Boss says ’tired’ Sepang should host night race

Malaysia should host a night race before its current formula one contract expires in 2015.

That is the view of the Sepang track’s boss Razlan Razali, who has admitted to AFP that the event has "lost its lustre" since debuting on the calendar in 1999.

And he said the success of nearby Singapore’s floodlit street race has hurt Malaysia.

"And our biggest competitor is the television as many people prefer to watch the race from the comfort of their homes," said Razali.

Despite Sepang having some of the cheapest tickets on the entire F1 calendar, Razali revealed that less than 100,000 spectators attended the three-day event at the "tired-looking" venue in 2010.

He admitted that attendance this April could be even worse, adding that he has received no reply from the government about his request for funding to make renovations.

"When it rains, it (the grandstand roof) leaks. People are not happy. The circuit was built in record time but unfortunately there were shortcuts and poor maintenance," added Razali.

He said a quick fix to boost spectator numbers might be to organise a night race.

"We should do one night race before we extend the 2015 contract. Maybe this will attract a bigger crowd as the weather at night will be cool," he said.