PENANG, 9 June - A gathering of the past and future of motor racing at the upcoming 2007 Super GT International Series Malaysia at Sepang Circuit is a must for motor racing especially for Malaysians.

In stating this, Sepang International Circuit General Manager Datuk Azmi Murad said that the event would be extra special for Malaysians as they would get to see the country’s new racing sensation Jazeman Firhat Jaafar in action in the Formula BMW Asia Series.

Launching the Super GT Northern Promo at Highway Autocity last night, Azmi said that SIC had lined up four support races including the prestigious Formula BMW Series as added attraction to the Super GT race.

The launch was officiated by the Deputy Chief Minister of Penang, Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah and was also attended by Encik Gary Teoh, the Managing Director of Highway Autocity.

“The event in Sepang would be more than just the battle of the extensively modified Super GT sport cars. Sepang will be a gathering of the past and future of motor racing with the participation of former F1 drivers like Ralph Firman and Tora Takagi in the Super GT and aspiring budding new talents in the Formula V6 Asia and Formula BMW Asia,” Azmi said.

Apart from the Formula BMW Asia Series, the Asian V6 Asia Championship and the Asian Formula Renault Series, the other support race incorporated under the event would be the Asian GT Challenge.

“So altogether at the event, fans could catch five world class events – the Super GT race, the Formula V6 Asia Series, the Formula BMW Asia Series, the Asian Formula Renault Challenge and the Asian GT Challenge and undoubtedly, a huge value for your money,” Azmi added.

Slotted as Round 4 of the Super GT International Series 2007, Sepang is the only round to be held outside Japan under the series, which would run in nine rounds at Japan top racing circuits including Japan’s two F1 circuits – Suzuka and Fuji Speedway.
  
Describing Jazeman as the future of Malaysia’s motor racing racing, Azmi said what the young Meritus Racing driver in the challenging series had made Malaysians proud.

“Still only 14, Jazeman has not only become the first Malaysian to win a Formula BMW race. In the opening four races in Sepang last month, Jazeman scored 2 wins, 1 second placing and a fifth placing to top the championship standing; and making him hot favourite for the overall title this year,” Azmi added.

Joining Jazeman on the grid for the Formula BMW Asia race would be four other Malaysians including his Meritus Racing team mate Huzair Huran and three graduates of the Petronas Formula Experience – Melvin Moh, Johan Azmi and Imran Zacharias Shaharum - of Team Holzer-PFX

Targeting 50,000 spectators for the event, Azmi hoped that Malaysian fans especially in Penang would support the event as they did for the recent Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix, which saw the biggest attendance of more than 117,000 spectators.

“The support and backing from the state government was instrumental in the success of the F1 event especially in driving fans from Penang and other parts of the northern region to the race,” he said in thanking the state government.

In his speed, Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid said congratulated SIC and Highway Autocity for their efforts in organizing the event, which he said had significantly boosted tourism in Penang.

“I had watched the promotions of F1, MotoGP and Japan GT here in Autocity and how they had progressed as a tourism asset for the state of Penang,” he said urging that SIC and Autocity to continue their efforts in promoting motorsports at Highway Autocity.

Located just off the North-South Highway after the Juru exit, Highway Autocity is a one-stop centre for food, automotive and entertainment centre with some 20 leading auto distributors in Malaysia having the showrooms within the 35-acre area. 

Tickets for the 2007 Super GT International Series Malaysia are priced as low as RM30 and can be purchased at Highway Autocity as well at the circuit. They can also be purchased via internet at www.malaysiangp.com.my.