Malaysia set to host Formula One

Malaysia set to host Formula One

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia is negotiating to stage a Formula
One grand prix from 1999 at a new track south of Kuala Lumpur and
Asia could get a second race next year.

A deal between Malaysian representatives and Formula One
leaders was virtually secured at the weekend at the Portuguese
Grand Prix in Estoril, the New Straits Times said Monday.

Malaysian Prime Minister Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was
at Estoril, with Basir Ismail, chairman of Malaysia Airports Bhd,
who is in charge of attempts to bring the grand prix circus to
Malaysia.

"We will be in Malaysia in 1999," Bernie Ecclestone, head of
the powerful Formula One Constructors' Association (FOCA), was
quoted as saying after meeting Mahathir and Ismail.

Ecclestone said negotiations had been completed and both
parties were ready to sign the documents to confirm the race, the
report added.

Ecclestone is always involved with several countries wanting
to stage races. But FOCA and the International Automobile
Federation (FIA) is known to want to extend Formula One into
Asia. And Mahathir said a 400 hectare (990 acre) area near the
new Sepang international airport, south of the capital, has been
set aside for a new race track, according to the Bernama news
agency.

Malaysia Airports is to carry out the 150 million ringgit
(US$60 million) project and German consultants are to be engaged
to build the 5.6 kilometer (3.5 mile) circuit.

A final announcement will come from FIA which runs the grand
prix calendar with FOCA. Both organizations want to see more
races in Asia, even if this means Europe staging fewer races.

Japan already has a grand prix but Asia could get a second
race from next year, with China and Indonesia considered the main
contenders.