Sepang Circuit Firm on Attendance Record for F1

“We still have four more weeks to go before the race and things are looking good for us. We are confident of a very good turnout for the race next month,” says SIC Sales and Sponsorship Manager Izuddin Rosli.

Izuddin, who returned from a meeting with travel agents and business community in Bangkok on Saturday, said that the response from fans in the Thailand capital was as overwhelming.

“We had a record figure of 2,223 fans from Thailand in 2004. This year we aim to break that figure and we strongly believe that we can do it this year,” says SIC Sales and Sponsorship Manager Izuddin Rosli.

While noting that the F1 spectator’s figures for 2005 and 2006 were far below than the 2004 statistics at 992 and 943 people respectively, Izuddin said a 300 percent increase in spectators’ attendance from Thailand for the 2007 event was ‘highly achievable’.

Slotted as the second round of the 2007 Formula One World Championship, the ninth edition of the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix would be held from 6th to 8th April. The new season would open this weekend at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia.

Izuddin also said that he received positive feedback from the appointed agents in the neighbouring Singapore and Indonesia was also good; adding the contribution was the three market segments of Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia was vital to the overall race attendance.

“The biggest contributor for international fans would definitely be from Singapore. We are actually targeting 24,000 fans from the republic, which is half of the whole projected segment of international fans for this year’s race,” said Izuddin.

Indonesia provides an average of 3,000 fans every year. But, the circuit is hoping to increase that figures by 100 percent to 6,000 for the 2007 Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix.

“With all the excitement surrounding the opening round in Melbourne this weekend, more bookings are coming in and all our previous bookings are fast turning into confirmed purchases. Things are looking very well indeed,” he added.

Targeting 125,000 spectators for the 2007 Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix to beat its attendance last year of 107,634 people, SIC is looking at the pull of the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 and the Kuala Lumpur Grand Prix City programmes in realizing its target.

On its own, SIC would continue with its domestic roadshow with the next one to be held at Bukit Bintang Plaza, Kuala Lumpur from 16th to 18th March. It would be followed by a similar programme in One Utama, Petaling Jaya (from 21st to 25th March) and at Berjaya Times Square from 30th March to 8th April.

Priced as low as RM50, tickets for the 2007 Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix can be purchased at the roadshows or through internet at www.malaysiangp.com.my

Credits: nikolaiski