Kuwait Motor Town

Kuwait Motor Town
LocationAli Sabah Al Salem, Ahmadi Governorate, Kuwait
Time zoneUTC+03:00
Coordinates28°55′48″N 48°8′30″E / 28.93000°N 48.14167°E / 28.93000; 48.14167
Capacity8,000 seated
FIA Grade1
Broke ground2017
Opened28 March 2019; 5 years ago (2019-03-28)
Construction costKWD 49 million (US $162 million)
ArchitectHermann Tilke
Major eventsCurrent:
F4 Saudi Arabia (2024)
Radical Cup Kuwait (2023–2024)
Future:
FR Middle East (2023, 2025)
Former:
24H Series Middle East Trophy (2022–2023)
Websitehttps://www.kmt.kw/
Grand Prix Circuit (2019–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length5.609 km (3.485 miles)
Turns20
Race lap record1:47.600 (Switzerland Joshua Dufek, Tatuus F3 T-318, 2023, F-Regional)
Alternative Grand Prix Circuit (2019–present)
Length5.160 km (3.207 miles)
Turns18
Race lap record1:43.065 (Romania Sergiu Nicolae, Porsche 911 (992) GT3 R, 2023, GT3)
National Circuit (2019–present)
Length4.540 km (2.821 miles)
Turns17
South Circuit (2019–present)
Length1.597 km (0.992 miles)
Turns8

Kuwait Motor Town is a 5.609 km (3.485 mi) motor racing circuit in Kuwait, located 56 km (35 mi) south of the capital Kuwait City. The main circuit is the first circuit in Kuwait to hold an FIA Grade One and FIM Grade A licence.[1] The Kuwait Motor Town aims to place Kuwait at the forefront of world-class motorsport events.[2][3]

History

The circuit was penned by Formula One circuit designer Hermann Tilke in early 2017. Construction was undertaken by KCC Engineering and Contracting Company at a reported cost of KWD49 million (US$162 million). Circuit construction was completed in December 2018 with the circuit opening in 2019.[4] Further development around the circuit is set to take place, including an "Entertainment City" shopping centre.[5]

The first event held at the circuit was the opening round of the 2019 Middle East Rally Championship on March 28.[6]

In terms of international auto racing series, 24H Series was the first event, which was held on 2 December 2022.[7]

Events

Current
Future
Former

Lap records

As of December 2023, the fastest official race lap records at Kuwait Motor Town are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Event
Grand Prix Circuit: 5.609 km (2019–present)
Formula Regional 1:47.600[8] Joshua Dufek Tatuus F3 T-318 2023 1st Kuwait Formula Regional Middle East round
GT3 1:52.062[9] Zdeno Mikulasko Lamborghini Huracán GT3 2022 12 Hours of Kuwait
Formula 4 1:54.295[10] James Wharton Tatuus F4-T421 2023 1st Kuwait F4 UAE round
Porsche Carrera Cup 1:55.272[9] Sergiu Nicolae Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup 2022 12 Hours of Kuwait
TCR Touring Car 2:01.297[9] Kantasak Kusiri CUPRA León Competición TCR 2022 12 Hours of Kuwait
GT4 2:01.330[9] Bradley Ellis Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 2022 12 Hours of Kuwait
Alternative Grand Prix Circuit: 5.160 km (2019–present)
GT3 1:43.065[11] Sergiu Nicolae Porsche 911 (992) GT3 R 2023 12 Hours of Kuwait
Porsche Carrera Cup 1:46.229[11] Christopher Zöchling Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup 2023 12 Hours of Kuwait
GT4 1:51.804[11] Charlie Robertson BMW M4 GT4 2023 12 Hours of Kuwait

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ "KUWAIT MOTOR TOWN". Tilke Engineers & Architects. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Kuwait Motor Town". RacingCircuits.info. 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Kuwait Motor Town opens to the public". Kuwait Motor Town. March 2018.
  4. ^ "Kuwait Motor Town Master Plan Layout". Kuwait International Automobile Club (KIAC). Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Kuwait Motor Town 2018". Brugg Group AG. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  6. ^ "New Kuwait Motor Town circuit ready for MERC return". Gulf Times. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  7. ^ "24H Series To Race In Kuwait For The First Time In 2022". 24H Series. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  8. ^ "KMT Formula Series R2 Kuwait Motor Town Formula Regional Middle East Championship Final Result Race 2" (PDF). 28 January 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d "1st Hankook 12H Kuwait 2022 Race - Final Result per Class" (PDF). 2 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  10. ^ "KMT Formula Series R2 Kuwait Motor Town F4 UAE Championship Final Result Race 2" (PDF). 28 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  11. ^ a b c "2nd Hankook 12H Kuwait 2023 Race - Final Result per Class" (PDF). 9 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.