Sepang's F1 aims to lure nearly 4,000 Indonesians

Sepang's F1 aims to lure nearly 4,000 Indonesians

JAKARTA (JP): Sepang International Circuit (SIC) Sdn. Bhd. is
aiming to attract nearly 4,000 Indonesians to watch the final leg
of the 2000 Formula 1 Grand Prix series in Malaysia in October.

However, the company faces transportation problems and is
negotiating with Southeast Asian countries flag carriers to add
extra flights to Kuala Lumpur.

SIC general manager Hussin Mohd. Ali told a media briefing on
Thursday he had discussed the possibility of adding flights
around the time of the race with representatives of Malaysian
Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airlines and Garuda Airlines
of Indonesia.

"It's a big problem to bring so many spectators from Jakarta
to Kuala Lumpur as the seats are usually fully booked. Hopefully
the problem can be solved soon, before the race begins," he said.

Sepang -- which received the Best F1 Organizer Award for the
first race it hosted -- will stage the event from Oct. 20 to Oct.
22.

A total of 80,000 spectators, of which 80 percent were
Europeans, thronged the US$75 million circuit last year on race
day.

Hussin hoped about 100,000 viewers would be present at the
world's newest circuit on Oct. 22.

"I'm optimistic that the number of spectators will increase in
October as Sepang is the final race of the season. The narrow
points difference between Michael Schumacher of Ferrari and David
Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen of McLaren Mercedes will add to the
importance of the race."

"Usually the world champion is officially announced at the
final leg, which is in Sepang."

Schumacher, who crashed after leaving the starting grid in the
first lap at Hockenheim on Sunday, is currently leading with 56
points followed closely by Coulthard and Hakkinen with 54 points.

The racers will compete in Hungary, Belgium, Italy, USA and
Japan before arriving in Malaysia.

To accommodate the increased number of spectators, SIC has
increased the number of covered seats from 40,000 to 75,000.

"Last year many European spectators complained that they
couldn't stand the heat and the sun during the race. That's the
main reason why we have added the seats," Hussin said.

Tickets priced between US$380 and $420 have been sold out for
months. There are still some available for between $26 and $370.

Hussin said staging the expensive sport extravaganza brought
in large amounts of income for Malaysia.

An official study conducted by Malaysia's oldest and premier
higher learning institution, the University of Malaya, on the
economic benefits of hosting the event said that last year's race
injected $143.5 million directly into the Malaysian economy.

Out of this figure, the largest single amount was spent on
shopping at $29.16 million, followed by accommodation at $23.5
million and food and drinks at $22.4 million. (yan)