Chengdu Goldenport Circuit

Not to be confused with Chengdu Tianfu International Circuit, a different circuit located in Tianfu New Area near to Chengdu, which was opened in December 2023.
Chengdu Goldenport Circuit
Full Circuit (2007–2019)
LocationChengdu, People's Republic of China
Time zoneGMT+08:00
Coordinates30°35′5″N 104°6′57″E / 30.58472°N 104.11583°E / 30.58472; 104.11583
Opened14 September 2007; 17 years ago (2007-09-14)
ClosedAugust 2019; 5 years ago (2019-08)
Major eventsF4 China (2016–2018)
CFGP (2011–2018)
Clio Cup China (2009, 2013–2015)
CTCC (2010–2013)
CSBK (2010)
A1 Grand Prix (2008)
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (2007)
Formula Renault AsiaCup (2007, 2009–2010)
ATCS (2007)
Formula V6 Asia (2007)
Formula BMW Asia (2007)
Full Circuit (2007–2019)
Length3.367 km (2.091 miles)
Turns13
Race lap record1:15.212 (Netherlands Robert Doornbos, A1GP Powered by Ferrari car, 2008, A1GP)

Chengdu Goldenport Circuit (simplified Chinese: 成都国际赛车场; traditional Chinese: 成都國際賽車場) also known as Chengdu International Circuit in English, was a permanent circuit in Shi Sheng Road, Jin Jiang, 610023 Chengdu, People's Republic of China.

It held a round of Asian Touring Car Series (ATCS), Formula V6 Asia in 2007 and 2008.

On August 26 2008, the circuit was confirmed to be hosting a round of the 2008-09 A1 Grand Prix season.[1] It was the fourth different circuit in China to have hosted an A1 Grand Prix race. The track hosted the second round of the Grand Prix season on 9 November 2008, the Sprint race was won by Adam Carroll of Team Ireland and the Feature race was won by Filipe Albuquerque of Team Portugal. The fastest lap at the circuit was set by Robert Doornbos of Team The Netherlands, who managed a lap of 1:15.212.

In August 2019, the venue was announced to be demolished.[2] According to renowned F1 journalist Joe Saward, plans are for a redevelopment of the circuit to be FIA Grade 1 in order to start work towards a second Formula One race in China. [3]

The circuit

The circuit was 3.367 km (2.092 mi) long. A1 Grand Prix's track commentator Bruce Jones compared the bumpy circuit [4] to Spain's Circuito Permanente del Jarama and Portugal's Autódromo do Estoril. He suggested the main straight is longer than the one at Circuit Park Zandvoort, before plunging under a bridge.[5] Another A1GP track commentator John Watson believed that the bumps are the consequence of the track's location in an earthquake zone.[6]

A1 Team Australia's driver John Martin said driving on the track was like "old Mario Kart on Nintendo" because the bumps on the circuit made his car jump. There were puddles on the circuit which never dried up during the weekend and they caused spins. He also said that the surface is not ideal because the water was rising to the surface, as the track was built on part of a swamp.[7]

Lap records

The fastest official race lap records at the Chengdu Goldenport Circuit are listed as:

Category Time Driver Vehicle Event
Full Circuit: 3.367 km (2007–2019)
A1GP 1:15.212 Robert Doornbos A1GP Powered by Ferrari car 2008–09 A1 Grand Prix of Nations, China
Formula Renault 3.5 1:25.544[8] James Winslow Tatuus FRV6 2007 Chengdu Formula V6 Asia round
Formula 4 1:30.358[9] Bruno Carneiro Mygale M14-F4 2016 Chengdu F4 China round
Formula BMW 1:30.688[10] Kyle Mitchell Mygale FB02 2007 Chengdu Formula BMW Asia round
Porsche Carrera Cup 1:38.729[11] Christian Jones Porsche 911 (997 I) GT3 Cup 2007 Chengdu Porsche Carrera Cup Asia round
Super 2000 1:39.011[12] Fariqe Hairuman BMW 320i[13] 2007 Chengdu ATCS round

References

  1. ^ "Chengdu race announced". a1gp.com. 2008-08-26. Archived from the original on 2008-08-31. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  2. ^ GT News Notebook - Daily Sportscar, 17 August 2019
  3. ^ Notebook Joe Saward's Notebook
  4. ^ "It's all about the bumps". a1gp.com. 2008-11-07. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  5. ^ "POSTCARD from Chengdu, China". a1gp.com. 2008-11-07. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  6. ^ "WATTIE'S WHAT?: Lesson 2". a1gp.com. 2008-11-17. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
  7. ^ "Martin flies on China's Mario circuit". foxsports.com. 2008-11-11. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  8. ^ "Chengdu Asian Festival of Speed 2007 - Formula V6 Asia - Sprint Race". 15 September 2007. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  9. ^ "2016 爛 笢弊源最宒湮蔣??ㄗ傖飲桴ㄘ - 褲齪炰薯戚FIA F4笢弊踞梓". 28 May 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Chengdu Asian Festival of Speed 2007 - Formula BMW Asia Series - Round 14". 15 September 2007. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Chengdu Asian Festival of Speed 2007 - Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Series - Round 7". 16 September 2007. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  12. ^ "Chengdu Asian Festival of Speed 2007 - Asian Touring Car Series - Round 5". 15 September 2007. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  13. ^ "Fariqe Hairuman - Driver Database". Retrieved 8 January 2023.
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