In collaboration with Convergence, VOICE OF ASIA is proud to present timeless articles from the archives, reproduced digitally for your reading pleasure. Originally published in Convergence Volume 23 in 2014, we present this story on the Malaysia F1 Grand Prix, and its hey-days.
A crackling fork of lighting pierces through a purple sky as a dark cloud rumbles and torrential rain threatens to lash down. Beneath balmy Malaysian skies, the atmosphere is equally electric inside the stadium. The cheers from a frenzied, 80,000-strong Sepang Motorsport Circuit crowd are drowned out by the revving of super-powered engines, within the sleek, high-performance vehicles that wait upon the starting grid.
At track-level the humidity is stifling, as thick tropical air mixes with the smell of petrol and burned rubber. Tensions are high, adrenaline is racing, and the eyes of the Formula 1 elite are watching, anticipating. All of this can only mean one thing. The spectacular Malaysia Grand Prix is about to explode into life.
The Best of the Best
Formula 1 is a fast-paced, action packed motorsport that pits the best drivers in the world against each other, in high-performance machines that push the human body and vehicular engineering to the limit. Each race on the 19-date calendar involves 305 gruelling kilometres, with crucial points awarded to the top ten placements that determine who will win the Drivers’ Championship.
The Formula 1 season takes in glamorous destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Monaco, Canada and Brazil on its travels, and on the 30th of March, the second race of the 2014 season will be hosted at the Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. F1 is the high-octane arena of the super rich and when it comes to your city, you can be certain that the sporting and social elite have arrived, with speed, glitz and glamour.
On-Track Excitement
The Malaysia Grand Prix is considered one of the most challenging circuits among F1 drivers, not only for the skill-testing weather conditions, but also because of the expertise required to navigate the track. In a sport which is all about time and has a fine-line between winning and losing, many races here are influenced by the scramble for position going into the tight double hairpin bend at the first corner. It is a 5.54-km long, 53-lap race that is a test of concentration and driving ability.
Sepang has been part of the World Championship series since 1999, and has witnessed some glorious races and legendary drivers in its time. 7-time World Champion Michael Schumacher claimed 3 victories on Malaysian soil for Ferrari in 2000, 2001 and 2004, and current F1 hero Sebastian Vettel has won 4 titles in his career so-far with Red Bull-Renault, triumphing in Sepang in 2010, 2011 and 2013 to pick up a crucial 12 points towards his eventual winning tally. An unforgettable experience for all who attend, the Malaysia Grand Prix puts the nation in the fast lane to witness one of the greatest shows on earth.
Attracting visitors from across the globe, the Malaysia Grand Prix is the ultimate tourist attraction, shining the spotlight on the nation’s hospitality and ability to put on a show. Each time, the Sepang team impresses, putting on a show to be proud of. As the race on the 30th of March approaches, the big questions are who will be next to carve their name into F1 racing lore, and what part will Sepang play in determining the Champion’s fate…?
