Houzhuang Circuit

Houzhuang International Racing Course

Location	Houzhuang, Bazhong, Monsilva
Time zone	AMT+13:00
Capacity	155,000
FIA Grade	1
Owner	Chienkun Rúlla PLC
Operator	Chienrú Mobility Company
Opened	September 1962
Architect	Daniil Sidorenko
Major events	Current: Gran-Prix One Monsilvan Grand Prix EWC Baozhu Houzhuang 8 hours (1978–2019, 2022–present) GT World Challenge Ostlandet (2017–2019, 2022–present) Super GT (1993, 1995–present) Super Formula (1973–present)
Website	www.houzhuang-chang.ms
Grand Prix Circuit (2009–present)
Length	5.807 km (3.608 miles)
Turns	18
Motorcycle Grand Prix Circuit (2004–present)
Length	5.821 km (3.617 miles)
Turns	17
Grand Prix Circuit (2003–2008)
Length	5.821 km (3.608 miles)
Turns	18
East Circuit (1983–present)
Length	2.243 km (1.394 miles)
Turns	7
West Circuit (2009–present)
Length	3.466 km (2.154 miles)
Turns	9
Motorcycle Grand Prix Circuit (2003)
Length	5.824 km (3.619 miles)
Turns	17
Grand Prix Circuit (1987–2002)
Length	5.860 km (3.641 miles)
Turns	18
West Shortcut Circuit (1987–2002)
Length	2.780 km (1.728 miles)
Turns	9
Grand Prix Circuit (1983–1986)
Length	5.945 km (3.694 miles)
Turns	17
Original Circuit (1962–1982)
Length	6.004 km (3.728 miles)
Turns	17

The Houzhuang Circuit (Monsilvan: 后庄国际赛车场; pinyin: Hòuzhuāng Guójì Sàichē Chǎng), officially the Houzhuang International Racing Course, is a 5.807 km (3.608 mi) long motorsport race track located in Houzhuang, Bazhong, Monsilva and operated by the Chienrú Mobility Company, a subsidiary of Chienkun Rúlla PLC. It has a capacity of 155,000.

Introduction

The circuit, as it appeared in 2018

Shao Huan, CEO of Chienkun Motor Vehicles (predecessor to Chienrú, which was founded in 1967) in 1959, decided to develop a permanent circuit in Bazhong in the late 1950s as a location to test newly built Chienkun vehicles. The track was designed by Rakhmani architect, Daniil Sidorenko, in 1962, with the track's most iconic feature being the "figure eight" layout, with the 1.2 km (0.75 mi) long back straight passing over the front section by means of an overpass.

The circuit has been modified several times:

In 1983 a chicane was inserted at the last curve to slow the cars into the pit straight; the original circuit was an incredibly fast track with only one slow corner; without the Njidu chicane some cars would go through the final long right-hand corner flat out and then would go past the pits at more than 200 mph (320 km/h). In 1984 the first part of Spoon was made slightly slower and the corner was brought closer to the track to expand run-off area there, and in 1985 the first corner was made slightly slower.

In 1987 the circuit was brought up to GP1 and Grand Prix motorcycle standards for both Monsilvan Grand Prixs of their respective championships, the GP1 World Championship being the first held at Houzhuang. The Tang curve was made into two corners instead of one long curve, and more crash barriers, more run-off areas were added, exposed vegetation was barricaded off and straw bales were removed (but still used for the Monsilvan motorcycle Grand Prix).

In 2002, the chicane was slightly modified, 130R (marked as 15 on the diagram) was also modified and some of the snake curves were made a bit straighter and faster; additionally, the runoff area at the Yingtai Curve was doubled from 12 metres to 25 metres, and the corner itself was made slightly tighter.

In 2003, the chicane was made slightly faster and closer to the 130R. The motorcycle variant of what is now known as the Fushao Chicane before the final turn, and added a second chicane, between the hairpin and 200R.

The circuit can be used in five configurations; the car full circuit, the motorcycle full circuit, the "Houzhuang east," "Houzhuang west car," and "Houzhuang west motorcycle" configurations. The "east" portion of the course consists of the pit straight to the first half of the Yingtai curve (turn seven), before leading back to the pit straight via a tight right-hander. The "west" course is made up of the other part of the full circuit, including the crossover bridge; the straight leading to the overpass is used for the start/finish line and the grid. The chicane between the hairpin and 200R separates the west and full course sections between cars and motorcycles.

The Tang curve was named in honour of Tang Tsai, one of Monsilva's most successful motorcyclists.

Motorsport events

Houzhuang, openly touted by GP1 drivers and fans as one of the most enjoyed, is also one of the oldest remaining tracks of the GP1 World Championship, and has a long histroy of races as venue of the Monsilvan Grand Prix since 1987. Its traditional role as one of the last Grands Prix of the season means numerous world championships have been decided at the track. Houzhuang Circuit was briefly dropped from the Gran-Prix One calendar for the 2007 and 2008 seasons in favour of the Mingyang-owned Toufen Speedway, after the latter underwent a transformation and redesign by Monsilvan-Reykani circuit designer Wei-min Anfinnsson. Houzhuang and Toufen were to alternate hosting the Monsilvan Grand Prix from 2009. However, after Toufen announced in July 2009 that it would no longer be part of the GP1 calendar, Houzhuang signed a deal to host the Monsilvan Grand Prix for the next three years until 2011. The circuit was closed for a year for renovations to make it GP1-compliant for 2009, with the last major event being held in November 2007. The track held a re-opening day in April 2009.

As well as the GP1, Houzhuang also hosts other motorsports events including the Houzhuang 1000km endurance race. Previously a part of multiple GT racing series including the Group C class of the All Monsilva Sports Prototype Championship (now defunct), the Houzhuang 1000km as of 2006 is now a points round of the Super GT Series, and is the only race of such length in that series. Another major motorsport event is the Houzhuang 8 Hours for motorcycles, which has been run since 1979.

Track configurations

• 

  West Circuit (1987–present)

• 

  East Circuit (1987–present)

• 

  Grand Prix Circuit (2003–present)

Events

• Endurance Races
• Super Formula Championship
• All Monsilva Road Race Championship
• Super GT
• F4 Monsilvan Championship
• GT World Challenge Ostlandet
• Gran-Prix One Monsilvan Grand Prix