MOTORSPORT: V8s to race in Malaysia

Despite all four previous international adventures failing to run the distance, the uniquely Australian V8 Supercars sedan racing category is off overseas again.

But this time, the plan to race in Malaysia at the KL City Grand Prix looks to have more chance of success than the efforts that flamed out in China (2005), Bahrain (2006-08, 2010), Abu Dhabi (2010-12) and most recently at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas in 2013.

If you haven’t heard of the KL City Grand Prix, you’re not alone. It’s a new venture being run by a Malaysian company, GT Global Race SDN BHD, that wants to set up a series of high-profile street races across Asia.

V8 Supercars has signed a heads of agreement to run a round of its championship at the 3.2km 16-turn street circuit for four years between 2016-19. See the video previewing the track and hype surrounding the event below.

The deal was announced today at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur attended by V8 Supercars boss James Warburton and KL City Grand Prix CEO M Arrasu.

Contracts will be finalised after a demonstration race by five V8 Supercars – one car from each brand racing in the championship – at the inaugural event on August 7-9.

The five drivers and cars headed to Kuala Lumpur are Craig Lowndes (Red Bull Holden VF Commodore), Scott McLaughlin (Wilson Security Volvo S60), Chaz Mostert (Pepsi Max Ford FG X Falcon), Will Davison (Solar Australia Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG) and Todd Kelly (Jayco Nissan Altima).

So why does this event shape as potentially a better fit for V8 Supercars than its previous international ventures?

The timezone is right. The Malaysian capital is only two hours behind the Australian east coast, making it much better for local telecasting than the Middle East or the USA.

The V8s aren’t expected to carry the show. While tagged as the “headline” act in the PR blurb because of the FIA status, they will be sharing with GT and other categories. The V8s failed to see out other overseas contracts partly because they couldn’t pull enough spectators as the headline act.

The show is now more varied. With Benz, Nissan and Volvo on the grid, there are cars the locals can recognise and connect with, as well as the unique Aussie Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon. Of course that show will potentially get even more varied with the arrival of the Gen2 tech regs in 2017.

Being closer to Australia means more chances of more tourists flying north to take the race in.

The other incentive for V8 Supercars holds true from all its previous overseas races: someone is paying for the championship to show up and that means money back into the pockets of both the category’s majority owner Archer Capital and minority owners, the teams themselves.

That cash injection will be very welcome as the championship continues to financially recover from the painful last few years that saw REC (or car license) income drop to zero and several teams drop out of the championship as a result.

Balanced against that is the lack of relevance Malaysia has for many sponsors involved in the championship, most obviously Holden and Ford.

Importantly for Aussie fans already bluing because of the championship’s reduced free-to-air TV presence, the move into Asia will not come at the expense of any local rounds. So we are looking at an expansion beyond the current 14 rounds.

And there are prospects of more V8 Supercars events popping up in the Asian region, with a race also being mooted for Thailand. Warburton remains in Asia this week for more meetings with promoters. Right now though, there are no confirmed dates on the calendar.

“This four-year contract is right for the KL City Grand Prix, right for our great V8 Supercars Championship and right for our race teams and right for our sponsors,” Warburton said in a V8 Supercars press release issued today.

“Having four championship races in Kuala Lumpur until 2019 in close reach of Australia and in a similar time zone for our fans are key ingredients.

“We would envisage that many fans would make their way to Kuala Lumpur to watch us race live on what will be one of the world’s most spectacular street tracks.”

In the same release, M Arrasu said: “We are delighted to kick-off our partnership with V8 Supercars. Certainly this renowned race series already has a well-established following among motor racing enthusiasts not only in the ASEAN region, but also around the world.

“The introduction of the V8 Supercars will further charge up the already exciting program of this inaugural KL City Grand Prix this August.

“The KL City Grand Prix this year includes several hallmark international series as well our very own flagship race that will feature champion drivers from around the world, the GT City Cup,” M Arrasu added.

“We look forward to welcoming V8 Supercars fans from Australia and around the world, who will converge to keep track of their favourite V8 Supercars teams. You will all relish the wonderful hospitality and charm that Malaysia has to offer.”