Sepang 300km Set to Be Called Off

Photo: SUPER GT

SUPER GT looks set to call off its planned visit to Sepang in June owing to a request from the Malaysian government, Sportscar365 has learned.

The Japanese championship was due to hold its third round of the season at the Malaysian circuit on June 19-21 following a successful return to the venue last year.

However, it’s understood that teams were informed last week that the event will not go ahead as the government, which was a major backer of last year’s race through its Visit Malaysia initiative, has requested that large-scale events that are not of national significance are curtailed amid concerns of potential fuel shortages.

It comes amid the ongoing U.S./Israel-Iran conflict, which is showing no signs of stopping and has already led to many motorsport events in the region being cancelled or postponed, including the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Qatar 1812km.

Additionally, the inflated costs of transporting freight and personnel from Japan to Malaysia are believed to have played a role in the decision to call off the event.

An announcement regarding the matter could come ahead of this weekend’s opening round of the new season at Okayama International Circuit.

Teams are understood to have been consulted by the GTA on whether they wish for the cancelled Sepang race to be replaced by an alternative event on Japanese soil.

If the Sepang round is not replaced, it will result in a seven-round schedule.

It also raises the prospect of a three-month gap after the second round of the championship at Fuji Speedway in early May, although in-season GT500 tire testing is likely to be scheduled during the break prior to Round 4 at Fuji in August.

Contacted by Sportscar365, a GTA spokesperson refused to comment, while event promoter HARO Sports & Entertainment’s managing partner Fahrizal Hasan did not respond to a request for comment as of the time of publication.

SUPER GT’s return to Sepang last year was billed as the first of a three-year agreement between HARO and the GTA, and was deemed a success as it attracted a total of 75,977 fans across two days, the highest tally outside Round 2 at Fuji.

Source: Sports Car 365