PM hopes Malaysia will continue producing Motorsport talents

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed hope that Malaysia will continue to produce more talented motorsport stars, not only as riders or drivers, but also engineers.

“Malaysia is now going into not only motorsport racing but also into engineering. The money spent to build the (Sepang International Circuit) race track was well utilised.

“...I hope F1 will come back (to Malaysia) one day,” said Dr Mahathir in his brief speech after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Petronas SIC Motorsports Association of Malaysia Awards 2018 here, tonight.

The prime also minister acknowledged that the idea of building the Sepang International Circuit had paved the way for the development of local talents and technology transfer in motorsports.

He noted that the idea of having an international race circuit came when he visited the ar racing track, Autodromo Circuit in Portugal, but never thought that Malaysia would have its own racing circuit.

“I can see the response was very good, not only from those attending to watch the F1 race but also those who take up racing themselves,” he said.

Tun Dr Mahathir is the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

-- BERNAMA