11th January, Kuala Lumpur
- The 2007 Formula One Petronas Malaysian
Grand Prix, to be held at Sepang F1
Circuit from April 6 to 8, will be officially
launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday
(January 16) at Impiana KLCC Hotel in
Kuala Lumpur.
The ninth edition of the Malaysia's
F1 race, which will feature the second
round of the 2007 Formula One World
Championship, would be launched amidst
a showcase of lights and colours to
project this year's theme of 'It's Thrilling
Out There'.
"With all the buzz and excitement
surrounding the Visit Malaysia Year
festivities and celebrations, we at
the circuit are even more excited than
before with the 2007 race," says
Sepang International Circuit (SIC) General
Manager Datuk Ahmad Mustafa.
Ahmad, who is the 2007 Formula One Petronas
Malaysian Grand Prix event director,
believed that with the support of the
Visit Malaysia Year programmes with
listless benefits and incentives for
foreign tourists, the event would become
Malaysia's best ever F1 race.
First staged in 1999, the F1 race is
organized as a national event by Malaysia
to enhance its image globally and as
part of the Government's effort to develop
motorsports in Malaysia and promote
the country as an international tourist
destination.
Targeting 120,000 spectators including
48,000 foreigners for this year's race
on April 8, Ahmad said their effort
in wooing the spectators was also helped
by the fact that the new season started
with plenty of uncertainties and excitement
brought about the some major changes
in the drivers' line-up.
"We know that Michael Schumacher
will not be competing anymore. Kimi
Raikkonen is driving for Ferrari; taking
over from Michael but (Felipe) Massa
wants to be the No 1 driver. World champion
Fernando Alonso is starting new with
McLaren and obviously would demand for
a strong reliable machine to defend
his title."
"There's also plenty of hype on
the new McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton
being the first black driver, Giancarlo
Fisichella is now the No 1 driver in
Renault and he will now have maximum
support the team unlike previously when
Alonso was the first driver for the
team."
"Rubens Barrichello and Jenson
Button will obviously be stronger this
year with Honda. Similarly, with Toyota,
BMW and Red Bull Racing. So, there are
plenty of things happening in the pre-season
and plenty of excitement in store for
the fans," added Ahmad.
With Sepang as the second round after
Melbourne, Ahmad said the thrill and
excitement would be even higher for
the fans as the teams and drivers would
be better prepared; having shaken off
their early season jitter in the opening
round in Australia.
"On top of that, the teams and
drivers would be entering the race in
Sepang fresh from a three-day testing
at the circuit itself in the preceding
week. Naturally, they will be very prepared
for the race in Sepang," he added.
Watched by more than 107,000 spectators
and some 600 million more live on TV,
the 2006 race in Sepang was won by Fisichella;
beating team mate Alonso to second place
and Jenson Button completing the podium.
To view the latest news on formula 1,
log on to www.malaysiangp.com.my