We are just a day away from the first ever ‘legal’ street race in Kuala Lumpur. The event has been with some frustration for the residents and working people of the city who have had to deal with the curbside work that had to be done (which has caused traffic to be even heavier) to prepare for the race but it will be all worth it if this race turns to be a success for the city and also the supporting businesses around the street circuit. Heavy rain yesterday showed the teams what we city drivers have to deal with, as many of the roads for the race were flooded as usual and with 90 degree corners and curbs that are not properly aligned (3 lanes to 2-plus lanes) we have already seen one Lamborghini hit a guardrail during practise yesterday and another car narrowingly hitting a fence around the sharp 1st turn.
Kuala Lumpur City Grand Prix 2015 organisers GT Global Race Malaysia, are confident of the event’s success despite the confusion and public anger. Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, GT Global’s president and chief executive officer M Arrasu expressed confidence that Malaysia’s first ever street race in the capital would be a success. “Being the first year, it has been quite challenging. However, we are confident that we will improve after the experience and lessons learnt from planning, organising and managing this year’s race,” In spite of not getting through this weekend first, Mr Arrasu flagged the possibility of even more city based races in other parts of the region.
V8 Supercars have sent five cars to the event in anticipation of a full championship round next year.
A prospect that has been talked up by GT Global chairman Tunku Naquiyuddin Tuanku Ja’afar who claimed that V8 Supercars are the third most watched racing event in the world.
“Now everyone will get to experience the excitement of seeing V8 supercars racing right here on the city streets of Kuala Lumpur.”
According to the organiser, the event will be telecast to 125 million households and close to 1.2 billion viewers across the globe.
The ‘MAIN’ race will be the 40 minute GT City Cup. The entry list for now shows Australian Josh Hunt driving the Mercedes SLS, former Lotus Racing Formula 1 test driver Fairuz Fauzy in a Lamborghini Gallardo, PCCA former driver and MMER former winner, Adrian D’Siva driving a Ferrari 458 Italia and Frank Yu in a Ford GT.
We wait eagerly for this action packed race to start tomorrow and wonder how many glass windows in the city will shatter at the thunder of the V8 engines.
