Bira Circuit
Bira Circuit at a glance
- Location
- Pattaya, Chonburi
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 2.41 km (1.498 mi)
- Turns
- 11
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1986
- Owner
- Bira Circuit One Company, Limited
- Capacity
- 30,000
- Address
- 111 Moo 5, Bang Lamung
- Website
- bira.co.th
Track map and layout
Bira Circuit is a compact 2.410 km, 11-turn permanent road course on a 65-acre site inland from Pattaya. Long known locally for being 'twisty and bumpy,' the layout mixes two chicanes with a fast downhill double-apex corner and enough elevation change to make it a technical, driver-focused track despite its short lap distance. As Thailand's first circuit built to FIA standards, it was designed primarily for club racing, touring cars and smaller single-seater categories rather than modern GT machinery, and the facility also includes an off-road track, a rally stage and a go-kart circuit.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Full circuit | 2.41 km | 2.410 km, 11 turns |
Events and race weekends
Bira was Thailand's flagship motorsport venue through the 1990s and 2000s, hosting the Asian Touring Car Championship, Formula Asia, Formula BMW Asia and an early run of Porsche Carrera Cup Asia rounds. As newer, FIA Grade 3-rated circuits such as Bangsaen and Chang International came online, Bira's role shifted toward club racing, car and tyre testing, product launches and driving events rather than headline international championships.
Getting there and parking
Bira Circuit sits about 20 km from central Pattaya and roughly 120 km southeast of Bangkok. Most visitors fly into Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport and travel onward by car or taxi, or fly directly into U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport, which is closer. There is no rail or metro connection to the circuit; a car, taxi or hotel transfer is the practical way in.
- U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport (UTP) · about 30 min drive
- Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) · about 90 min drive
Hotels and camping near Bira Circuit
Pattaya, about 20 minutes away, has by far the largest concentration of hotels, resorts and guesthouses in the area and is the natural base for most visitors, spanning everything from budget stays to beachfront resorts.
Where to look
Central Pattaya and Jomtien Beach for the widest range of accommodation, both a short drive from the circuit.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Bira remains an active club circuit used for car and motorcycle track days, testing, driving events and corporate/promotional activities, though it is not primarily marketed as a public HPDE venue the way some Western circuits are; visitors interested in track time are best contacting the circuit or local clubs directly for the current schedule.
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula BMW | 1:01.444 | Sam Abay | Formula BMW | 2006 |
| Asian Formula 2000 | 1:02.440 | Ng Wai Leong | Formula 2000 | 2000 |
| TCR Touring Car | 1:04.669 | Jack Lemvard | TCR car | 2016 |
Spectator guide
Bira's smaller scale and club-racing focus mean spectating today is a lower-key experience than at Thailand's newer international venues, generally suited to fans of grassroots and club categories rather than major championship weekends. As with the rest of coastal Chonburi, expect hot, humid conditions with a chance of afternoon rain outside the cool season.
Weather
- Nov-Feb (cool season): the most comfortable time to visit, with lower humidity and daytime highs around 30-32°C
History of Bira Circuit
Thailand's first FIA-standard circuit
Bira Circuit broke ground in 1985 and opened on 26 April 1986 near Pattaya, becoming the first circuit in Thailand built to FIA standards. It was named for Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh, known internationally as 'B. Bira,' Thailand's pioneering Formula 1 driver of the 1930s and 1940s, who had died in December 1985 shortly before the track's completion; the venue had initially been known as Pattaya Circuit during construction.
Thailand's motorsport flagship
Through the late 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, Bira served as the hub of Thai motorsport, hosting the South East Asia Touring Car Zone Challenge, Formula Asia, the Asian Touring Car Championship, Formula BMW Asia and an early run of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia between 2003 and 2005. Its tight, technical 2.410 km layout, mixing two chicanes with a fast downhill double-apex corner, made it a demanding test for drivers even at a modest lap length, and the surrounding 65-acre site grew to include an off-road track, rally stage and go-kart circuit.
A club circuit in the modern era
As Thai motorsport expanded through the 2010s and newer, more spectator-friendly venues such as Bangsaen Street Circuit and Chang International Circuit were built or upgraded to FIA Grade 3 and 2 standards respectively, Bira's role shifted away from headline international racing. Today the circuit continues to operate as a club and testing venue, used for car and tyre testing, product launches, driving events and grassroots motorsport, with historical status as Thailand's oldest permanent purpose-built racing circuit.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Bira Circuit?+
Bira Circuit is 2.410 km (1.498 miles) long with 11 turns.
Why is it called Bira Circuit?+
The circuit is named after Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh ('B. Bira'), Thailand's first Formula 1 driver, who died in December 1985 shortly before the track opened in April 1986.
Is Bira Circuit still used for racing?+
Yes, though its role has shifted from hosting major international championships in the 1990s and 2000s to club racing, testing and driving events as newer circuits took over Thailand's headline motorsport calendar.
Is Bira Circuit the oldest racetrack in Thailand?+
Yes. Opened in 1986, it was the first circuit in Thailand built to FIA standards and remains the country's oldest permanent purpose-built racing circuit.
How do you get to Bira Circuit from Pattaya?+
The circuit is about 20 km, roughly a 20-30 minute drive, from central Pattaya; there is no rail or metro connection, so a car, taxi or hotel transfer is the usual way to get there.
Other tracks nearby
- Bangsaen Street Circuit · 44 km · street circuit
- Kaeng Krachan Circuit · 141 km · road course
- Chang International Circuit · 319 km · road course
Facts checked against 4 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.