Racing enthusiasts to Putrajaya: Forget F1, fund local motorsports

KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian government should spend more on the development of the local motorsports industry instead of splurging millions on bringing back the Formula One Grand Prix (F1), said racing enthusiasts.

They said the F1 race was dropped because it was not bringing in enough gate receipts.

They were responding to prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recent remarks that F1 could make a comeback next year or the year after.

Dr Mahathir said interest for the race is still alive and many Malaysians have become “addicted” to motorsports.

Motor Sports Committee Action Group secretary-general Khaidi Kamaruddin told The Malaysian Insight that the last F1 race held in 2017 before Malaysia dropped out of the fixture could not even sell enough tickets to fill 20 per cent of the seating capacity.

The main spectators were mostly children bused in to fill up the Sepang venue, he said.

“All sponsorship money goes to F1 will only starve or kill local talents and efforts.”

The RM200 million (S$66 million) that the government will have to shell out each year to host the event can be used to develop and put local races on the map, he said.

“Tun (Dr Mahathir) is now disconnected from the people and global trends. The decline of interest year-on-year is obvious.

“Even Singapore is starting to see a decline of F1 spectators and revenue. Talks about technology transfer rang empty.”

Meanwhile, Malaysia Speed Festival Racing Series principal and director Adian Yein said the argument of hosting the F1 for the development of motorsports and the automotive industry is invalid.

“Thailand, which has never hosted the F1, has one of the most vibrant and largest motorsports scene in South-east Asia. Its automotive industry is also one of the largest in the region.

“They (Thailand) have more races, they have more participants and teams and importantly, the support industry is large and provides sustainable jobs, engineering firms and products supply for many people and enterprises, which in turn, supply world-class motorsports and aftermarket products sold around the world.”

Mr Yein said if the intention is to develop the motorsports industry, money should be ploughed into infrastructure and development of support programmes such as new club-level circuits in the states.

This not only promotes safe and proper motorsports but also benefits more motorsports enthusiasts as opposed to the F1 which, he said, is for the rich and privileged.

The F1 is often dubbed as “the most expensive sporting event in the world”.

“Hosting an F1 race will not build that. An active, healthy national-level motorsports industry does that. And to achieve that, more than one motor racing circuit is required, among others.

“The prime minister is correct when he said that Malaysia has many motorsports enthusiasts but these people do not want to just watch the Formula 1, they want to participate in motorsports themselves, watch and support their friends and family in motorsports, or tinker and develop their own machinery in motorsports.”

Sepang International Circuit chief executive officer (CEO) Razlan Razali declined to comment.

In 2017, Mr Razlan was quoted as saying that F1 bankrolled by the government was not financially viable and Malaysia would not host it any more even if was for free.

Last month, Malaysian youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman told The Malaysian Insight that while the government does not have the funds to finance F1, interest from private parties will be considered.

“Cabinet has decided not to proceed with F1 due to funding concerns, however, if there are other private funders who want to help out, we will consider.

“Investing millions at the moment is not the decision of the government.”

Petronas CEO Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said on March 8 that F1’s return depends on the government.

The national oil company is the title partner of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. The team has had a successful run at the Constructor’s and Drivers Championships since 2014.

Malaysia did not renew the contract to host the race after holding it for the last time in 2017.

The Sepang International Circuit has hosted 19 races since Malaysia debuted on the fixture in 1999.

The circuit was a brainchild of Dr Mahathir during his previous stint in office. He also played a pivotal role in bringing F1 to Malaysia. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT