V8 Supercars is set for a return to Asia after signing a four-year heads of agreement to stage a Championship round on the streets of Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur from 2016.
CEO James Warburton announced the new agreement to headline the Kuala Lumpur City Grand Prix event from 2016 to 2019 alongside the event’s CEO M Arrasu at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.
If all goes well, a deal will be finalised following a five-car street exhibition run at the inaugural Kuala Lumpur City Grand Prix Circuit event on August 7-9, featuring Craig Lowndes, Scott McLaughlin, Chaz Mostert, Will Davison and Todd Kelly.
The FIA approved KL City Grand Prix will be staged in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, on a 3.2km tight circuit with 16 corners that takes in the city’s most famous streets and past iconic landmarks, including the Petronas Towers.
V8 Supercars will participate alongside global GT categories at the 2015 KL City Grand Prix, an event which is expected to be broadcast to more than 1.2 billion people across 100 countries.
“We are absolutely delighted to begin this partnership with the KL City Grand Prix and be the first international racing series to participate at this spectacular event,” said Mr Warburton.
“With a TV audience of hundreds of millions world-wide the KL City Grand Prix will be shining the spotlight squarely on the world’s best touring car Championship in one of the world’s greatest cities.
“This four-year contract is right for the KL City Grand Prix, right for our great V8 Supercars Championship and right for our race teams and right for our sponsors,” Mr Warburton said of the agreement.
“Having four Championship races in Kuala Lumpur until 2019, in close reach of Australia and in a similar time zone for our fans are key ingredients.
“We would envisage that many fans would make their way to Kuala Lumpur to watch us race live on what will be one of the world’s most spectacular street tracks.”
As owners and promoters of the KL City Grand Prix, GT Global Race SDN BHD has “aspirations to promote a series of high profile street races across the Asia Pacific region”, with the streets of Kuala Lumpur the first venue to be developed by the team.
“We are delighted to kick-off our partnership with V8 Supercars,” said M Arrasu.
“Certainly this renowned race series already has a well-established following among motor racing enthusiasts not only in the ASEAN region, but also around the world.
“The introduction of the V8 Supercars will further charge up the already exciting program of this inaugural KL City Grand Prix this August.
“The KL City Grand Prix this year includes several hallmark international series as well our very own flagship race that will feature champion drivers from around the world, the GT City Cup.
“We look forward to welcoming V8 Supercars fans from Australia and around the world, who will converge to keep track of their favourite V8 Supercars teams. You will all relish the wonderful hospitality and charm that Malaysia has to offer.”
Take a look at a full preview of the Kuala Lumpur street circuit here:
