Construction of circuit for inaugural Saudi Arabia Grand Prix on track
Jeddah Corniche Circuit will be the fastest street circuit on the F1 calendar
Construction work is in full swing on Formula 1’s fastest-ever street circuit, which is being prepared at Jeddah Corniche track, for the inaugural Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, which is scheduled for December 5, 2021.
According to Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC), the promotor of the 2021 F1 Saudi Grand Prix, the 27-corner, 6.1km circuit will be the second-longest on the calendar and will feature an average speed of 250km/h, as per simulations.
It added that the Jeddah race will be run under floodlights, and that it could feature three DRS zones to add even more excitement. A key part of the high-speed layout will be Turn 13, which is banked at 12-degrees, plus the stretch from Turn 23 to Turn 27, which will see drivers hit 322km/h, the SMC statement said.
Scheduled to make its F1 calendar debut from December 3 – 5th, 2021, the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will be the newest circuit in the sport. With drivers reaching an average speed of 250km/h, it will be the fastest street circuit in the world, and amongst the top five fastest Formula 1 circuits altogether.
With 27-corners, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit will be 6.175km in length, making it the second-longest circuit on the current F1 calendar behind the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and the longest street circuit in the sport, stated SMC in its statement.
SMC also revealed plans for its state-of-the-art Pit & Team Building that will be the centrepiece of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Designed by Tilke GmbH architect, Ulrich Merres, the 280-m-long, four-storey, structure takes the form of a ‘composed landscape of multi-storey staggered buildings sitting splendidly alongside the main straight of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, defined in its detail by straight and sleek lines’.
Housing all team garages as well as the race control centre and the exclusive Paddock Club premium hospitality suites, the Pit & Team Building will provide guests with views of the Pit Lane and starting grid where the most crucial moments of the racing action will occur.
Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile & Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), said: “We are delighted to share these exclusive renderings of our stunning Pit & Team Building with the world today. The Pit Building stands as a symbol of all that this race represents: welcoming, modern and spectacular.
Designed to fit harmoniously within the track and its surroundings, its architectural expression is equally inspired by its idyllic location on the banks of the Red Sea and the layout of the circuit, he added.
The building’s functionality, visual connection to the track and sensible positioning mark it out as one of the most unique and innovative structures of its kind, guaranteeing spectacular views of the racing action as well as of the breath-taking Jeddah waterfront, he stated.
“With just few months left until the pinnacle of motorsport reaches Saudi Arabia, preparations are progressing at an incredible rate as our dedicated team gears up for the first ever F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. We can’t wait to welcome you to Jeddah this December for a weekend of record-breaking racing and world-class entertainment,” he concluded.
