The vision for Sentul emerged around 1990, driven by Hutomo Mandala Putra, a motor racing enthusiast and son of President Suharto, who sought to build a world-class racing facility capable of hosting Formula One. Prior to Sentul's construction, organized circuit racing in Indonesia had been held at the short and relatively dangerous Jaya Ancol Circuit on the Java Sea coast in North Jakarta. The new circuit was officially inaugurated in August 1993 with the Indonesian Grand Prix for Formula Holden.
The facility was designed to meet Formula One standards and was the first serious attempt outside Japan to achieve that benchmark in Asia. However, the circuit's tight corners and a length that was ultimately shortened to 3.965 kilometers meant it fell short of full Formula One suitability. A Pacific Grand Prix planned for Sentul on October 13, 1996, was cancelled for these reasons.
The current circuit runs clockwise and measures 3.965 kilometers, with a main straight of 900 meters that allows top speeds of up to 300 km/h for four-wheeled machines. The track is approximately 15 meters wide throughout, with large runoff areas that provide a relatively smooth and forgiving driving environment. Turn 1 is a tight right-hander that funnels cars from the main straight, while Turn 2 can be taken as a high-speed S-bend complex at around 140 km/h. The remaining corners are predominantly flowing and wide, allowing varied racing lines and genuine overtaking opportunities.
The circuit's location in hilly terrain at the foot of the Jonggol Mountains means conditions are marginally cooler than Jakarta, though the circuit remains hot and humid under direct sunlight — a characteristic that historically caused difficulties for European teams and riders unaccustomed to tropical climates.
Sentul hosted the Superbike World Championship from 1994 to 1997, establishing an early international profile. The 1996 and 1997 seasons also brought the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix — the Indonesian motorcycle Grand Prix — to the circuit. These events placed Sentul alongside circuits such as Phillip Island and Donington in the WorldSBK calendar during that period.
The 1997 Asian financial crisis severely curtailed motorsport participation in Indonesia, and the opening of the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia in 1999 drew regional prestige events away from Sentul. In the mid-2000s, Sentul staged two rounds of the A1 Grand Prix of Nations, in the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons. In 2008 the circuit hosted a round of the GP2 Asia Series. Planned Superstars Series and Asian Le Mans Series events in 2012 and 2013 were ultimately cancelled.
In 2016, renewed interest in hosting a MotoGP round at Sentul emerged following the debut of Indonesian driver Rio Haryanto in Formula One, which sparked broader motorsport enthusiasm in the country. Dorna Sports evaluated the circuit but ultimately awarded the Indonesian motorcycle Grand Prix hosting rights to the newly developed Mandalika Circuit in Lombok, which held its first race in March 2022. Plans for a Formula One round at Sentul, contingent on 15 billion rupiah in upgrade funding, also did not materialize.
Sentul continues to host the Indonesia Sentul Series of Motorsport throughout the year, alongside Asia Road Racing Championship events, track days, and various local championships. The facility includes 50 pit garages, two covered grandstands, a go-kart circuit, an international golf course, and hotel accommodation within the Sentul City complex. The circuit hosted the para-cycling road race at the 2018 Asian Para Games. Despite being overshadowed by more modern regional venues, Sentul retains historical importance as Indonesia's first circuit built to international standards.