Sepang Drag Battle cancelled to avoid track damage, SIC planning purpose-built drag strip on premise

2016 Sepang International Circuit renovation - 1

The Sepang Drag Battle series will not be taking place this year, as it has been removed from Sepang International Circuit’s 2016 calendar. Sepang Drag Battle, which made its debut in 2003, is the only drag race held at a racing circuit and sanctioned by the Automobile Association of Malaysia.

“We have had to take the race, which has a good following, off the 2016 calendar with immediate effect as we cannot afford to damage the newly resurfaced track. The decision was made based on advice from Italian track consultant Dromo, which led the upgrading works. The new track composition is not conducive for high impact events such as drag races, and we do not want to endanger track users,” said Datuk Razlan Razali, CEO of SIC.

SIC’s resurfacing and upgrading exercise, which cost close to RM15 million, involved the entire 5.543 km track, including improving corner driveability, upgrading the drainage system, the kerbs and the run-off area, as well as upgrading the shortcuts.

Sepang International Circuit SIC (1)

“The racetrack comprises elements such as asphalt concrete which is not appropriate for drag racing. Proper drag racing requires surface characteristics that are totally different, more specifically concrete covered with a special type of glue. Based on our inspection of the track prior to the resurfacing, we recognised several oil spills as a result of drag races, and this would cause severe damage if drag racing were to be continued on the newly upgraded track,” explained Jarno Zafelli, Dromo’s head of circuit design.

In view of this, SIC is studying the possibility of building a new track for drag racing within the circuit grounds, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports. “We have contended that racing should be kept off our highways and byways, but we also understand the need for speed. Therefore, just as we have carefully upgraded the current track to meet stringent FIA and FIM international standards, we are looking to provide a purpose-built facility for drag participants to race in,” Razlan said.

“The Ministry of Youth and Sports is in support of drag race enthusiasts having an outlet that is safe and specially catered for this sport. We subscribe to the need for a race circuit that meets the requirements of a drag race track and the highest measures of safety,” a ministry spokesman said.

The refreshed SIC track was reopened on May 8 after a nearly three-month closure.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • UMW TOYOTA on May 26, 2016 at 10:16 am

    come to miri lutong airport for drag

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • Same L00 on May 26, 2016 at 3:43 pm

      Billions spent and can’t even stand drag race…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 2
    • paddock on May 26, 2016 at 4:26 pm

      why need to spent rm15 Juta?!!

      JKR oso can do the job.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
      • if jkr did it they don’t need money? moron. i oso hate the gov but 15m is normal.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Save cost and use cement lor

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 9
  • heybadigol (Member) on May 26, 2016 at 11:04 am

    Why not use that straight road that Paultan likes to shoot at. In Putrajaya or something.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Longkang Man on May 26, 2016 at 11:19 am

    Sepang track drainage must upgrade because every country is looking at Malaysia during the race…

    Other places….tak kisah lah, banjir pun banjir lah tak payah compensate ape2 pun…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
    • More effective to hire bomoh coconut to chase away rain clouds.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • tishaban on May 26, 2016 at 11:47 am

    Wouldn’t a standing race start cause the equivalent amount of damage? Any standing race start is similar to a sprint no?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
    • MichealL on May 26, 2016 at 2:31 pm

      Certain rules allow the vehicles to spin “burn” their wheels at the starting point. Some don’t.
      But there must be an area where the vehicles can burn to heat up the wheels for grip before moving to the drag lights. Some will allow the use of alphard type adhesives on the wheels too. That will cause massive amount of damage to the track.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • jackasss on May 26, 2016 at 12:19 pm

    Now only want to think and built? They suppose to built the drag strip long time ago when they scrapped the batu 3 speed way…thai got 1 many years already…..f1 is a super expensive race not for ordinary rakyat la bro…u got millions in pocket then can bring along whole family to f1 event la…small ppl only want to watch jdm car dragging…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 7
  • 4G63T DSM on May 26, 2016 at 1:34 pm

    Why not just use Sg. Besi Airport? Its not like it actually sees a lot of flights.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Raja Mongkol II on May 26, 2016 at 7:09 pm

    need more money to bulid, sure more money will be sapu-ed. That is how malaysia business works.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • donno on May 26, 2016 at 7:25 pm

    BTW what happened to the Kedah Circuit (by SIC) that they plan to build in Sungai Petani?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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