Asian Le Mans

The state-funded Shanghai International Circuit was completed in time for the 2004 Chinese Grand Prix and was built on former swaps which resulted in future subsidence. The venue was considered state-of-the-art with impressive facilities for the teams and fans alike and had now become a staple event on many international championships including the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Built in the early 1960s, Fuji Speedway has become a regular on the FIA World Endurance Championship schedule. The Japanese circuit is now owned by Toyota but was originally designed to be a banked oval. The project faltered and the road circuit opened in 1965 and underwent modernisation programme in 2005. The original Atari Pole Position video game was based on Fuji.

Buriram International Circuit opened in 2014 and is the first FIA Grade 1 circuit to be built in Thailand. As with most modern circuits, it is designed by Hermann Tilke and first hosted the Asian Le Mans Series in January 2016. Dubbed the ‘Destination of Speed’ it may not have much choice in grandstands, but the ones it does have offer great views of the circuit.

Built to host the Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999, this impressive facility is located less than 50km from Kuala Lumpur. It features very long straights as ‘the snail’ that is turns one and turns two, a tightening right-hand corner which offers great opportunities for passing. Turn nine is another area to offer passing opportunities as is the final hairpin following another long straight.