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The 2006 Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix (Malaysian F1)
was officially launched Sunday as the city of
Kuala Lumpur declared itself ready for a rush of no less than
40,000 international tourists and foreign fans.
Launched simultaneously with the fourth edition of Kuala Lumpur
Grand Prix City Festival (KLGPCF) by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri
Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansur, the event to be held in two weeks time
is expected to draw tourists from as far as Europe, South Africa,
the United States and Japan.
KLGPCF, an annual festival which showcases many fringe events
prior to the Malaysian F1 to be held from March 17 to 19 at the
Sepang Circuit, near here.
"With the strong support through international promotions by
Sepang International Circuit (SIC), Tourism Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
City Hall and other establishments, we hope to achieve the target of
getting the biggest ever international turnout at the Malaysia GP
race this year," Adnan said in his speech at Berjaya Times Square
here.
Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Ruslin Hassan meanwhile estimated that
the overall cost for this year KLGPCF would touch RM15 million: "but
despite this, the festival is made possible by the very strong
support from the private sectors, mainly from the auto related
companies of local and international brands," he said.
Meanwhile, SIC chairman Datuk Mokhzani Tun Mahathir said the
Malaysian F1 was set to be even more sensational than last year with
the return of 11 teams and 22 drivers starting on the grid.
"I spoke to seven times world champion, Michael Schumacher in
Paris last week. He told me that this season will see the toughest
race as more new faces and teams will be eyeing the overall 2006
World F1 crown," he said.
Mokhzani said SIC was targeting its highest attendance of 120,000
spectators for the event after recording an impressive attendance of
106,422 people for last years' Malaysian F1 championship.
For the 2005 event, he said 34 percent or 36,183 people out of
the total 106,422 turnout for the event were foreign tourists.
"While in 2004, out of a total attendance of 84,010, the
international portion remained high with 36,663 fans or 43.64
percent," he added.
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