Jessica Michibata

From Left: Vitaly Petrov & Tung Ho Pin

With certain manufacturers such as BMW, Honda and Toyota having departed Formula One racing, we were almost certain that this year’s F1 event may not be as fun-filled as last year’s due to the recent global economic down-turn that heavily affect many car manufacturers.

Thankfully, Renault stayed in the sport was able to hook us up with a meet and greet session with Vitaly Petrov and Tung Ho Pin.

The main purpose of this session was to pit our skills against F1 talent. And in our cocky minds, we decided to lie to ourselves in that we’d stand a good chance in beating them. Optimism? I call this delusions of grandeur.

It was mid-morning and the sun began beating down upon us. We were separated into four groups where we’d take have 3 laps for practice and another 3 laps for qualifying, followed by a final 7 lap race for the top 10 karters who posted the best times. Admittedly, making it into the top 10 list wasn’t easy but placing 8th on the grid was good enough for me.

...unfair advantage!

To my surprise, it was a miniature version of Sepang’s circuit and to a bigger surprise, it was in reverse! Going counter clockwise was something unnatural to me, but needless to say, we were still “optimistic”. We were all going to put these F1 drivers to shame with some of our “local” talent!

The karts had 100cc 2-stroke engines with slick tires and electric starters. Once up to speed, they will throw you around in your seat, if it weren’t snug enough, around the corners. Having about half an inch on either side of my rib-cage, it was evident that I was unsettling the weight-balance of the kart due to my sudden weight shifts from left to right. Balance is tantamount in karting and needless to say, when the green flag was waved and the final session started, Vitaly and Ho Pin demonstrated their ability to manage the kart’s weight exceptionally, because we literally ate their dust.

Since the two F1 drivers were very much ahead of us all, they took the opportunity to have a good time goofing around by tailgating one another.

You Boys ready to go!?

By mid-day the session had ended and to say the least, it was certainly a smashing day with the drivers after having spun off countless times, having slight bruises on my ribs and especially a bruised ego to nurse back home.

Whilst replacing Heikki Kovalainen for the session he completed 19 laps with a best time of 1.40.721 in a good run in the morning heat. Jarno Trulli completed 21 laps and finished ahead of the other new teams on 1.39.460.

Before Fairuz saw the green light Tony lent into the cockpit to tell Fairuz how proud both he and the whole country was of this landmark moment. After the session was completed Tony said “It’s just unbelievable! I woke up at 6am today as I couldn’t sleep I was so excited. I’m just really pleased to see Fairuz out there with Jarno and the rest of the household names that make up the grid.

“It’s great that F1™ gives the chance for developing teams and developing countries to come to the fore and grab this sort of opportunity. It shows that the combination of British and Malaysian skills can dare to dream of competing on a global level, and can do so in an innovative, fresh way. Fairuz is a lad who has climbed the motorsport ladder – from his local roots at the kart circuit his Father built in Kuala Lumpur, to being on track in F1™ in a car built in the UK and competing all around the world. For me that’s a very clear sign of how well our Anglo-Malaysian collaboration is working, and long may that continue.”

Fairuz himself said “I feel very good, very motivated and this is really a special day for me as it’s our home run. It’s great to be back again. The last time I was in Barcelona, which is a long time ago! I’ve always said that I’ll be ready and fit, but it’s still great that I was on the pace immediately. I’m happy and I hope we can do well this weekend – the car feels great, and I think it’s faster than it was in Melbourne. It’s going to be an exciting weekend – in Malaysia, anything can happen! If it rains and we can get an advantage out of it, then that’s good.

Jarno Trulli: “It started off as a difficult day but I managed to do some good setup work and it was a positive two sessions. It seems we are competitive when compared to the other new teams but as we are ultimately aiming to fight with the top teams we are looking to get ourselves into a position where we can work on detailed setups, and that will start from Barcelona. I am pleased that today’s sessions, when compared to the previous two races, both went faultlessly and I’m very glad about that. I like the heat – I like racing in the heat as it tests fitness and I’ve always performed well here, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow and the race on Sunday.”

Heikki Kovalainen: “I’m really pleased with the car – obviously I didn’t get much time to practice today, but it felt good and I’m feeling very confident with it. I’m looking forward to the race ahead – I think we’re in really good shape. We tried a different set up with my car, and it took a few laps to get into it, but really I was very pleased and happy and looking forward to getting in the car again tomorrow. Weather wise, it is very hot and humid, and it’s difficult conditions here, but I’m feeling good and am very fit for the race.”

Mike Gascoyne: “All round a very successful day. It was good to have Fairuz in the car this morning and he was able to complete his entire program. Heikki took over the car in the afternoon and was also able to finish his planned program – evaluating the tyres and the race pace of the car. We had no mechanical issues on either car and in general I’m very pleased with the progress we’re making, so well done to the whole team.”

Rounding off the day in Malaysia was Tony Fernandes who said “Great day – we did everything we wanted to do and I’m extremely pleased. We’re getting better and better so let’s hope we continue this tomorrow in qualifying. We are being realistic though – points aren’t in my mind. I just want to finish the race, get both cars home and keep our feet on the ground. Of course I’m still dreaming – I put Colin Chapman’s cap on the pit wall to remind everyone of what we’re aspiring to, but we’ll get there in the right way, and the dream continues.”

Kicking off the team’s week in Malaysia, Lotus Racing held a homecoming celebration at the Pavillion Kuala Lumpur where all the team drivers including local boy Fairuz Fauzy unveiled  the “el-magnifique” green and yellow Lotus Cosworth T127 for the 1st time to their Malaysian fans. Also in attendance today was former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahatir Mohammad. They were also joined by Lotus Racing’s Deputy Team Principals SM Nasarudin and Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun as well as Proton’s  MD Dato’ Syed Zainal and SIC’s Dato’ Mokhzani Mahathir.

The team also announced their latest sponsor, Maxis Berhad at the event today. Maxis CEO, Sandip Das said the Malaysian telco giant was proud to be part of this wonderful Malaysian moment and hopes to deliver a more integrated F1 experience to its customers via its commitment to the Lotus Racing cause. Maxis will began  to offer its  customers immediate access to the latest racing news and information via their mobile phones. In addition, lucky Maxis customers will have the exclusive oppurtunity of watching this race live this coming weekend compliments of Maxis.

The Lotus Racing team’s current sponsors include Proton Holdings, which license out the Lotus brand name to the team, Tune Group, of which Team Principal Dato’ Tony Fernandes and Deputy Team Principal Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun are co-founders, Naza Group of Companies of which SM Nasaruddin is Group CEO, Bridgestone,Hackett and CNN.  Brazilian petroleum giants PetroBras are also rumoured to be in sponsorship talks with the team. Petrobras officials declined to comment on this but inside sources say a deal could be announced soon. The Petrobras logo will certainly look at home in the car’s green livery as the company’s logo is also decked out in a rather similiar colours.

The Lotus T127 will be on display at the concourse area of the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur till 10pm today.

As the world anxiously waits in excitement for the Formula 1 Championship season, promoters of 2010 Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix kicked of their promotion campaign in Kuala Lumpur amidst strong confidence of a large turnout event on 2 to 4 April in Sepang.

In a joint promotion at the PETRONAS Philharmonic Hall Foyer within the capital’s leading shopping complex Suria KLCC, event organizer and promoter Sepang International Circuit (SIC) and title sponsor PETRONAS also launched the ‘I Love F1′ campaign to generate greater interest and increasing the awareness among Malaysians for the sports and in support of the 1Malaysia campaign in promoting multi racial harmony and understanding among the people through F1.

“This should be the most exciting season in years in Formula 1 especially from the Malaysian perspective ans it is our wish to see everyone in the  ‘ I Love F1′  t-shirt filling the circuit on race day,” says Razlan Razali who is SIC Chief Executive Officer and event director for the 2010 Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix.

With PETRONAS also being title sponsor of the new Mercedes GP-PETRONAS F1 Team, which effectively is the defending champion Brawn GP, will be the team the world will watch as it sensationally brings back seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher to the racing grid.

With Schumacher’s slick driving skills and the engineering brilliance of Ross Brawn, its supporters are brimming with confidence that the Mercedes GP-PETRONAS will be among the top contenders for the world championship this season.

All the competing teams would go into testing in February as they start preparation for 19-round championship, which will open in Sakhir at the Bahrain Grand Prix from March 12-14. Malaysia will host Round 3 of the world championship at Sepang Circuit from April 2 to 4.

The 2010 race in Sepang will mark the 12th edition of the Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix, which can be traced back to October 1999 which saw Schumacher making a comeback in Sepang after a long lay-off following an accident at the British Grand Prix earlier in July where he broke his right leg.

Also known as the 1Malaysia Racing Team, the Lotus F1 Racing Team is bringing back the highly successful brand back into the F1 world with the backing of top Malaysian corporate companies that included Proton as the owner of Lotus Group, Naza Group and Air Asia.

Most prominent would be the no refueling rule, which will demand bigger fuel tanks and deeper intelligence in preserving fuel. Pitstops, however, remained necessary as teams would be required to use both sets of tires of different compounds.

The 2010 Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix itself would have a change with the 12th editon starting at 4pm instead of 5pm as it had last year. Prior to 2009, the Malaysian race had traditionally started at 3pm; but had been delayed to boost TV viewing in the European sector.

“As to what we organized last year, we will be bringing again the drivers’ autograph session at the track.  We will also have entertainment and activities at the Mall Area throughout the event and a big after-race concert….It will be big this year” said Razlan.

With all these supporting elements, Razlan has expressed confidence that the 2010 Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix would draw a capacity crowd and even breaking the 2008 Race Day attendance over 120,000 trackside spectators

“Our tickets are priced as low as RM100 and as we did in previous years, we are offering discounts for students and special packages for groups,” said Razlan, adding that purchases of selected tickets between now and January31 would entitle the buyer a 50 percent discount on a second ticket.

Show your passion for F1 Malaysia and get your “I Love F1′ t-shirt and the 2010 PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix tickets at all participating outlets or log on to www.sepangcircuit.com for online purchase and information.

For more press information, contact the Sepang International Circuit F1 National Press Officer at 03-877 8225 or 019-317 4555 or email at norlina.ayob@sepangcircuit.com.my