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.