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.