SIC TO MAKE 2009 MERDEKA MILLENNIUM RACE THE BIGGEST EVER

It’s that time of the year again where the biggest race in Asia is about to go off and this time it’s the tenth addition of the Merdeka Millennium Endurance (MME) Race.

Organised and promoted by Sepang International Circuit (SIC), its aim is to make Sepang as the hub of motorsport activities in the region and as an effort to develop motorsport in Malaysia and the Asian region.

The race format remains the same throughout every year, three drivers to a car and they take turns accordingly to the race regulations to complete 12 hours of nonstop racing around the 5.543-km Sepang Circuit.

Each driver can only drive a maximum of 75 minutes per session and they must rest at least two-thirds of the driving time before taking another drive. The maximum cumulative driving time for each driver is 5 hours.

In commemorating this tenth celebration, some changes have been made to make the race more exciting. With the separation of the class B and C into the Sepang 1000km race (S1K), the faster main class O and A will have more grids to fill up all the way to 77 cars.

For a fair race, the class A will be split into two, A1 and A2, to separate between production supercars as A1 (Group B or GT4 or non FIA homologated production sports) and production sports and saloon cars in A2 (Group N and Group A or non FIA homologated Touring Cars).

The 77 slots on the starting grid is split into the three classes, 27 for class O, 25 for class A1 and 25 for class A2.

Also to honor the month of Ramadhan which is the fasting month for Muslims, the race date that is usually set on the last weekend of August is moved forward to the second weekend of the month which is on the 8th.

For the local motorsports enthusiasts, the MME is much awaited for every year since 2000. The 12 – hour endurance will definitely put the drivers’ skill, teams’ management and the machines to the limits.

MME has been regarded as catalysts to the national motorsports development. Here, the competition is fierce and indirectly will produce racers, team managers and crew with world standard.

In the year 2000, there were 55 teams competed in MME. The response from the public were very encouraging because apart from celebrating our independence day at Dataran Merdeka or entertainment outlet.

Malaysians now have another reason and new place to celebrate independence day which at Sepang International Circuit experiencing the exciting and action packed 12 hours race.

In the year 2001, the participants increased from 55 teams to 78 teams including the international teams. And for the first time 2001 MME witnessed the entry form a private high school, Pay Fong High School that joined the race in the name of charity. All the contributions from the sponsors were for charity purposes. This year also witnessed the participations from Australia, Japan and Hong Kong.

Racers who participated in MME were no strangers among the Malaysians fans. Names like Karamjit Singh, Jimmy Low, Keifli Othman and Adam Lokman were among the racers who show off their driving skills on the 5.543km track.

In fact, our very first Formula One driver, Alex Yoong also participated in the MME. Spectators also witnessed the participation of Mohamed Fairuz, the young racer who is gearing up to be the next Formula One driver. Kunimitsu Takahashi, a Japan GT driver also participated in MME backed by his own GTA crew.

The spectators who came and witnessed their favourite driver competing and battling each other on the track during MME were the one who supported the event. They were willing to be on the track for 12 hours to experience the actions. It was the only way for you to witness all the best drivers from various categories competing each other on the same track at the same time.

With the carnival atmosphere created for the spectators during MME, it is a new way for the young motorsports enthusiasts to celebrate Malaysia Independence Day. They are the one who act as the catalysts for the development of motorsports in Malaysia.

All information in regards to the 2009 Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race can be obtained at Sepang International Circuit website at www.sepangcircuit.com.my

THE PAST OVERALL WINNERS

2008     D.Nicholas,
Darryl O. and WS Mok (Team Porsche Club Singapore)

2007    Lars Nielsen,
Sven Herberger, Mokhzani Mahathir (Hong Leong Kencana Racing)

2006     Tengku Djan Ley,
Faidzil Alang and Damien French (Proton R3 Motorsports)

2005     Tengku Djan Ley, Genji
Hashimoto, Tony Riccirdello (Amprex Proton R3)

2004     Hiroki Katoh, Farriz
Fauzy & Eddie Lew (Honda Malaysia Racing)

2003     Firhat Mokhzani, Chin
Tzer Jinn & Eric Yeo (G1 Meritus Racing)

2002     Tengku Hammam, Nigel
Albon & Tommy Lee (NAZA Jaseri Racing Team)

2001   Jeffrey Wong, Admi
Shahrol Ahmad Safian & Tommy Lee (TVR Sports Malaysia)

2000     Karamjit Singh, Jimmy
Low & Tommy Lee (Petronas EON Racing Team)

Class   1st               2nd                  3rd                 4th                  5th                  6th

O      RM50, 000  RM25, 000   RM15, 000  3X F1 Ticket    3X F1 Ticket    3X F1 Ticket

A1     RM50, 000  RM25, 000   RM15, 000  3X F1 Ticket   3X F1 Ticket    3X F1 Ticket

A2     RM30, 000  RM20, 000   RM10, 000  3X F1 Ticket   3X F1 Ticket    3X F1 Ticket