Malaysian Grand Prix

Formula One fans take note: next month marks the end of an era, with the final edition of the Malaysian Grand Prix. The race takes place at the impressive Sepang International Circuit, located near the Southeast Asian country’s capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Read on to find out more about this unmissable event.

History of the Malaysian Grand Prix

The first Malaysian Grand Prix was held in 1962. Although the country has hosted many motorsports events over the years, Formula One-associated races did not commence until 1999. Towards the turn of the century, Malaysia was going through a period of significant change. Ambitious government plans for economic and industrial development were in full effect, which included a strong focus on nurturing growth in the automotive industry.

As part of these efforts, it was decided that a new, purpose-built Grand Prix circuit should be constructed. The aim was to create a world-class venue with state-of-the-art facilities, which would put Malaysia firmly on the international motorsports map. Sepang International Circuit made its Formula One debut in 1999 to great acclaim, and has remained a constant fixture on the championship’s calendar ever since.

A True Driver’s Circuit

Designed by former racing driver and renowned civil engineer Hermann Tilke, Sepang International Circuit is considered one of the most technically demanding tracks in Formula One. Tilke was responsible for the creation of several other popular F1 venues, including Bahrain International Circuit, Shanghai International Circuit, Singapore’s Marina Bay Street Circuit, Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, and the Circuit of the Americas in Houston, Texas.

Malaysian Grand Prix

Sepang International Circuit, as seen from the air (image credit: www.sepangcircuit.com)

The layout at Sepang combines long, high-speed straights with tight, twisting bends, making for a complicated route. The track itself however is very wide, and provides ample opportunities for overtaking. This helps to ensure an exciting race, and one which is highly enjoyable for drivers and fans alike.

Legendary Spanish driver Fernando Alonso has stated that Sepang is his favorite circuit in the world, having been the venue for his first pole positon, first podium, and a race he has won more times than any other.

Malaysian Grand Prix 2012

Three-time winner Fernando Alonso races to victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2012.

Weather conditions have proven to be an important factor at the Malaysian Grand Prix, as these tend to be very unpredictable. Previous years have seen both hot, dry days and tropical rain storms. In 2009, the race had to be abandoned halfway through due to heavy rainfall, as dense cloud cover rendered the circuit too dark to safely continue.

Malaysian Grand Prix 2017

The hot favorites to take the chequered flag in this 19th and final Formula One race at Sepang are Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes). Currently sitting first and second on the leaderboard, a victory for either would provide valuable points in the battle for the 2017 driver’s championship. Vettel has triumphed four times during the last eight Grand Prix races held in Malaysia. Will his domination of the circuit continue? Find out next month!

Malaysian Grand Prix Podium 2015

Malaysian Grand Prix 2015 podium. L-R: Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes GP) and Nico Rosberg (Mercedes GP)

The Malaysian Grand Prix takes place at Sepang International Circuit on Sunday October 1. As this will be the last F1 event held in Malaysia for the foreseeable future, this race is sure to be even more of a special occasion than usual. Don’t miss it!

For further details, please click here to visit the official Formula One website.

Planning a trip to Malaysia? Be sure to check out our informative city guide for Kuala Lumpur before you travel, which offers tips on the must-see attractions in this dynamic Southeast Asian destination. Click here to visit our blog post.

Flying to Kuala Lumpur

Landing permits are required for all operations to Malaysia. Private non-revenue permits generally take around three business days to process. However charter (non-scheduled commercial) permits usually require a minimum of two to four weeks lead time, as all charter and scheduled airline permit applications are vetted by the Transport Ministry.

Visa requirements for Malaysia vary depending upon the nationalities of passengers and crew. If passengers are carrying a large amount of taxable goods, these should be declared under a customs ATA carnet. No taxes will be due on these items if the passenger brings them when they exit the country.

There are three airports in Kuala Lumpur, however only two cater to General Aviation (GA). These are Kuala Lumpur International Airport (IATA: KUL, ICAO: WMKK) and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (IATA: SZB, ICAO: WMSA).

Kuala Lumpur International Airport
WMKK is Kuala Lumpur’s main international airport. Primarily set up for scheduled commercial flights, it is currently ranked as the world’s 24th busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic, having served a total of 52,640,043 travelers in 2016. Located to the south of the city, WMKK is less than 5 minutes’ drive (4km) from Sepang International Circuit. This makes it the ideal choice for traveling to the Malaysian Grand Prix.

WMKK is a 24-hour Airport of Entry (AoE), and is not subject to any curfews or noise restrictions. Airport slots are mandatory, and should be requested together with the landing permit. Once the landing permit has been approved, the airport slots are also confirmed. There are plenty of aircraft parking spaces available, and long-term parking can usually be secured without any issues. However, due to the high volume of traffic anticipated during the Grand Prix period, it is highly recommended to secure your parking at the earliest opportunity.

Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport
Often known as Subang Airport or Subang Skypark, WMSA is located on the west of the city, around 45 minutes’ drive (57km) from Sepang International Circuit. Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah is geared towards GA activity, and offers a full range of ground handling services.

WMSA functions as an Airport of Entry (AoE) 24 hours a day, and does not have any noise restrictions. Airport slots are not required. Aircraft parking spaces are limited, and should be requested well in advance. Operators should always carry their own tow bar onboard. The majority of aircraft will be parked at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), however larger jets are usually assigned remote parking.

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