This year the Shanghai International Circuit hosts its first-ever Grand Prix ̢̮?? also the first ever on Chinese soil. The circuit has been build on a swamp (no Monty Python and the Holy Grail references, please), one of the more bizarre facts around its construction being that it has been built on expanded polystyrene. In fact so much has been used that there has been a severe shortage of expanded polystyrene in the far east. Yes, the circuit is built on top of the same material that your new widescreen TV is packaged in. The circuit has been billed as being designed to sit at the leading edge of Formula One race circuit technology. It represents a sporting centre of excellence for the Chinese people, puts China on the World's sporting map and is the focal point of the economic and cultural development of Shanghai. The objective has been to create a circuit that will be the benchmark for new Formula One circuits of the future and a key area of consideration for the designers has been spectator access and entertainment. Within the circuit will be a host of activities designed for the enjoyment and entertainment of the Chinese motorsport fans with shops, restaurants, amusement arcades and a kart racing circuit. Considerable investment, time and effort has been put into all the facilities and one of the most dynamic is the impressive Main Grandstand with its unique "wings". These "bridge" like structures run at either end of the Main Grandstand and connect across the track with the Pit Building. The "wings" are nearly 100 metres in length and house in one end the International Media Centre with seating for 530 journalists in an area of 1600 square metres that can be converted into a Conference Centre, while in the other there is a restaurant, kitchen, VIP rooms and a balcony that will accommodate the Paddock Club facility during the Grand Prix. Each "wing" is connected to the Pit Building by a tower. The first of these is the Race Control facility while the other contains the circuit administration offices. The Main Grandstand contains 24 Hospitality Suites between the upper and lower tiers. Each suite has its own kitchen and washroom facilities. Each suite has a balcony so that guests can view the pit lane and also experience uninterrupted views over the circuit. The team facilities are equally impressive with a total of 26 team "pit"areas each with balcony access to the water garden facility, based on the Yu Yuan water garden in the centre of Shanghai, at the rear. The pit complex design is uniquely creative with the possibility to convert each building into two hotel rooms demonstrating the flexibility of usage for the circuit. With any modern sporting development of this nature it is important to build flexibility of use into the design and operation of the facility. As a consequence a "Members Club" is being constructed with Golf driving range, tennis courts, gym, swimming pool and sauna. Additionally, there is scope for the construction of a hotel and exhibition centre. Kimi Raikkonen describes what a lap of the Shanghai circuit is expected to be like: ̢̮??The lap starts on the long pit straight, we power along the 600 metre section reaching speeds that we estimate to be in the 320km/h mark in seventh gear as we pass underneath the impressive grandstand walkway. The first corner looks like it is very long and sweeps round to the right and is immediately followed by a right then left of turns two and three. Our speeds will probably drop quite low through here as it looks quite tight. As we exit turn three, we will have to push on the throttle to build up speed as we pass through the slight kinks of turns four and five that gently flick the track first left then right on the run down to turn six. We may hit 300 km/h along here before braking hard for the hairpin of six, which will see us drop down into first gear. Coming out of the hairpin there is a section of track that looks like it may be awesome to drive. There is a short straight that leads to a long, wide, sweeping S of seven and eight, with the track first curving to the left and then to the right. This section will probably be very high speed, maintaining as much as possible for the first section in particular and only lifting slightly for the apex of eight. The two almost 90-degree bends of nine and ten follow that take you onto a short straight, which leads to the tight left of eleven at the end of the straight. This will probably be in second gear and it takes you onto another long sweeping right hander, similar to the complex at the end of the pit straight. This double-apex bend swings us back round on ourselves onto a straight that runs parallel to the one we were just on. The corner is the widest section of the track and it is fairly long so we will be increasing our speed as we drive through it, all these factors may lead to possible overtaking here. The corner is also particularly important for a quick lap time as it swings the track round onto the longest straight, which is just over one kilometre. We need to ensure we have the maximum speed possible as we exit the corner so that we have the momentum to power along the back straight at speeds nearing 330km/h in seventh. A hard braking zone at the end of the straight for the two rights of fourteen and fifteen. This will probably see another overtaking opportunity as we will be able to slipstream any cars ahead on the track for the kilometre and pull alongside shortly before the end and hopefully take the position under braking. Again on the power for a short straight that takes you to the final corner, a 90-degree left-hander that sees you return to the pit straight.̢̮?? Lap information courtesy of West McLaren Mercedes.
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