circuit configurations used for club racing and testing.

Named corners and sections

• Langkawi Curve. A sweeping corner (Turn 4) named after the Malaysian resort island, part of the circuit's naming convention honouring Malaysian tourist destinations.
• Genting Curve. A fast double-apex sequence (Turns 5-6) named after the Genting Highlands resort.
• KLIA Curve. Named for the nearby Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Turns 7-8).
• Berjaya Tioman Corner. Turn 9, named after Tioman Island.
• Sunway Lagoon. Turn 14, named after the Sunway Lagoon theme park, near the end of the lap before the final corner onto the pit straight.

Configurations

Events and race weekends

Sepang hosted the Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 to 2017, one of the first races on F1's expansion into Asia, before the event was dropped from the calendar amid falling attendance and contract costs. The circuit has been a mainstay of the MotoGP calendar as the Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix since 1999 (with a gap during the COVID-19 pandemic years), and regularly hosts other championships including the Asian Le Mans Series' 4 Hours of Sepang, GT World Challenge Asia and Super GT rounds, alongside World Superbike in the mid-2010s.

Getting there and parking

Sepang sits close to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), roughly a 10-15 minute drive from the terminals, making it one of the most airport-convenient circuits in the world. The circuit has no MRT or LRT station of its own; visitors typically fly into KLIA and complete the final leg by taxi, Grab (ride-hailing) or an event shuttle bus, or combine KLIA Transit rail into Kuala Lumpur with a taxi back out for those staying in the city.

• Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) · about 15 min drive

There is no direct rail link to the circuit; combine a KLIA Transit or KLIA Ekspres train with a taxi/Grab for the last leg, or use official event shuttles during major race weekends.

Hotels and camping near Sepang International Circuit

Most international visitors base themselves in Kuala Lumpur, about 45 km (a 45-60 minute drive) from the circuit, for the widest choice of hotels, dining and nightlife, then travel out to Sepang for race day. A smaller number of hotels exist closer to the circuit and airport in the Sepang/KLIA area for those who prefer to stay nearby.

Where to look

Kuala Lumpur city centre (KLCC, Bukit Bintang) for the widest hotel choice; airport-area hotels near KLIA/KLIA2 for proximity to the circuit.

Track days, driving experiences and lap records

Sepang is one of the more accessible major circuits for public track driving. The circuit runs regular public track days, including a Sunday Track Day where drivers can bring their own road car onto the Grand Prix circuit, and a night-time 'Saturday Night Special' session under the circuit's floodlights, alongside dedicated Driving Experience packages, circuit tours and taxi/bus laps for non-drivers.

Who runs days here

• Sepang International Circuit Track Day / Driving Experiencecar

Typical cost: Public track day sessions from around RM150 per driver (Sunday Track Day); other sessions and packages from around RM300

Lap records

Spectator guide

Sepang's wide, open layout gives grandstands clear sightlines across multiple corners, particularly around the Turn 1-2 hairpin complex where most overtaking happens on the opening lap. Because the circuit is largely uncovered, spectators should prepare for intense tropical heat and the chance of a sudden downpour, both signature features of race weekends here.

Seating

Grandstands are concentrated around the start/finish straight and the Turn 1-2 hairpin complex, with general admission hillside areas elsewhere around the lap.

Best places to watch

The Turn 1-2 hairpin gives the best view of first-lap overtaking; general admission hill areas around the back of the circuit offer a cheaper, more relaxed vantage point.

Weather

• October-November (MotoGP): hot and humid, daytime highs typically around 32-34°C with a strong chance of afternoon tropical rain

History of Sepang International Circuit

Malaysia's gateway into world motorsport

Sepang International Circuit opened in March 1999, built on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur as part of a broader push by the Malaysian government to establish the country as a hub for international sport and tourism. Designed by German architect Hermann Tilke, it became one of the first circuits of the modern 'Tilke era,' characterised by wide run-off areas, sweeping corners and a layout built explicitly with overtaking in mind, a template that would influence many circuits Tilke designed afterward.

Formula 1 years and departure

Sepang hosted the Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 through 2017, giving the sport an early foothold in Southeast Asia and producing memorable races often run in extreme heat or sudden monsoon downpours. Rising hosting costs and declining ticket sales eventually led organisers to drop the race from the calendar after 2017, ending an 19-race run. MotoGP has proven a more durable tenant, racing at Sepang almost every year since 1999 and drawing some of the largest, most passionate motorcycle racing crowds on the calendar.

Tragedy, resurfacing and today's circuit

The circuit has also seen tragedy, most notably the death of popular MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli in a multi-rider crash during the 2011 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix. In 2016 the track surface was fully renewed by Italian design firm Dromo to improve grip and safety without altering the fundamental layout. Today Sepang remains one of Asia's busiest permanent circuits, hosting MotoGP, Asian Le Mans Series, GT World Challenge Asia and Super GT rounds, alongside a full programme of public track days, driving experiences and circuit tours that make it unusually accessible to enthusiasts compared with many Grand Prix venues.

Frequently asked questions

Other tracks nearby

• Putrajaya Street Circuit · 19 km · historic circuit (defunct)
• Kuala Lumpur Street Circuit · 44 km · historic circuit (defunct)
• Johor Circuit · 280 km · historic circuit (defunct)
• Marina Bay Street Circuit · 287 km · street circuit