Sunday, February 22, 2009

Formula 1: No night race in Spang

Malaysian Grand Prix organisers have confirmed that the race will start at 5pm local time for the foreseeable future.

The organisers renegotiated their contract with Bernie Ecclestone and both parties have agreed to let the race start at 5pm.

Ecclestone has been pushing for some of F1's flyaway races to switch to night events in a bid to make them more European time-zone friendly.

However, with Thursday's announcement that the Australian GP has adopted a later start time, the Sepang organisers have confirmed that they too will be starting later than usual.

"We have amended the contract. The race will start at 5pm. It is another way of saying that there will be no night race until 2015," Sepang track chief Mokhzani Mahathir told AFP.

Mahathir added that the costs of installing a suitable lighting system was the reason why the Malaysian round of the championship would not become F1's second night race. Singapore, who hosted its inaugural event last season, is the sport's only night grand prix at present.

"Bernie said to me '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," he added.

Mahathir, though, is confident that Sepang's current ticket offers will still bring in the spectators: "We are experiencing an economic slowdown. But we are offering attractive packages and activities to attract spectators."

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