The facts about Formula One

The Formula One Championship has long been acknowledged as the pinnacle to world motor sports. The technology incorporated into each Formula One racing car has been acknowledged as the most advanced automotive technology available. Car manufacturers also use Formula One Racing as a testing ground for their technology and also to promote and highlight their achievements in the advancement of their products.

Apart from being at the cutting edge of technology, Formula One racing attracts a huge amount of interest from sponsors and fans alike. Hundreds of thousands of fans witness the races during the race weekends and the television audiences are estimated to be around the region of 500 million. The influx of the teams, media, fans and many other people connected to the races, has brought significant income in the form of tourism revenue for the country. It also acts as a major promoting tool for the host country.

It was with this in mind that Malaysia decided to build a racing circuit, which could organize a Formula One race. Thus the Sepang International Circuit was born. The circuit, which was originally named the Sepang Formula-1 Circuit, is built on what was originally a 260 hectare oil palm plantation. The circuit is situated 60 kilometers south of Kuala Lumpur and approximately 15 kilometers away from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

The design of the Sepang circuit blends together the precision of modern technology together with the refinements of Malaysian culture. The first double frontage main grandstand in Formula One is covered with a banana leaf shaped roof. The canopy tower at the end of the main grandstand has a roof similar to the national flower, the hibiscus.

The track has a length of 5.543 kilometers and consists of 15 turns and 8 straights. The circuit can accommodate a maximum of 130,000 spectators with 30,000 seats available at the main grandstand. The design of the track being built in a stadium-type location with the track recessed in the valley enables spectators to see 50% of the track no matter where they are seated.

Construction began in 1997 and the circuit was completed in November 1998. Although the circuit was officially opened on 9th March 1999, the first race was held on 12th of December 1998 beginning with the Proton 300km Merdeka Race. The circuit has never looked back.