Chang International Circuit
Chang International Circuit at a glance
- Location
- Buriram, Buriram Province
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 4.554 km (2.83 mi)
- Turns
- 12
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 2014
- Owner
- Buriram United / Chang (Thai Beverage group)
- Capacity
- 100,000
- Website
- bric.co.th
Track map and layout
Chang International Circuit (also known as Buriram International Circuit) is a Hermann Tilke-designed permanent road course built in Thailand's northeastern Isan region, opened in October 2014 as part of a wider sports complex developed by the Buriram United football club and the Chang beer group. The 4.554 km, 12-turn Grand Prix layout mixes a long pit straight with a technical infield of medium- and high-speed corners, laid out to FIA Grade 1 and FIM Grade A standards so it can host both car and motorcycle world championship rounds. A shorter 3.126 km 'D' configuration is also used for club racing and testing.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prix Circuit | 4.55 km | 4.554 km, 12 turns; used for MotoGP, WorldSBK and major international series |
| 'D' Circuit | 3.12 km | 3.126 km, 8 turns; club racing and testing |
Events and race weekends
Chang International Circuit is best known as the home of the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix, which ran from 2018-2019 before a pandemic-era gap and returned in 2022; the event has since been extended on the calendar through 2031, and the 2026 season opened here. The circuit also hosted the World Superbike Championship from 2015-2019, Super GT and the Asian Le Mans Series' 4 Hours of Buriram, and remains a regular venue for the Asia Road Racing Championship.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand motorcycle Grand Prix | MotoGP | varies (opened the 2026 season in late February/early March) | contract extended through 2031; has served as a season-opening round |
| Asia Road Racing Championship Buriram round | Asia Road Racing Championship | varies | regular calendar fixture since 2014 (with gaps) |
Getting there and parking
Buriram has its own small domestic airport (BFV) with limited AirAsia service from Bangkok's Don Mueang airport, a roughly one-hour flight; many visitors instead fly into Bangkok and continue by long-distance bus (around 5 hours from Mo Chit bus station) or train (5.5-7 hours), or take a connecting flight to a larger regional airport before completing the trip by road.
- Buriram Airport (BFV) · about 15 min drive
- Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport (connecting flights) (DMK)
Book Buriram Airport flights or long-distance bus/train tickets from Bangkok well ahead of MotoGP race weekend, as capacity into the town is limited relative to demand.
Hotels and camping near Chang International Circuit
Hotel supply directly around the circuit is limited but growing, anchored by properties close to the adjoining Buriram United football stadium; rooms across the town fill up quickly for MotoGP weekend, so early booking is strongly recommended.
Where to look
Hotels clustered near Chang Arena/Buriram United stadium a few minutes from the circuit (including Amari Buriram United, Modena by Fraser and Cresco Hotel Buriram); central Buriram town for a wider range of budget options.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
No public track-day or ride-along program for the circuit was found in official or widely reported sources; the venue is used primarily for professional racing and testing rather than public driving experiences.
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MotoGP | 1:30.487 | Marco Bezzecchi | — | 2026 |
| World Superbike | 1:32.724 | Álvaro Bautista | — | 2019 |
| LMP2 | 1:23.848 | Nick Cassidy | — | 2020 |
Spectator guide
Grandstands with a combined capacity of around 50,000 line the main straight and start of the lap, supplemented by a further 50,000 capacity of general-admission berm/hillside viewing spread around the rest of the circuit for MotoGP weekend.
Seating
Around 50,000 grandstand seats plus around 50,000 general-admission berm capacity elsewhere on the circuit.
Weather
- February/March (MotoGP): dry season, warm days with highs typically around 32-34°C and low humidity by Thai standards
History of Chang International Circuit
A football club builds a Grand Prix circuit
Chang International Circuit was developed by Buriram United, the Thai football club owned by Newin Chidchob, together with the Chang beer brand (part of Thai Beverage), as the motorsport centrepiece of a wider sporting complex in the northeastern Isan province of Buriram. Designed by Hermann Tilke and built at a cost of around THB 2 billion, the circuit broke ground in March 2013 and opened in October 2014, quickly earning FIA Grade 1 and FIM Grade A homologation that made it eligible to host world championship car and motorcycle racing.
World championship racing arrives
The circuit wasted little time attracting major series, hosting the World Superbike Championship and Super GT from 2015, and later a round of the Asian Le Mans Series' 4 Hours of Buriram. Its biggest breakthrough came with the arrival of MotoGP for the Thailand Grand Prix in 2018, giving Southeast Asia a modern, purpose-built venue on the sport's world championship calendar and drawing large, enthusiastic local crowds energised by the region's growing motorcycle culture.
Pandemic pause and a growing calendar role
MotoGP's Thailand round paused for the 2020 and 2021 seasons during the COVID-19 pandemic before returning in 2022, and Chang International Circuit has since become an increasingly prominent fixture, with its MotoGP contract extended through 2031 and the circuit taking on a season-opening slot on the calendar. Alongside its world championship commitments, the circuit continues to host the Asia Road Racing Championship and other regional series, cementing its role as one of Southeast Asia's leading permanent motorsport venues.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Chang International Circuit?+
The Grand Prix Circuit is 4.554 km (2.830 miles) long with 12 turns, run in a clockwise direction.
Is Chang International Circuit the same as Buriram International Circuit?+
Yes, the venue is commonly referred to by both names; Chang refers to the sponsoring beer brand, part of Thai Beverage, while Buriram is the province and city where it is located.
When does MotoGP race at Buriram?+
The Thailand motorcycle Grand Prix has been held most years since 2018 (with a pandemic-era gap in 2020-2021); the contract has been extended through 2031, and the circuit has hosted a season-opening round.
How do you get to Buriram for the Thai MotoGP round?+
Buriram has its own small airport (BFV) with limited AirAsia flights from Bangkok Don Mueang, or visitors can travel from Bangkok by long-distance bus (about 5 hours) or train (5.5-7 hours).
What is the MotoGP lap record at Chang International Circuit?+
Marco Bezzecchi set the current MotoGP lap record of 1:30.487 in 2026.
Where do MotoGP fans stay in Buriram?+
Most visitors stay in hotels clustered near the Buriram United stadium a few minutes from the circuit, or in central Buriram town for more budget-friendly options; rooms sell out quickly for race weekend.
Other tracks nearby
- Bangsaen Street Circuit · 298 km · street circuit
- Bira Circuit · 319 km · road course
- Kaeng Krachan Circuit · 428 km · road course
- Hanoi Street Circuit · 730 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Haitang Bay Circuit · 802 km · street circuit
Facts checked against 4 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.