KUALA LUMPUR: The return of Formula 1 (F1) to the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) after almost nine years will not only cure the longing of motorsports fans, but is also expected to fuel the younger generation's interest in the world of racing as well as related fields of technology and engineering.
Representative of the F1 Club Malaysia Facebook group Syed Ahmad Ziman Syed Jaafar said his interest in F1 remains intact even though Malaysia last hosted the event in 2017, before the race was dropped from the F1 calendar.
"Young people, including female fans, are increasingly getting to know and love F1 through the documentary 'Drive to Survive' and social media. Although the way of interacting has changed, interest in F1 has never faded," he told Bernama.
He said the return of the race to Sepang provides an opportunity for the younger generation to experience the circuit for themselves, as well as bringing together fans from various backgrounds to share the same interests.
"I also expect many parents who once watched the race in Sepang, want to bring their children to watch the race, not just to watch the action on the circuit but to share the experience between the two generations," he said.
Syed Ahmad said the return of F1 also has the potential to open the eyes of the younger generation to various career opportunities in the motorsports industry including engineering, automotive technology, data analysis, broadcasting, event management and media.
Despite actively following F1 and running a fan club that was established since 2007 and now has 11,000 members from various ages, he admitted that he had never had the opportunity to watch F1 live.
"So far, I have only followed F1 on television. The event at the Sepang International Circuit in October will be my first experience watching it live and I am really excited to see it," he said.
Meanwhile, a Bachelor of Journalism student at a public university, Siti Sarah Abu Kassim, 22, said the return of F1 to Malaysia gave her the opportunity to witness the race live for the first time in her own country.
She, who became interested in F1 at the age of 11 after her father introduced her to it, said that although she had watched the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix last year, the experience of watching the race in Sepang certainly promised a more meaningful experience.
"I will definitely go because I want to experience it in my own country. I am also excited to see how F1's new technology faces the challenges of the weather in Sepang, which is famous for its sudden weather changes," she said.
She said the prestigious motor sport not only offers racing action, but also encourages her to understand the development of automotive technology and innovations that are ultimately applied to everyday vehicles.
For motorsports enthusiast Mohd Faizal Ibrahim, 42, the return of the race brings back memories of his time as a marshal at SIC when Malaysia was still the host.
He also plans to bring family members to watch the race so that his children can experience the F1 atmosphere and get a closer look at the world-class technology and racing machinery.
"I don't want to miss this opportunity because we don't know when F1 will return to Sepang. I hope that the organisation of F1 can continue (maintain) in the future so that more young generations have the opportunity to get to know motorsports and the industry behind it," he said.
Last Sunday (July 26), F1 confirmed Malaysia as the host of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix following an agreement signed between F1, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the governments of Malaysia and Bahrain.
The re-organisation of the race, which will take place at SIC from Oct 2 to 4, is expected to benefit various sectors including job opportunities, technology transfer, infrastructure development, tourism and international media coverage. - Bernama
