Newin wants to make Buri Ram beyond unbelievable with racing circuit

The “Burirum” consortium, led by Thai Premier League club Buriram United president Newin Chidchob, secured the hosting rights of Japan’s popular super car race for two years, starting next October. The race will inaugurate the BRIC, which is being built at a cost of around Bt2billion.

A contract-signing ceremony was held on Sunday at the Thunder Square in front of Buriram United’s home ground, I-Mobile Stadium. Thailand will become the second country in Southeast Asia to stage the Super GT race after Malaysia at Sepang International Circuit.

The northeastern province already boasts a football club, Buriram United, among the top 10 in Asia. Add to its portfolio the country’s first track of international standards, and Newin is hoping to turn his hometown into one of the favourite destinations for people not just in the country but in the region.

“We’re not as lucky as anyone else because God was not kind to us. Before, we were a city that did not have anything to attract people. But now, with our football stadium, which is the “breath” of Buri Ram, everyone wants to visit our town.

“After our success in football, which is a mass sport, we want to do other things under the “Buriram Beyond Unbelievable” concept. So we decided to create a track in the country that meets international standards. With the Buriram United International Circuit, we will put our province on the world map of motor sports.

“In the past, if anyone in the country or in the Southeast Asia region wants to watch top racing events they needed to go to Malaysia. We’ll reverse that trend. From now on, people who want to see top flight racing must come to Buri Ram. Within the next five years, Buri Ram will become the regional hub in sports,” Newin told reporters at the BRIC building site behind the club’s stadium.

The Buriram United boss said watching races at the BRIC, which is expected to finish in July next year, would give spectators a unique experience.

“Our circuit is different from others in the world because spectators at the grand stand can watch the whole track, which is the main feature of the venue. Fans can follow their favourite car throughout the race not just fleetingly, something of 30 seconds for each lap.

“In addition, our grand stand is something special because we have designed racing teams’ garage under the spectators stand, not on the opposite side of the terrace like we see in other circuits, so fans can see all the activity happen in the paddocks at close range.

“The track itself will give fans a special experience. During a race, the cars after a long straight will make a U-turn towards the grand stand and the spectators will get the feeling of watching a 3D movie. Cars racing on our track can hit a maximum speed of over 300km per hour on the straight and around 240km while turning a corner, so it will be a really exciting race,” Newin said of the track that covers a thousand rai.

Despite costing Bt60 million a year, Newin believes it is well worth staging the race that will replace the Malaysian leg from next year.

“When we host the Super GT race, we’ll become the only country in the region to stage the race as there would not be a race in Malaysia from next year. The Buri Ram leg will be an official race in the Super GT series and points won are counted. We also are allowed to field a Thai team to race at our “home” track for the next two years.”

Newin said the circuit is close to securing a contract to host a MotoGP, possibly in 2015, with a few issues to be sorted out with the organisers, particularly a date for the world motorbike championship race.

“We’re asking them to stage the race in April during the Songkran festival holidays because it’s the best time for us to hold the event, given there is little rain during that month while we want to attract people to our province during the long holiday period. However, they haven’t given an answer to our request,” he said.