Preparations For F1 Race At SIC Now At 80 Pct - Mohammed Taufiq

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- Preparations for hosting the Formula 1 (F1) Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix (GP) at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) next month have now reached 80 per cent, said Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari.

He said SIC upgrading and repair works have been going on since Monday (Sept 7) and are on schedule.

"Currently, our preparations are at 80 per cent completion, and we have identified 500 volunteers to undergo training.

"The SIC is currently closed to the public as we are upgrading its facilities,” he told reporters after the KBS Tower Run here today.

Mohammed Taufiq said he was satisfied that improvement works were proceeding according to the stipulated timeline and in compliance with the requirements of F1 Management and the International Automobile Federation.

Previously, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar urged all relevant ministries and agencies to facilitate pending matters and approvals ahead of the F1 race.

Malaysia is set to welcome F1 back to the SIC after nine years, through the hosting of the F1 Bahrain GP from Oct 2-4.

The SIC previously hosted the Malaysian Grand  Prix from 1999 to 2017, before it was dropped from the F1 calendar following rising hosting costs and licensing fees.

The prestigious race's return to Malaysia follows successful diplomacy between His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and King Hamad Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain.

Earlier, Mohammed Taufiq, together with KBS staff, climbed the 17-storey Menara KBS in under five minutes, while world number one tower runner Soh Wai Ching clocked 1 minute and 50 seconds.

-- BERNAMA