GTA Backs Away from Sepang Night Race Plans

SUPER GT’s first visit to Sepang in over a decade next year will now likely not be held as a night race, series promoter GTA has indicated, after a three-year agreement was signed with the Malaysian venue earlier this month.

It was announced in early August that the Japanese championship would be making its foray overseas since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Sepang returning to the calendar for the first time since 2013.

Days later at Fuji Speedway, GTA chairman Masaaki Bandoh expressed a preference for the race to be held at night under floodlights, as it was planned to be back in 2020 until the global health crisis forced the event’s cancellation.

A contract-signing ceremony involving representatives from both the Malaysian government and HARO Sports & Entertainment, the promoter of the Sepang race, was supposed to take place at Suzuka during the fifth round of the season, but the race’s postponement until December meant it was held in Kuala Lumpur on Sept. 9.

While it was announced that the agreement is for three years, guaranteeing Sepang’s place on the SUPER GT schedule until 2027, no extra details were revealed regarding the schedule for the race, which is set to be held on Saturday June 28.

Contacted for comment by Sportscar365, a GTA spokesperson said that the most likely outcome is a late afternoon start with the race finish coming before sunset, in order to avoid the hottest part of the day.

It means the schedule is likely to be similar to the 2013 Sepang race, which began at 4 p.m. local time, although a sunset time of around 7:30 p.m. could allow for a slightly later start with the race expected to last a little under two hours.

The spokesperson added that concerns that race control would not be able to make proper judgements due to the brightness levels are the main reason why tentative plans for a full night race have been abandoned.

A final decision on the start time is set to be made when SUPER GT visits Sepang for manufacturer testing next January.

HARO managing partner Fahrizal Hasan said during the signing ceremony that he hopes the Sepang race will attract a total of 80,000 spectators over two days.

“I am deeply honored that the GTA, the teams and drivers have once again unanimously agreed to return to Malaysia,” said Hasan. “As the only overseas round for SUPER GT, Malaysia has a strong advantage to firmly position itself as a preferred sports tourism destination not only regionally, but globally.

“Hence, the Malaysian race will not only be heavily promoted locally but also throughout the Asian region and beyond.”