PETALING JAYA: More than 100,000 fans turned up at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) to catch the final day of action at the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday (Oct 3).
Motorsports Associations of Malaysia (MAM) president Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir believes Sepang International Circuit (SIC said the overwhelming response to this year's race also demonstrated strong appetite for F1 among Malaysian fans, with 105,000 tickets reportedly sold.
Asked whether he was surprised by the turnout, he attributed the response to fans making up for the absence of F1 from Malaysia since 2017.
"I was told that 105,000 tickets had been sold and I was surprised to see people turning up even for practice on Friday.
"Yesterday's qualifying session was also packed and today, we expect even more people," he said.
In July, Formula 1 confirmed Malaysia as the host of the Gulf Air Bahrain GPfrom Oct 2 to 4, following an agreement between Formula 1, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the governments of Malaysia and Bahrain.
The agreement kept the Bahrain GP on the 2026 F1 calendar after the race was cancelled earlier this season due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
Malaysia hosted the Malaysian GP at SIC from 1999 to 2017 before the race was dropped from the F1 calendar. - Bernama
