Location | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
---|---|
Time zone | UTC+03:00 ( AST) |
Coordinates | 21°37′55″N 39°6′16″E / 21.63194°N 39.10444°E |
FIA Grade | 1 (Grand Prix) 2 (Short) |
Broke ground | March 2021 |
Opened | 3 December 2021 |
Architect | Carsten Tilke [1] |
Major events | Current: Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (2021–present) GT World Challenge Europe 6 Hours of Jeddah (2024) Former: WTCR Race of Saudi Arabia (2022) |
Grand Prix Circuit (2021–present) | |
Surface | Asphalt |
Length | 6.174 km (3.836 miles) |
Turns | 27 |
Race lap record | 1:30.734 ( Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, 2021, F1) |
Short Circuit (2022–present) | |
Length | 3.450 km (2.144 miles) |
Turns | 12 |
Race lap record | 1:16.986 ( Gilles Magnus, Audi RS 3 LMS TCR, 2022, TCR) |
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit [2] ( Arabic: حلبة كورنيش جدة) is a 6.174 km (3.836 mi) motor racing street-circuit built in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia. The circuit staged the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on 5 December 2021 as the penultimate race on the 2021 Formula One season calendar. [3] [4]
Identified as the fastest street circuit in Formula One, [5] the track is the third-longest track on the Formula One calendar, with Spa-Francorchamps and Las Vegas Strip Circuit being longer. [6]
Additionally, three consecutive sections of the circuit have been marked out as potential DRS zones. [7]
The circuit is located on the Jeddah Corniche adjoining the Red Sea. [8] The circuit was designed by Carsten Tilke, son of the famed circuit designer, Hermann Tilke. [9]
In November 2022, Jeddah hosted the season finale of 2022 World Touring Car Cup and also the last race of WTCR history. Instead of the Grand Prix layout, a shorter 3.450 km (2.144 mi) layout was configured for that race. [10]
As of March 2024, the fastest official race lap records at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit are listed as:
Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Prix Circuit: 6.174 km (2021–present) | ||||
Formula One | 1:30.734 [11] | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes-AMG W12 E Performance | 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix |
FIA F2 | 1:43.098 [12] | Jack Doohan | Dallara F2 2018 | 2022 Jeddah Formula 2 round |
Porsche Carrera Cup | 2:03.645 [13] | Bandar Alesayi | Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup [14] | 2022 Jeddah Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East round |
Formula 4 | 2:04.259 [15] | Doriane Pin | Tatuus F4-T421 | 2024 Jeddah F1 Academy round |
GT4 | 2:09.820 [16] | Freddy Fast | Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport [14] | 2022 Jeddah Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East round |
Short Circuit: 3.450 km (2022) | ||||
TCR Touring Car | 1:16.986 [17] | Gilles Magnus | Audi RS 3 LMS TCR (2021) | 2022 WTCR Race of Saudi Arabia |