Malaysia’s prime minister has played down reports that formula one could move away from the southeast Asian country after 2010.
The Sepang circuit’s chairman, Dato Mokhzani Tun Mahathir, said recently that the government might not want to fund an extension to the current contract with Bernie Ecclestone due to the depletion of the Malaysian currency, the Ringgit.
At the official launch of the 2007 race on Tuesday, however, prime minister Datuk Sera Abdullah enthused that the Malaysian grand prix – first hosted at the purpose-built facility in 1999 – contributes to the country’s image and tourism.
He said: “I am confident that Malaysia’s participation in formula one will continue to grow even further.”
GMMF1
DailyF1News.com
