Projects / 4/2/2024

Petronas Sepang International Race Circuit

Rapid film-forming acrylic resin for the coating used for the circuit that hosted the malaysian MotoGP

The Sepang International Circuit, designed by Hermann Tilke, hosts major racing events. Mapei technology played a key role in the circuit’s renovation and preparation, providing durable, slip-resistant, and quickly applicable coatings that meet FIA and FIM standards.

The circuit

Completed in February 1998 and inaugurated in March 1999 by the Malaysian Prime Minister at the time, Mahathir Mohamad, the Sepang International Circuit (now known as "Petronas Sepang International Circuit") is a symbol of excellence on the Malaysian sports panorama and regularly hosts top level car, motorcycle and cycling events, such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix (F1), MotoGP, Super GT, World Touring Car Cup (WTCR), and Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC).

The circuit, designed by the world-famous architect Hermann Tilke, has all the right ingredients to guarantee excitement and suspense for both the racers and the more than 170,000 spectators it can hold: with 5,543 m, 15 corners and 8 straights and 2 high-speed stretches, vehicles reach a speed of more than 300km/h during races.

A fantastic return

For Mapei the Sepang circuit is an “old acquaintance”. Between July 2013 and August 2014 Mapei Malaysia, the Malaysian subsidiary of the Group, took part in renovation work on one of the most important buildings at the circuit, which is located alongside the racetrack and hosts 33 boxes, the areas where vehicles are checked and parked during races, and the stands. Thanks to the specific waterproofing system proposed by the company (consisting of MAPELASTIC, MAPENET 150, and MAPEBAND) Mapei played a key role in overcoming the problem of water infiltrating through the roof.

Last autumn Mapei technology again played a key role at Sepang, taking part in the preparation of the circuit for the 2023 edition of the Petronas MotoGP Grand Prix of Malaysia.

MAPECOAT TNS RACE TRACK coloured coating was chosen to protect the kerbs and runoff areas around the circuit. This is an acrylic waterborne, rapid film-forming, coloured coating specifically developed for marking asphalt roadways of road racing circuits. This product ensures the areas treated remain durable and resistant to slip and maintain their surface roughness over time, including in wet conditions. In fact, the mechanical properties of the film, combined with its high resistance to potentially harmful and aggressive chemical agents (oil and fuel), make MAPECOAT TNS RACE TRACK an ideal solution for protecting surfaces which are regulary cleaned to ensure the riders' safety.

Maximum safety… at maximum speed

The owner also chose this product because its formulation meets all the certification and safety standards required by FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) and FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) for products used to mark out the road surface of motor racing circuits.

Another criteria was just as decisive: rapidity, which guaranteed short application times for the coating and, as a result, shorter preparation times for the circuit. In fact, MAPECOAT TNS RACE TRACK technology is based on special components that help the product form a film very quickly so that surfaces may be opened to foot traffic much sooner than with traditional acrylic systems.

And lastly, colour: obtaining the right colour for this application was made possible thanks also to the extensive range of colours available and the ColorMap^® automatic colouring system which allows any colour to be created.