The 5.621km Yeongam track, located in the South Jeolla region of the Korean peninsula, is another Hermann Tilke creation. The track has a temporary street circuit section, which is included for the Grand Prix, and a 3.045-km permanent track, which will be used all year round.
Korea features a 1.2km straight (one of three high-speed stretches), one of the longest straight of any current Asian Formula 1 circuit. It is also one of the calendar's few anti-clockwise tracks and features five slow turns and two obvious spots for overtaking. Korea is surely an eye opener for Formula 1 and could provide another thrilling race.
Despite the frenetic rush to get the Yeongam circuit finished, the inaugural Korean Grand Prix was deemed a great success. The facilities were good and, more importantly, the track got the thumbs-up from the drivers. Its mix of fast, open corners to start the lap and a street circuit finish seemed to work well.
The track was very slippery last year after the asphalt was laid only two weeks prior to the race and was still curing. It’s now had time to settle, so there should be more grip available.