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Friday February 20, 2009

Malaysian F1 GP will start two hours later than usual

KUALA LUMPUR: This year’s Ma­­­­lay­sian For­­mu­­la One Grand Prix will start two hours later than usual.

Se­pang Inter­­natio­nal Circuit (SIC) chairman Datuk Mokhzani Tun Mahathir said F1 supre­mo Bernie Eccle­stone had agreed to the new race time of 5pm.

“We have amended the contract.

“The race will start at 5pm ... that is about 9pm in Europe. It will also be a little bit cooler in the late afternoon for fans to watch the race at the circuit,” Mokhzani told reporters after the Media Launch of the 2009 Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix here yesterday.

This year will see Malaysia hosting the second round of the F1 World Championship from April 3-5.

All geared up: SIC chairman Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir (second from right) with (from left) KL Tourism Action Council GM Norazah Yusof, Petronas Motorsports GM Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz, Sports Ministry deputy secretary-general Datuk Moohid Mohamed and SIC CEO Razlan Razali at the launch of the 2009 F1 Petronas Malaysian GP Thursday.

The opening round will be held in Melbourne, also at 5pm.

Asked whether Malaysia would stage a night F1 race, Mokhzani said: “It is (starting the race at 5pm) another way of saying that there will be no night race until 2015.”

Mokhzani said a night race would require a new floodlight system which would be too costly.

He added that the cost of lighting up the Sepang Circuit was prohibitive in the current global economic climate.

“When I met him, Bernie told me that we will no longer raise the issue.

“I told him that we are facing an economic crisis. The night race may or may not attract more people to the circuit,” said Mokhzani. Despite the global economic gloom, SIC are targeting a full-capacity of 130,000 spectators for the race.

“The target can be achieved although we are experiencing an economic slowdown. This year, we are offering more attractive packages and activities to attract spectators,” said Mokhzani. — Bernama

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