Penbay International Circuit
Penbay International Circuit at a glance
- Location
- Donggang Township, Pingtung County
- Type
- historic circuit (defunct)
- Length
- 3.527 km (2.192 mi)
- Turns
- 17
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 2011
- Owner
- formerly operated by Oriental Leisure Group
Track map and layout
Penbay International Circuit, also known as DaPeng Bay International Circuit, was a 3.527 km, 17-turn FIA Grade 2-certified road course built on Taiwan's south-western coast in Donggang Township, Pingtung County. The facility was designed with five different track configurations of varying width (12 to 20 metres), allowing it to be run as a shorter club layout or the full Grand Prix-length circuit depending on the event, a flexibility that made it attractive to a range of national and Asia-regional racing series during its brief operating life. An adjoining go-kart track was built alongside the main circuit and outlasted it, remaining in use after the main circuit closed.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Full circuit | 3.53 km | 3.527 km, 17 turns; the primary Grand Prix-length layout used for the Asia Road Racing Championship and other headline events |
Events and race weekends
During its eight years of operation, Penbay hosted the Asia Road Racing Championship in 2012, the Taiwan Speed Festival in 2013, and rounds of Formula Masters China and the Audi R8 LMS Cup in 2015 and 2016. No competitive motorsport has been held at the circuit since it closed in July 2019, and events.annual is empty because the venue is no longer active.
Getting there and parking
The circuit sits on the coast of Donggang Township in Pingtung County, in southern Taiwan, roughly within reach of Kaohsiung by road; there is no active event transport since the facility has been closed since 2019, though the adjoining go-kart track has continued to operate and remains reachable by ordinary road transport.
- Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH) · about 45 min drive
Hotels and camping near Penbay International Circuit
Visitors to the area typically base themselves in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan's largest city, around 45 minutes to an hour from the circuit by road, for the widest choice of hotels; the immediate Donggang area has limited tourist accommodation by comparison.
Where to look
Kaohsiung city centre for the main range of hotels; smaller guesthouses in Donggang township itself for those staying closer to the coast.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
There is no track-day or driving-experience access on the main circuit, which has been closed since July 2019 and mothballed pending a new operator; the adjoining go-kart track has remained the only part of the complex in ongoing public use.
Spectator guide
There is no active spectator event at Penbay; the circuit hosted national and Asia-regional racing series during 2011-2019 but has held no competitive motorsport since its closure.
Weather
- Year-round: subtropical coastal climate; hot, humid summers (Jun-Sep) with typhoon risk, mild winters
History of Penbay International Circuit
A coastal circuit for Taiwan's growing motorsport ambitions
Penbay International Circuit, also known as DaPeng Bay International Circuit, opened on 9 October 2011 on the coast of Donggang Township in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan. Built to FIA Grade 2 standard with five configurable layouts ranging in width from 12 to 20 metres, the 3.527 km, 17-turn circuit was operated by Oriental Leisure Group and positioned as a venue capable of hosting national championships alongside regional Asian racing series, backed by an adjoining go-kart facility for public and training use.
A brief run of international racing
Over its operating life the circuit hosted the Asia Road Racing Championship in 2012, the Taiwan Speed Festival in 2013, and rounds of Formula Masters China and the Audi R8 LMS Cup in both 2015 and 2016, giving it a modest but genuine international racing pedigree for a relatively young Taiwanese venue. Despite this, the circuit struggled to build a sustainable, full annual calendar of major events during its eight years of operation.
Closure and uncertain future
In July 2019, Oriental Leisure Group announced it would withdraw from operating the circuit, and the facility ran its final day of events on 14 July before closing on 16 July 2019, with all subsequent bookings cancelled. The main circuit was mothballed indefinitely pending a tendering process to find a new operator, with permanent closure a stated possibility if none could be found, while the adjoining go-kart track continued operating separately. As of 2026 there has been no announced reopening of the main circuit, leaving Penbay a dormant rather than actively operating venue.
Frequently asked questions
Is Penbay International Circuit still open?+
No. The main circuit closed on 16 July 2019 after its operator, Oriental Leisure Group, withdrew from the project, and it has remained mothballed with no announced reopening as of 2026. The adjoining go-kart track has continued to operate separately.
How long was the Penbay circuit?+
The full circuit layout was 3.527 km (2.192 miles) long with 17 turns, and the facility offered five configurable layouts of varying width.
What racing series raced at Penbay?+
The circuit hosted the Asia Road Racing Championship in 2012, the Taiwan Speed Festival in 2013, and rounds of Formula Masters China and the Audi R8 LMS Cup in 2015 and 2016.
Why did Penbay International Circuit close?+
Its operator, Oriental Leisure Group, announced in July 2019 that it would withdraw from running the facility, and the circuit was mothballed pending a new operator being found through a tendering process.
Can you still visit the Penbay site?+
The main racing circuit is closed to the public, but the adjoining go-kart track on the same site has remained open and operating independently since the main circuit's closure.
Other tracks nearby
- Lihpao Racing Park · 209 km · road course
- Hong Kong Central Harbourfront Circuit · 650 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Zhuhai International Circuit · 712 km · road course
- Guia Circuit (Macau Grand Prix) · 713 km · street circuit
- Guangdong International Circuit · 790 km · road course
- Ningbo International Speedpark · 824 km · road course
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.