Super GT most challenging round is just around the corner and 28 days before the big race, Sepang International Circuit (SIC) – the event organizers for the Super GT International Series Malaysia 2009 – kicked off their promotional drive at Bandar Sunway today which included introducing the number one ambassadors – GT Queens Sana Yuki and Nana Shibata.*

Arriving ahead of the mean race machines and brigade of race queens, Sana and Nana would be making special appearances at major entertainment outlets, shopping complexes, media offices and public areas throughout the city until the race weekend.

“The race cars and racing equipments; the drivers and teams, and their GT Queens will be arriving at the circuit during the race week. I am told that the teams and drivers are all very thrilled to come to Sepang for the race. Sepang has always been special to them because it’s the only round outside Japan. More importantly, it is always the teams’ most challenging race …Sepang provides the Mother of all the GT battles every year,” said SIC Chairman Datuk Mokhzani Tun Mahathir.

As the only round outside Japan, Sepang, which traditionally hosts Round 4 of the series, provides a different test for the teams and drivers especially on the setting of the cars and the demand for top fitness in the drivers in view of the tropical weather high temperatures and humidity.

In promoting the Super GT International Series Malaysia 2009, Mokhzani said that SIC would be organizing special convoys of 20 Japan supercars, making tours to various popular hotspots around the Klang Valley at selected dates to hype up the event.

“SIC would also be organizing mobile roadshows, which among others would include interactive games with the public and offering lots of great prizes for the fans including Main Grandstand tickets to see the race live in Sepang,” he added.

To be held from June 19 to 21, the 2009 Super GT International Series Malaysia would also feature the new GT3 Asia series, the Formula V6 Asia, ATC Max1500 and the Aston Martin Asia Cup as the support races; making the event an action-packed weekend, ready to thrill any racing fan.

A battle of soup-up, fully-modified sports cars of the world’s top automakers, providing the sound of roaring thunder from the mean machines and sweet smell of burning rubber, the Super GT race has always been a major attraction in Sepang especially with its carnival-like atmosphere including the draw of the gorgeous GT queens.

The cars are divided into two groups: GT500 and GT300 (cars with no more than 500 and 300 horsepower); but they raced at the same time; putting as many as 40 race cars on the grid for the race and providing plenty of drama and thrills throughout 54-lap race.

After three rounds, the GT500 class is currently led by the partnership of J.P.L de Oliveira and Seiji Ara with 31 31 points; with Juichi Wakisaka and Andre Lotterer close behind with just a point away on 30. Yuji Tachikawa and Richard Lyons is third place in the overall standings.

"It is definitely going to be a close race. However, being the only race outside Japan, the race is Sepang is always unpredictable. It could be anyone's race; but whatever the case is, I am confident that it will be an exciting action-packed affair,” said Mokhzani.

In the GT300 class, the partnership of Mario Nitta and Shinichi Takagi leads the standings with 41 points. Nobuteru Taniguchi and Ryo Orime are second;four points behind the leaders.

Popular among the fans because of the handicap system, the Super GT practices a 'success ballast' system, called "weight handicap" where weight penalties are assigned depending on a cars performance during the race weekend. The system adds ballast on the cars based on qualifying position and individual lap times, and even in specific modifications.

As in the recent Formula One race in April, SIC - driven by its new motto Alive with Adrenalin - aimed to make the Super GT International Series Malaysia as the best ever; providing entertainment for all levels of the family tree.

“We at SIC is constantly looking for ways to make racing more and more fun and exciting for Malaysian fans primarily but regional fans as well," said Mokhzani, adding that there would be plenty of off-track events for the family.

“Warming up to the Super GT, we would be having the inaugural Sepang 1000km from June 4 to 6. This is a new event for cars below 1900cc, which we created from the MME,” Mokhzani said, adding that SIC would be making further announcement on the race at a later date.

While the main attraction of the Super GT has always been the showcase of the world’s fastest and most stylish sports cars, the GT Queens, which is a key component of the series – have their own way of attraction.

"This year is no different. The teams and their sponsors would be bringing their grid girls; and as usual there would be the pit walkabout where fans can get closer to the race cars and the GT Queens to take their photographs,” said Mokhzani.

Interestingly, he said, Malaysians would have a home team to support during the weekend. Petronas Tom’s SC430 would be competing in the GT500 class while M7 Mutiara Motors Amemiya SGC 7 would be contesting in the GT300 class.

In conjunction the event, Mokhzani also announced that SIC would be organizing corporate charity programme and he invited local corporate companies to join the programme by sponsoring tickets for various charity organizations such as MAKNA, Yayasan Aids Malaysia and others.

SIC, he said, was also continuing with its ‘Taking Motorsports To School Programme’, where selected schools would be invited to the circuit and share the excitement. “Here they would be able to experience first-hand and they can meet the drivers up; close and personal … hopefully it would educate as well as inspire them to participate in the sports,” he said.

In instilling interest for motorsports at an early age, SIC would also be organizing a special programme with Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) to host a pitlane Kids Walkabout on Saturday. “This session will be opened to kids, who would be accompanied by their ticket holding parents,” said Mokhzani.

Tickets of the Main Grandstand can be purchase at only RM100. SIC is also offering a special family package at RM250 for four Main Grandstand ticket. Children below seven years old are free admission. Passes for Sunday's Pit Walkabout are sold at RM100 while parking charges for bikes at RM2, cars at RM5 and bus at RM20.

Ends