A winding stretch of asphalt may not be a typical attraction on any tropical island. But as I stand in a hillside viewing suite above the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, looking straight down to the pit lane, I’m immediately impressed by its scale. The skies are clear and the light of the midday sun bounces off the bitumen. All is quiet now, but it’s not hard to imagine the festive atmosphere on major race days, when the grandstands must be packed with cheering motorsport fans.
Inaugurated in late 2021 by outgoing Indonesian president Joko Widodo, this 4.3-kilometer motorcycle racetrack is at the heart of the
