The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) would portray a new image and infrastructure starting next year to remain competitive with other international circuits.

SIC’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali, a race driver himself, said the 10-year-old SIC circuit needs a facelift to face challenges for the next decade.

The appointment of Ahmad Razlan as CEO would see the position of general manager held by Datuk Azmi Murad being scrapped.

“Plans are afoot to add a number of new infrastructure to make the SIC more accommodative to the masses thus becoming non-exclusive,” he told reporters here today.
He added that SIC would also take into account the comfort and needs of fans who come with their families to watch races. There will be emphasise on providing children some form of activities while parents watch races.

Ahmad Razlan added that SIC must admit that Singapore would be Malaysia’s main competition in the region following their success in staging the first night race last month.

“That is one of the main reasons why we need to inject innovative ideas so as to draw bigger crowd and more sponsors,” he said.

Ahmad Razlan also confirmed the announcement by SIC chairman Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir in Singapore recently, that the Malaysian FoRmula One next year would start at 5pm instead of 3pm, to enable motorsport fans in Europe to watch the race in Sepang.

The SIC would also adopt new strategies to promote the SIC in a big way to attract more fans to the 5.542km international circuit that can accommodate 130,000 fans.

“Starting next year, promotion campaigns will not only be prominent for races like the F1 and MotoGP but rather smaller races like the Malaysian Super Series and Drag Races would be given equal attention,” he said.

Ahmad Razlan is no stranger to motorsport as he had been racing in the MSS since 2001 and has his own racing team.