Malaysia wants GP back-to-back with Singapore

F1’s growing number of international races is hurting Sepang, the chief executive of the Malaysian venue has revealed.

The Kuala Lumpur site became formula one’s second Asian race after Japan in 1999, but the circuit is now ageing and awaiting government approval for renovations.

And since the track’s inauguration, new Asian hosts including China, Singapore and Korea have joined the calendar, and a venue in India is under construction.

"I have to admit we’re suffering a bit with these new races," Sepang International Circuit’s Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali is quoted by the Bangkok Post.

"This year we got nearly 100,000 fans to attend the race. But the numbers are up and down every year. It depends on a lot of things. The economy is also a big part," he explained.

Razali revealed he is pushing Bernie Ecclestone to organise Malaysia as a back-to-back event with Singapore, allowing international visitors to attend both races while on holiday.

"We’ve talked to the FIA about it but we have to wait and see," he said. "Maybe it will be possible in the future."