The F1 Grand Prix Races into Town

Photo Credit:Dawn

The third annual F1 Korean Grand Prix kicked off this past weekend in the southern part of the country, launching an important race for the overall championship.

In a country that celebratestechnology, an F1 circuit seems a natural fit. F1 is not just a motorsport, it is a showcase for automotive technology and a testbed for new innovations that lead to greater stability, ride comfort, fuel efficiency and human-vehicle interaction.

The Korean leg began with two practice runs on Friday at the Korean International Circuit in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul. (Just over an hour away at top F1 speeds!) The third practice session was on Saturday, followed by the qualifying race.

The final race took place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, with 55 laps on the 5.615-kilometer circuit. Two-time defending world champion Sebastian Vettel of Germany again saw victory with his third straight win in the Grand Prix, from Singapore to Japan to now Korea.

Another star was seen at the Korean Grand Prix – none other than "Gangnam Style" sensation, Psy. As an ambassador for the race in Yeongam, he performed his smash hit with Vettel before the race and had the honor of waving the checkered flag.

Psy with racing champ Sebastian Vettel

Photo Credit:Straits Times

The Korean Grand Prix is the 16th among 20 races in the ongoing F1 season. It's also part of the F1's late-season Asian swing, which also covers Singapore, Japan and India.

The Korea International Circuit is the hybrid F1 circuit that combines two courses in Yeongam and Jeollanam-do. It consists of two tracks: the F1 grand prix track and the regular track, which accommodate a variety of races. The total length of the circuit (over 5.615 km) is the second longest in the world behind the Monza Circuit in Italy (5.793 km) and is the longest circuit in Asia. 

The area consists of an F1 pit building, a control tower, a media center, a building for teams, grand stands for up to 120,000 visitors, parking facilities and entertainment venues. An interesting point is that the track is run with the sea as a backdrop. It's also designed to maximize the speed ofcars.

After Korea, there are four races left in the overall race- make sure to stay tuned to see who is named the grand champion!

About the author by Donna Choi

Born and raised in the States, I came to Seoul in 2009 and have loved living and working in such a high-tech and connected city ever since. I enjoy collecting unique, cute gadgets/items (I have a bread-scented smartphone case!) and traveling around Korea. My personal mission while living in Korea: Try every type of Korean food known to exist.

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