China thinks big with Shanghai
No, not an alien spacecraft, this is Shanghai's grandstand.
Picture: Tilke GmbH
China's new F1 circuit in Shanghai has been officially opened, ahead of the first-ever Chinese Grand Prix later this year.
The Hermann Tilke-designed track has been finished ahead of schedule and passed inspection by the FIA in June.
It has a total lap of 5.4km, consisting of nine straights and 14 corners. A special feature is the first turn complex, modelled on a character from the Chinese alphabet.
The unusual first corner complex
Picture: SIC
Standard bearer
Shanghai International Circuit looks set to raise standards even higher: no mean feat considering Tilke's other recent designs at Sepang, Malaysia and Manama, Bahrain.
A huge main grandstand with wing-shaped ends which wrap around each end dominates the pit straight and gives a good impression of the sheer scale of the project, which incorporates multiple circuit variations and even a drag strip.
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