This post was written by Hugh Ujhazy
There will be plenty to keep racing fans happy this year as cars and bikes take to the track at Sepang. Hugh Ujhazy has the calender dates for those with a need for speed.
“Malaysia… Truly Asia.” Fade the lilting refrain, marvel at the palette of earthy colors splashed across the sunset, catch that soft, serene smile on the face of a beautiful Malaysian. Embrace the vision of Malaysia as endless, unmarked, white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, resplendent corals, and abundant shopping experiences….
Ahh, but wait. Once the sipping of long drinks from glasses adorned with pineapple slices and little umbrellas is done, once the languishing beside a perfectly proportioned partner on sun lounges by the pool is done, once the two novels purchased in a brief dedication to relaxing more have been read, what then? Is there a place in the heart of this tropical paradise that can stir the blood, assault the hearing, and convene the congregation of the adrenaline-addicted?
In the waning months of 2012, adrenaline fiends in Asia had a smorgasbord of choices – the long-running street circuit of Macau, countless motor racing events in China, the series of events in Japan, and the F1 circuit, which now encompasses five events in Asia. Not so long ago, before the days of the Indian F1 Circuit, the Korean F1 Circuit and the night race in Singapore, the jewel in the racing crown of Asia was the Malaysian Grand Prix, which roared around Sepang International Circuit for the first time in 1999.
Though it may no longer be the only racing destination in Asia, Sepang is still to motor sport aficionados what KLCC is to the fans of shopping: a magnet, a center. This is a world-class, five-kilometer racing cathedral blessed with that most unique and coveted attribute: good weather. Those who have watched the heavens open during a MotoGP (or any other event in Malaysia) may scoff at this observation. It is true that around 3pm each day, the risk of a 20-minute celestial rinse cycle increases dramatically, but it also tends to be true that, by 3.45pm, most of the water has run off and the track is once more dry.
That’s the beauty of Sepang. Tracks in Zuhai, Shanghai, Korea, and India suffer from seasonal weather. The circuit in Singapore is open once a year. The Johor Circuit is a good place to race but it not a Formula 1 standard facility. Sepang, meanwhile, enjoys around 320 days of sunshine per year and is a world-class facility.
Though heading into its 12th year of operation, Sepang has maintained its role as the standard-bearer for Asian motorsports. Easy to access with excellent weather and facilities, the international circuit offers a wide array of national, regional, and international events that bring the sports enthusiast out in the sun for a day of racing.
The track’s calendar of events has already filled up for 2013, with the star attraction being the Formula 1 in late March, when the global F1 circus comes to town with a bang and the country goes Grand Prix loopy.
From April to November, The Malaysia Super Series, which consists of five events spread throughout the year, offers a variety of classes of events for classic cars, sports production, bikes and exotic GT cars, while the MotoGP arrives in October with world class bike riders competing in three races across an action-packed weekend.
The Japanese SuperGT series heads to town in mid June, before the Merdeka Endurance Race begins at the end of August and runs for an eye-busting 12 hours, attracting drivers who have competed in and won the Le Mans endurance race, along with teams from across the world.
Stepping away from the hallowed ground of Sepang, a series of events including the Asia Formula Drift and the Malaysian Cub Prix bike racing event take place across the year to get the blood running in any excited racing fan.
Here are the dates to get in the diary to make sure you don’t miss a single moment of adrenaline-fuelled action this year.
|
Event |
Date |
Description |
|
Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix |
Last week in March Promoted
|
This is the second event in the Formula 1 calendar, coming close on the heels of the Australian Grand Prix. The weekend program also includes racing from the GP2 open wheeler series and races from the Malaysian Super Series |
|
Malaysian Drag Battle |
March, May, June, September, October |
High powered modified street cars compete to conquer the quarter mile down the opening straight of the Sepang Circuit. |
|
Malaysian Super Series |
March, May, July, September, November |
Cars and bikes from the latest exotic sports to classic cars from yesteryear. Competitors from all over the region join up in open series, the Porsche Carerra Cup, the Ferrari Challenge, and racing events from VW and Renault. |
|
Malaysian Merdeka Endurance Race & Sepang 1000km |
August, December |
In the tradition of Le Mans, endurance races test drivers, cars, and teams as they battle for dominance over 12 hours or 1000km. Attracting premier sports teams like Porsche and Audi and drivers who have competed in the Le Mans event, these are the premier endurance events in the region. |
|
Formula Drift |
May |
Modified street cars delivering hundred of horsepower and eye-watering performance. Enjoy the intimate racing environment as drivers push the barriers of physics to wrestle their cars around the course. |
|
Super GT |
June |
Part of the performance racing series from Japan and the only Super GT event to occur outside Japan, premier drivers in GT class cars – including Nissan GTR, Lexus and Honda – compete head to head. |
|
Malaysian Cub Prix |
March to December |
Ten races around Malaysia on a variety of two wheeled machines pit the best of Malaysian riders against each other. |
|
World Motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) |
October |
Readily identifiable names like Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, and Casey Stoner come to Malaysia for two practice sessions and one race event during each year. Accompanied by the action in Moto2 and Moto3 classes, the weekend sees world class action on Sepang Circuit. |
For more information on the events taking place at Sepang International Circuit this year, visit www.malaysiangp.com.my.
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Source: Senses of Malaysia Jan-Feb 2013
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