Joanna James
The famous Sepang International Circuit has been accommodating the Grand Prix since 1999. Michael Schumacher's daring stunt in 2001 has taken the Sepang Grand Prix up to another level of popularity.
This is the only race track you will find with two main straights with a single hairpin corner; the Kuala Lumpur Straight and Penang Straight. The straights are DRS zones – for reducing aerodynamic drag – with the target of increasing the chances of overtaking. From perfect finishes to crashes to aggressive dive-bombs, the Penang Straight and the Kuala Lumpur Straight are witnesses to everything that you could include in things to do in Sepang.
The technicality of the Grand Prix is something that has given cause for teams to contemplate the best tyre strategy – this is because they need to conjure up ways to have an early advantage in the race. Be it employing soft compound tyres or hard compound tyres; the Sepang Grand Prix is armed with the technicality that provides the racers with the best that there is. The Grand Prix is a real treat for the fans whether they get to see the race in person or on television.
The gripping race weekends – while giving cause for resorts like Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort to rise – draw hundreds of people into Sepang on weekends. Usually, Formula One race weekends don't dispense anything out of the ordinary – though this is not the case with Malaysian Grand Prix. In truth, it could get pretty extreme early on before even getting to the exhilarating stages.
One thing you can expect from Formula One Races is unpredictability. However, the Malaysian Grand Prix can get unpredictable up to a large degree. With the weather being extremely inconsistent, you wouldn't know what to anticipate – during the first half of the race, it could be boiling hot while the other half could clash with copious amounts of rain. Q1 could be a dry session while the Q2 is wet – but towards Q3 it could again be dry. Race crews, marshals, managers and fans are always at the ready to face whatever nature is about to try them with.
The crowds that gather in Sepang are die-hard fans of the race that could storm any weather in order to enjoy the daring enterprise. One of the things you could expect in Malaysia is unpredictable weather – but this doesn't stop any of the fans from wanting to witness the race. The other point to note is that the circuit is built in a swampland which should give you an idea as to the state of the seats. If you are sitting at the high-speed corner of turn 5, by the end of the race, you would pretty much be covered with mud – but it is a small price to pay for something so exciting and awe-inspiring.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
