Bira Circuit

Bira Circuit
Location	Pattaya, Thailand
Time zone	UTC+07:00; Thai Standard Time
Coordinates	12°55′17″N 101°0′33″E / 12.92139°N 101.00917°E / 12.92139; 101.00917
Capacity	30,000
Broke ground	1985
Opened	26 April 1986; 37 years ago
Major events	Former:; Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (2003–2005); ATCS (2000–2006, 2008–2009); Formula BMW Asia (2003–2006); Formula Asia (1997–1998, 2000–2002); South East Asia Touring Car Zone Challenge (1992–1998)
Full Circuit (1986–present)
Length	2.410 km (1.498 miles)
Turns	11
Race lap record	1:01.569 ( Michael Patrizi, Mygale FB02, 2005, Formula BMW)

Bira Circuit is a motor racing track in Thailand, located in 111 Moo 5 Banglamung, Chonburi, 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Pattaya. The circuit is located on State Highway 36 which is 120 km (75 mi) from Bangkok and 20-kilometre (12 mi) from the CBD of Pattaya.^[1]

The venue is named after first Thai Formula 1 racing driver, Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh. The circuit has been operated by Bira Circuit One Company, Limited. The track, initially opened in 1986, covers an area of 65 acres (260,000 m²). It is a 2.410 km (1.498 mi) permanent motor and motorbike racing circuit with an offroad track, a rally stage and a go-kart facility.

The circuit is twisty and bumpy and consists of elevation and two chicanes, a fast downhill double apex corner.^[2] There are 30 pits for racecars, plus a control tower, medical center and meeting room. The grandstand and spectator area can accommodate up to 100,000 people.^[3] It is also the first circuit in Thailand that meets the standard of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (F.I.A.). The South East Asia Touring Car Zone Challenge (SEATCZC) has been run at Bira Circuit since 1992 and the Asian Formula 2000 since 1997. The Circuit has full facilities for arranging all kinds of motorsport events; race meeting, racing school, test drives, etc.^[4]^[5]

On the straights of Bira's go-kart track speeds of up to 100 km/h (62 mph) can be achieved depending on the weather conditions. In order to meet Commission Internationale de Karting's standard, the go-kart track was overhauled in 2006.^[1]

Lap records

As of September 2016, the fastest official race lap records at the Bira Circuit are listed as:

Category	Time	Driver	Vehicle	Event
Full Circuit: 2.410 km (1986–present)^[5]
Formula BMW	1:01.569^[6]	Michael Patrizi	Mygale FB02	2005 Pattaya Formula BMW Asia round
Asian Formula 2000	1:02.440^[7]	Ng Wai Leong	Argo Formula Asia	2000 Pattaya Formula Asia 2000 round
Super Touring	1:03.090^[8]	Charles Kwan	BMW 320	1998 Pattaya SEATCZC round
TCR Touring Car	1:04.669^[9]	Jack Lemvard	SEAT León Cup Racer	2016 Pattaya TCR Thailand round
Super 2000	1:07.761^[10]	Charoensukawattana Nattavude	Peugeot 306 GTi	2001 Pattaya ATCC round

References

^ a b "Welcome to Bira Circuit -- The Home of Pure Racing Excitement". bira.co.th. 2007. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
^ "Bira Circuit, Thailand". afos.com. 2005. Archived from the original on 2008-07-31. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
^ "Circuit Details for Bira". meritusracing.com. 2009. Archived from the original on 2006-02-19. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
^ "Bira Circuit Co., Ltd". grandprixgroup.com. 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-04-26. Retrieved 2009-01-30.
^ a b "Bira Circuit". RacingCircuits.info. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
^ "2005 Formula BMW Asia - Round 5 - Bira - Race". 12 June 2005. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
^ "Asian Formula 2000 2000 Round 10 Results: Asian Festival of Speed Bira International Circuit, Thailand - September 3rd". 3 September 2000. Archived from the original on 8 July 2001. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
^ "South East Asia Touring Car Zone Challenge 1998 Round 1 Results: Asian Festival of Speed, Bira, Thailand April 13th-14th, 1998". 14 April 1998. Archived from the original on 14 May 2001. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
^ "2016 Thailand Super Series Round 5-6 - TCR Thailand - Official Race 7 Result". 10 September 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
^ "Asian Touring Car Championship 2001 Round 10 Results: Asian Festival of Speed, Bira, Thailand August 25th - 26th, 2001". 26 August 2001. Archived from the original on 2 January 2002. Retrieved 31 December 2023.

External links

Official website
Grunwell leads the way for Thais
Highside Tours, Highsidetours Track Days in Thailand
Thai Superbike, Thai Superbike Track Days in Thailand
Track Days Website, Track Days in Thailand
Thai trax Website, Thai Trax Track Days in Thailand
Siam Track Days^{[permanent dead link]}, Siam Track Days in Thailand

This article about a motor sport venue is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This article about a sports venue in Thailand is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[bira.co.th-1] "Welcome to Bira Circuit -- The Home of Pure Racing Excitement". bira.co.th. 2007. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2009.

[2] "Bira Circuit, Thailand". afos.com. 2005. Archived from the original on 2008-07-31. Retrieved 2009-01-30.

[3] "Circuit Details for Bira". meritusracing.com. 2009. Archived from the original on 2006-02-19. Retrieved 2009-01-30.

[4] "Bira Circuit Co., Ltd". grandprixgroup.com. 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-04-26. Retrieved 2009-01-30.

[bira_rcircuits-5] "Bira Circuit". RacingCircuits.info. Retrieved 31 December 2023.

[6] "2005 Formula BMW Asia - Round 5 - Bira - Race". 12 June 2005. Retrieved 8 January 2023.

[7] "Asian Formula 2000 2000 Round 10 Results: Asian Festival of Speed Bira International Circuit, Thailand - September 3rd". 3 September 2000. Archived from the original on 8 July 2001. Retrieved 31 December 2023.

[8] "South East Asia Touring Car Zone Challenge 1998 Round 1 Results: Asian Festival of Speed, Bira, Thailand April 13th-14th, 1998". 14 April 1998. Archived from the original on 14 May 2001. Retrieved 31 December 2023.

[9] "2016 Thailand Super Series Round 5-6 - TCR Thailand - Official Race 7 Result". 10 September 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2023.

[10] "Asian Touring Car Championship 2001 Round 10 Results: Asian Festival of Speed, Bira, Thailand August 25th - 26th, 2001". 26 August 2001. Archived from the original on 2 January 2002. Retrieved 31 December 2023.