South Korean Grand Prix Tickets

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South Korean Grand Prix Tickets
17 October 2010 | Jeonnam Circuit
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Korean Grand Prix Update - December 2009

Kevin Lee, the general manager who is master minding the 2010 Korean GP has informed the F1 world everything is on schedule and they are currently 60% of the way through their development program.

The circuit should be finished at the start of July 2010 ahead of circuit and facility inspections by the FIA and other related parties.

At current there is no planned date for the sale of South Korean Grand Prix tickets but we are keeping an eye on the situation all the time. Please use out ticket notification service at the top of this page to keep in the loop with ticket updates.

Location

Korea is attached to the Asian continent near China's eastern border with Russia and projects out into the Yellow Sea towards Japan. The peninsular is divided into two separate countries, North and South Korea, and technically the two nations are at war. Tensions between the North and South escalated into conflict during the early fifties but when the fighting stopped South Korea never formally signed the peace treaty. The nations are physically separated by the worldÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s most fortified border, a 2.5 kilometre wide strip of demilitarised land that runs the full width of the peninsular. Since the Korean War ended, over 500 troops have been killed whilst serving duty along the border and friction between the North and South remains strong.

The Grand Prix circuit is located in the Jeolla province in the bottom left hand corner of South Korea. The area is agricultural and rice fields form much of the local scenery thanks to frequent rain. There are 2000 islands just off the nearby coastline, and whilst most of them can be visited, very few are actually inhabited.

The racetrack is roughly 400 kilometres from Seoul (almost the same distance from London to Newcastle) but is much closer to the smaller towns of Gwangju and Busan where most visitors are expected to stay. Since the circuit is so remote, providing ample accommodation for everyone is proving to be a challenge for race organisers. However, they have come up with some pretty innovative ideas. One of them is to house tourists on cruise ships that will be docked in the harbour adjoining the racetrack. Another is to allow visitors to live with local Monks observing the Bhuddist way of life outside of the Grand Prix. Rather than being a hindrance, the remote setting could end up making the event a unique part of the F1 calendar.

Circuit Origins

South Korea is the fifth largest producer of cars in the world and is looking to capitalise on its extensive automotive industry with a presence in international motorsport. The country first tried organising a Grand Prix in the late nineties and agreed a deal to host an event from 1998. However, the circuit was never built due to inadequate funding and the race failed to materialise. Somewhat predictably, Bernie Ecclestone got to keep the money originally paid to him by race promoters.

The new Korean International circuit is built on farmland by the Yeongsan river and the area around it will be developed into a business park. The idea is to create an industrial hub that helps boost technological investment and tourism in the country. Construction is very advanced and the circuit is due for completion in July.

Description

The Korean International Circuit is very similar to the Abu Dhabi layout in that each of its three sectors share the same characteristics. The first third of the track comprises of three long straights that are joined together by tight corners. The second sector contains many fast sweeping curves, whilst the final section includes a series of tight bends that wind past a marina. Many drivers were critical of the Ã¢â‚¬Å“boring" final corners in Abu Dhabi so will likely have the same sentiments towards the Korean circuit. It is a Herman Tilke designed track which means overtaking should be possible, and care has been taken to make the venue look good on TV with mountains in the background. The far end of the circuit with the fast corners is being built as a permanent racetrack whilst the other sections will be open as public roads for most of the year. The pit buildings will also house shops and restaurants when the Grand Prix is not in town. As yet, the city and surrounding areas are yet to be fully built so it will be interesting to see how much investment the circuit attracts.

Racing History

The 2010 Korean Grand Prix will be the first Formula One race in the country, but the locals already have some experience organising international motorsport events. Between 1999 and 2003 the streets of Changwon played host to the Korean Formula Three Superprix. The flyaway event was teamed with the Macau Grand Prix at the end of the regular season but was later replaced by a similar race in Bahrain.

There are no Korean drivers in any major international championships at the moment although a few have reached various European Formula Three series in recent years. Most drivers from the region make their way into the competitive Japanese racing scene amongst the Formula Nippon and GT Championships. One of those drivers, Hwang Jin-Woo, took part in the A1GP championship representing Korea in 2008 but the national team only lasted two events before running out of funding.

In addition to the Korean International Circuit, the American company that designed Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama are building a similar facility not far from Seoul. The circuit will be classified as FIA Grade 2, which means it can host pretty much anything except for F1, and will be another significant boost motorsport in the country.

Driving challenges

The circuit will be challenging for all of the drivers as they explore the new layout, but the sweeping bends out the back are likely to be the most exciting and challenging parts of the track. The Korean Grand Prix will be one of the few races on the F1 calendar that runs anti-clockwise and, given there are a number of quick corners, this will place a lot of strain on the driverÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s necks. The humidity is also likely to be high which will place a premium on fitness.

Why Watch?

This new circuit could prove to be one of Herman TilkeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s more interesting designs, and if nothing else it should look great on TV. The first race at any new venue is exciting so it will be interesting to see just how good the circuit is and if it is conducive to close racing. The start will be exciting with a number of long straights and tight corners to settle the field.