Ningbo International Circuit

The Ningbo International Circuit is a motorsport race circuit near the Chinese city of Ningbo.

Ningbo International Circuit
LocationBeilun, Ningbo, China
Time zoneUTC+08:00
Coordinates29°45′41″N 121°51′50″E
FIA Grade2[N 1]
Broke groundDecember 2015
OpenedAugust 2017
ArchitectAlan Wilson
Major eventsWTCR Race of China (2018-2019, 2022)
WTCC (2017)
Current Circuit (2017–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length4.015 km (2.494 mi)
Turns23
Race lap record1:40.798 ( Jake Hughes, Dragon HitechGP, 2018, Formula Three Asia)

History

Ningbo International Speedway (宁波国际赛车场) is one of a crop of new tracks opening across China under the stewardship of auto maker Geely (owner of Volvo). Located near to the fast-growing Ningbo city in Zhejiang province, the circuit is one of five being built Geely subsidiary Mitime Investments, in order to develop car culture and motorsport in the region.

The new track has been designed by Alan Wilson, well known for his works in the United States at the Utah Motorsports Campus (acquired by Mitime after the death of circuit owner Larry H. Miller and where Wilson is general manager) and Barber Motorsport Park among many others. Wilson has been retained by Mitime to pen all five of its new facilities. The project was officially launched on December 28, 2015 and is scheduled to be completed at the end of June 2017. The 4.015 kilometres (2.495 mi) track has been homologated to FIA Grade 2 standards, allowing it to host all bar Formula One competition.

Geely is not scrimping on its investment, with the whole facility set to cost around 900 million yuan. As well as the main course (which can be split into a shorter circuit and a club racing variants, which can be run simultaneously), the 1,1130-acre facility also will boast a separate 9.85 km kart track and commercial and amusement facilities. The main grandstands will seat around 15,000 spectators and, given their elevated position, should offer good views across the majority of the circuit.

The inaugural event was round of the China Formula 4 series in August 2017 before its international debut in October, when it replaced Shanghai International Circuit as the venue for the World Touring Car Championship Race of China.[1]

Lap records

The official race lap records at the Ningbo International Circuit are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
Grand Prix Circuit: 4.015 km (2017–present)
F3 Asia1:40.798[2]Jake HughesTatuus F.3 T-3182018 2nd Ningbo F3 Asian Championship round
TCR Touring Car1:51.640[3]Thed BjörkHyundai i30 N TCR2018 FIA WTCR Race of China-Ningbo
WTCC2:03.753[4]Esteban GuerrieriChevrolet RML Cruze TC12017 FIA WTCC Race of China

Notes
  1. Ningbo International Circuit's Grade 2 licence expired 2 August 2020.

References
  1. "Ningbo International Speedway". RacingCircuits.info. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  2. "2018 F3 Asian Championship Round 4 Race 11 Results". Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  3. "2018 FIA World Touring Car Cup WTCR Race Of China-Ningbo Session Facts". Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  4. "WTCC 2017 Ningbo Fastest Laps Race 1". Retrieved 2 April 2021.
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