Malaysia not yet celebrating F-1 win

Malaysia not yet celebrating F-1 win

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Instead of popping champagne bottles,
Malaysian officials were subdued to news they would host a World
Formula One race next year, a report said Saturday.

Officials of Malaysian Airports Bhd. (MAB), the owner of the
Grand Prix circuit here, declined to comment, saying Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad would announce further details, the New
Straits Times reported.

MAB officials cannot be reached for comments.

The provisional 17-year race calendar for the next season,
released Thursday by the International Automobile Federation
(FIA) in Paris, named Malaysia, China and Japan as the three
Asian circuits.

The moves come as Formula One moves away from its traditional
European heartland as European governments stamp down on tobacco
advertising that provides crucial support to the Grand Prix
circus.

China is set to host the second race of the season at Zhuhai
on March 21 with a Malaysian Grand Prix penciled in for Oct. 17,
ahead of the season-ending Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.

The New Straits Times said MAB had earlier this year signed a
five-year contract with an option of an addition five years to
host the championship next year.

MAB also formed a subsidiary called Sepang International
Circuit Sdn. Bhd. to manage and organize the race at the 300-
million-ringgit (US$78.9 million) track, near the new Kuala
Lumpur airport.

The 5.6 kilometer (3.36 mile) track, on a 900-hectare (2,220-
acre) site, is nearing completion and will be tested when Sepang
host a 300-kilometer (180-mile) endurance race in December, the
daily said.

Mahathir had lobbied hard with the FIA to get a race here, but
since campaigning started, Asia's economic crisis has hit the
country hard.

Malaysian state oil firm Petronas has attempted to take a
leading role in Formula One and is now the main sponsor of the
Stewart-Ford team of former world champion Jackie Stewart.

In Hong Kong, reigning world champion Jacques Villeneuve is
reported on Saturday to arrange a test at the Zhuhai
International Circuit next week.

Villeneuve is due to arrive in Zhuhai, bordering the
Portuguese-run territory of Macau, on Oct. 23 to take a spin
around the circuit.

"We are organizing his trip and he's first coming to Hong Kong
before traveling to Zhuhai," a spokesman for the local public
relations company handling Villeneuve's trip told the South China
Morning Post.